Apparatus Ideas Bob Vaccaro

The San Francisco (CA) Fire Department was established in 1886 and is rich in tradition and history. From the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 to the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, the department has grown to meet the many challenges along the way.

The department covers 49 square miles and services a population of 1.5 million people. Because of its unique place in history and the past occurrences of two major earthquakes, the department has to be concerned with potential water supply issues during large-scale fires or seismic events.

According to Assistant Chief of Support Services Mike Mullin, “Our department had purchased five water tenders over 20 years ago, and it was time to update our apparatus fleet. We needed to supplement the unique water supply system we have in the city and outlying areas.” The department needed to design a unique system that would be able to operate if another earthquake or a major conflagration occurred. “This system would be utilized to operateas an above ground water main system or to apply water directly on a large fire if the domestic water supply is compromised,” says Mullin.

San Francisco’s water supply system is broken down into three unique areas, which is an interesting system for the fire service as well as a big city fire department.

First is a system of underground cisterns that have a total capacity of 11 million gallons of water from which to draft. The cisterns are strategically located throughout the city should there be any damage to the distribution system or fire department high-pressure supply system. The cisterns have no connection to the water department or the high-pressure fire department system.

Second is a low-pressure water supply system. Water for firefighting is supplied to the fire department by the San Francisco Water Department System. This would be the normal water supply, supply to above ground hydrants, storage reservoir, and the tanks of the fire department’s high-pressure water supply system. This system is maintained and tested by the water department. The location of all fire department hydrants as well as the maintenance and development of the entire fire department high-pressure system are the responsibility of the fire department.

Third, the high-pressure water system is a system of mains and 1,889 high-pressure fire hydrants independent of the domestic water supply built solely for firefighting. The system is supplied by fresh water from two elevated tanks and a reservoir. In the event the gravitational fresh water supply fails, at a moment’s notice two pumping stations

Paul Feely – The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

Sep. 16—Firefighters rescued a young boy early Monday after he became trapped between two large boulders for more than nine hours in Windsor, officials said.

The boy, 11, was freed from the crevasse at 3:16 a.m. and taken to a hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

The boulders are located near Camp Wediko, a therapeutic and academic program for boys and girls ages 8-18 diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, Asperger’s and mood disorders. Windsor is a rural community west of Hillsborough.

Manchester Fire Department’s Rescue 1 was dispatched to the scene to assist Hillsboro crews with the technical rescue, Manchester Capt. Adam Iverson said in a statement.

The boy was conscious and alert when rescuers located him about 4 to 5 feet down between two boulders, with narrow access on either side, Iverson said.

“Due to the restricted opening, the victim had limited room to move his arms or legs,” Iverson said.

Manchester’s Rescue 1 worked in conjunction with on-scene fire and EMS companies to clear a tunnel to the side of the boulders, which allowed a member to reach the victim’s legs and assist with pulling him free.

“Additional debris was removed using jackhammers, sawzall, and shovels,” Iverson said.

“Using friction-reducing materials and a lubing solution, the patient was freed and vertically hoisted from the entrapment,” Iverson said.

Companies cleared the scene at 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Along with Manchester, additional crews assisting at the scene included Henniker, Hopkinton, Concord, Washington, Fish and Game conservation officers and State Police.

___

(c)2024 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)

Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Namu Sampath
masslive.com
(TNS)

HOLYOKE — Late Monday night, the city’s Fire Department reported that it had rescued a stranded hiker from Mount Tom.

The incident is far from the first time a hiker has gotten lost or stuck there, said Capt. David Rex, the public information officer for the Holyoke Fire Department.

“It happens probably once a week, even in the winter,” he said.

Rex said the hiker, who was rescued at around 10:30 p.m., didn’t plan his trip accordingly.

“It got dark quickly, and he got lost on the trails,” Rex said.

The hiker was not injured and was found after a “short search,” the department said in a Facebook post.

Rex said that there are roughly 20 miles of trails on the mountain, but was unsure how many trails there are.

“A lot of the trails criss-cross with each other, making it difficult for hikers who are unfamiliar with the terrain,” he said.

He said the terrain varies greatly, depending on the side of the mountain a hiker is on.

From Route 141 in Easthampton, the terrain is “loose shale,” he said. “You’re basically hiking a cliffside,” whereas the Route 5 side is slightly easier for people to climb.

Rex said the hiker called 911 to be rescued. He said that it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the location of a caller, because of the cell tower atop Mount Tom.

“We use a drone program in Holyoke that uses thermal imaging to help locate people who get lost,” he said.

