The crew at Delta Fire and Emergency Services Fire Hall No. 3 followed an old tradition Thursday by pushing in by hand one of the department’s newest pieces of equipment, delta-optimist.com reported.

The North Delta crew were all smiles having received one of two new fire engines, at a cost of $1 million, purchased by the city, the report said. It has some of the latest features and green technology including an eco-idle that switches the vehicle to lithium power when parked and running for extended periods, according to the report.

The fire truck being replaced will go into the Delta Fire and Emergency Services reserve fleet of three, according to the report

By Alan M. Petrillo

The makers of structural personal protective equipment (PPE) continue to improve and evolve their turnout gear lines with the aim of providing the best protection for firefighters in gear that is ergonomic, lighter in weight without sacrificing safety, and as protective from carcinogens as possible.

Jeff Fackler, North American business development director of protective apparel for DuPont, says that with fires burning hotter and faster these days, five elements are driving the design of turnout gear to help reduce heat stress on firefighters. The first of these is ergonomic design and the use of stretch in fabrics, while the second is the incorporation of aramid filaments like DuPont™ Kevlar® in outer shells to provide a high level of strength, options to lower weight while keeping excellent flame protection, and DuPont™ Nomex® filament in thermal liner facecloths for improved durability and lubricity.

The third dimension of protection in outer shells is blending it with PBI, PBO, or other fibers with extremely high decomposition temperatures, which Fackler calls “thermally stable fabrics that maintain their integrity after exposure to flame environments and therefore have very good performance in extreme conditions such as our Nomex® Xtreme outer shells.”

The fourth element is improving the durability and strength of outer shell fabrics to sustain them through more frequent washings; DuPont Nomex included in outer shells has proven to provide superior wash durability and esthetics. The fifth dimension is using nonfluorinated finishes on the outer shells. He notes that DuPont Kevlar and DuPont Nomex can be incorporated into all those dimensions, as both ingredients are inherently flame resistant, with DuPont Kevlar optimized for strength and DuPont Nomex for flame-resistant textile applications like more comfort, mobility, and ergonomics.

Jian Xiang, DuPont’s global technology leader for protective apparel, notes that using DuPont Nomex Nano or Nomex NanoFlex in hoods and interfaces gives particulate and viral protective properties and still allows air and moisture to move in and out of the barrier.

Fackler points out that the thermal liner is where turnout gear gets at least 50% or more of the gear’s thermal protection. “The thermal liner facecloth needs to be flame resistant and durable and have high lubricity—that is, low friction so it slides over the body,” he says. “Spunlace Kevlar and Nomex are being used in a thermal liner. These typically have a facecloth with two layers of insulation: one of which is Spunlace and the second being Nomex Nano, which gives an [equivalent to] 30-point improvement in breathability (THL) and [equivalent to] 40% less bulk than a typical liner insulation with only Spunlace layers.”

• Meeting the Need for Fit-To-Purpose Turnout Gear to Serve Multiple Purposes
• Turnout Gear Manufacturers Make PPE Tailored for Women
• The Protection Behind Structural Firefighting Turnout Gear
• What’s Next for Structural Turnout Gear?

Posted: Jan 17, 2023

Fire Apparatus of the Day: January 17, 2023

Pierce—Holdridge (NE) City/Rural Fire & Rescue Ascendant mid-mount 100-foot heavy-duty aerial ladder platform quint. Enforcer cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 2,000-gpm pump; UPF Poly 300-gallon water tank. Dealer: Todd Kline, MacQueen Emergency, Lincoln, NE.

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Posted: Jan 17, 2023

Suspect Steals Ambulance in San Francisco, Abandons It in Oakland

Police are looking for a suspect who stole an ambulance in San Francisco Monday night, NBCBayArea.com reported. The San Francisco Fire Department said an ambulance was stolen from the city’s Sunset District while responding to a medical emergency.

Officials said California Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle in San Mateo and Alameda counties. The pursuit was discontinued and the ambulance was later found in Oakland, the report said.

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Posted: Jan 17, 2023

Augusta (GA) Fire Department’s Aerial Ladder Truck Overturns

According to the Augusta Fire Department, its aerial truck overturned Monday and blocked the entrance ramp of I-20, wjbf.com reported.

The truck was heading to a commercial fire, the report said. Authorities say the truck was traveling from Washington Road onto I-20 West, when it overturned.

The Augusta Fire Department reported three firefighters were on the truck when it overturned, but they sustained only non-life threatening injuries.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the westbound access to I-20 was completely blocked at Washington Road Monday afternoon.

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