Roundtable Talk - New Challenges, New Tactics: Responding to Contemporary Mid-Rise and Multi-Dwelling Buildings
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As communities grow and housing density increases, volunteer fire departments are increasingly responding to contemporary mid-rise and multi-dwelling buildings that present unique operational challenges. Modern construction methods, lightweight materials, complex layouts, and mixed occupancies can significantly impact fire behavior, access, and firefighter safety.
This Roundtable Talk will explore how today’s mid-rise and multi-dwelling structures differ from legacy buildings and what those differences mean for response planning, size-up, air management, search, and extended operations. Panelists will discuss practical considerations departments can address now to prepare for incidents in these evolving structures.
Jimmy Davis
JAMES “Jimmy” DAVIS is a captain and 31-year Chicago (IL) Fire Department veteran assigned to Engine Co. 43 serving Logan Square. He instructs and lectures nationally and internationally on many subjects relating to mid-to-high-rise firefighting strategy and tactics. He is a (FSRI-UL) technical panel member for the Study of Fire Dynamics and Firefighting Tactics in Multi-Story Residential Structures. He has authored many trade articles and collaborated on technical projects to identify best practice applications for tall buildings.
Mike Dugan
Mike is a 45-year veteran of the fire service and a 27-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), retiring as Captain of Ladder 123. As a firefighter in Ladder Company 43, Dugan received the James Gordon Bennett medal in 1992 and the Harry M. Archer Medal in 1993, the FDNY’s highest award for bravery. He developed training programs that were taught to all FDNY members. Mike is a contributing editor at Fire Engineering Magazine. He is a teacher at the Fire Department Instructor Conference (FDIC) and is a Fire Engineering and FDIC Executive Board member. He is a featured lecturer around the country, teaching Truck Company Operations, Building Construction 's impact on firefighter safety, Leadership and issues involving today's fire service. He was awarded the "Tommy Brennan Life Time Achievement Award" in 2021.
Clark Lamping
Clark Lamping is a 26-year veteran and a 15 year Captain and with the Clark County (NV) Fire Department. In his career, he has spent 17 years working on Las Vegas Blvd. He currently holds a Master’s degree in Crisis and Emergency Management and a Bachelors degree in psychology- both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV). He is a rescue squad officer with Nevada Task Force 1 with multiple deployments. He has instructed at FDIC, MAFFC, Firehouse, and HROC.
Tom Merrill (Moderator)
Fire Commissioner
Snyder Fire District
Tom Merrill is a 42-year fire department veteran and serves with the Snyder Fire Department, which is located in Amherst, New York (first ring suburb of the City of Buffalo). He served 26 years as a department officer including 15 years in the chief officer ranks. He was chief of department from 2007-2012 and currently serves as a Fire Commissioner for the Snyder Fire District. Tom has conducted various fire service presentations and keynote addresses throughout the country and also hosts a regular podcast sponsored by Fire Engineering titled “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department.” His book “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department” was published by Fire Engineering Books and Videos and was released in September 2023. Tom is employed full time as the Senior Fire Dispatcher in charge of the Town of Amherst Central Fire Alarm Office.
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