The state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation oversees the mountain.

A spokesperson for the department said hikers should stick to designated trails, be aware of the weather and trail difficulty ratings, and should share their plans with someone before setting out.

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Submit Video, Audio, and Articles HERE

Anaheim Fire and Rescue’s Ascendant 107-foot Heavy Duty Tiller Aerial Ladder is designed to tackle any emergency with precision and safety, the department said in a Facebook post Monday, Sept. 17.

Cameras around the tractor-drawn aerial enhance visibility for the driver and the tillerman. The apparatus features a safe stride on the roof for safety when operating the aerial. The tiller aerial ladder will respond to EMS, fire, and wildland-urban interface calls in the city of Anaheim.

Overall Height: 11’ 2”⁠

Overall Length: 62’ 4.5”⁠

Pump: Waterous, 1,500 gpm⁠

Tank: 300-gallon⁠

Job Number: 38503⁠

Dealership: South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc.

Specifications

Chassis	Velocity®
Body	Ascendant® 107’ Heavy-Duty Tiller Aerial Ladder
Actual Overall Height	11′ 2″
Engine	Cummins X15
Horsepower	605 hp
Front Suspension	TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
Rear Suspension	Air
Electrical System	Command Zone™
Pump	Waterous Midship
Pump GPM	1500 gpm
Tank	Water
Tank Size	300 gallons
Generator	Harrison Hydraulic
Generator KW	6 kW

MULLENS, West Virginia — Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Division of Forestry (WV DOF) today announced the arrival of vital new firefighting equipment to be used across West Virginia.

The new equipment includes:

• Two Type 3 Bulldozers equipped with specialized forestry and firefighting packages.
• Three Type 6 Wildland Fire Engines designed specifically for combating wildfires.
• Six new drones equipped with thermal imaging technology to assist in fire detection.
• Eight UTVs outfitted with skid units and water tanks for improved wildfire response in hard to reach areas.
• Seventeen pickup trucks fitted with skid units for enhanced firefighting capabilities.

“With fire season just around the corner in West Virginia, it’s perfect timing to get this new equipment,” Gov. Justice said. “Our hardworking Forestry members deserve every bit of this new gear. These aren’t just new dozers and trucks, they’re difference makers in protecting our forests and citizens. The day they received this machinery, they immediately put it to use to tackle a fire. That’s how bad these guys needed new equipment. We need to keep doing all we can to ensure they have what they need to protect our beautiful forests and keep our homes safe. This drought is also making things worse, and as it gets dry, things could really get bad. I’m really praying we get some rain soon, but we’ve got to be ready for whatever comes our way. At least we know that if disaster does strike, our teams are ready to face the challenge head-on with safe and reliable equipment.”

In 2023, Gov. Justice signed SB 1032, which provided $4 million toward new equipment. These funds were allocated by the West Virginia Legislature to purchase equipment to assist WV DOF foresters in fighting wildfires.

The new equipment was revealed at Twin Falls Resort State Park in conjunction with the Division of Forestry’s bi-annual Fire School, which provides basic fire training for all new employees at the WV DOF, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Section and West Virginia State Parks. In addition to protecting West Virginia’s forests and fighting wildfires, crews from WV DOF volunteer to assist with wildfire relief efforts in other states. 

West Virginia’s Fall Fire Season starts on October 1st, and burning regulations can be found HERE.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Gov. Justice and the legislature for their support and the commitment of the employees of WV Division of Forestry as they work each day to protect the people, property and wonderful forests in our state,” James Bailey, Secretary of the WV Department of Commerce, said. “Although Fall Fire Season officially begins October 1, our foresters work tirelessly year-round to protect one of our state’s most Read more 65 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious104105106107108109110111112113NextLast Theme picker Filter News Catagories Categories News (193) RSS Expand/Collapse Washington News (11847) RSS Expand/Collapse National News (11518) RSS Expand/Collapse WFC News (109) RSS Expand/Collapse Legislative Announcements (7) RSS Expand/Collapse Flag Lowerings (15) RSS Expand/Collapse Memorial Information (24) RSS Expand/Collapse Sections (6) RSS Expand/Collapse Emergency Medical Services (1) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Administrative Support (17) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Mechanics (18950) RSS Expand/Collapse Fire Training Safety & Officers (25) RSS Expand/Collapse Public Fire Educators (4) RSS Expand/Collapse HazMat Committee (0) RSS Expand/Collapse Filter to see National, Washington or WFC News, or filter to the Section News you are looking for! Search News Articles Search Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM