Controlling the Scene Jim Stopa

Enhancing nighttime safety is an industrywide initiative that has been increasing in importance over the past several years.

Fleet managers, first responders, and the motoring public all have a personal stake in seeing increased nighttime safety. Lighting studies and the science behind them continue to guide the direction of the newest safety enhancements that are brought to market. Today, there are four critical lighting features to consider to ensure apparatus are optimized for a calm and safe nighttime emergency scene.

LOWERING INTENSITY

LEDs have brought tremendous intensity and efficiency gains since manufacturers started using them for warning technology in the early 2000s. The lumens per watt efficacy has constantly increased year after year, which is critical when warning the public in the bright daytime sun. However, because of glare, finding a balance to this intensity at night has become an ongoing and increasing theme for apparatus. Traditional thinking says that brighter is better, but that is starting to change according to Dr. John Bullough, the program director for population health science and policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in Albany, NY. “It’s beginning to sink in because 5 to 10 years ago, even just the suggestion that there may be times when you might want to reduce the intensity, people would say, ‘That’s foolish.’ But now you know, only a few would say that. So, it’s changing,” Bullough says. Bullough is a leading industry expert who directs research in transportation lighting and safety at the school’s Light and Health Research Center. He has served as primary investigator for studies sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Fire Protection Research Foundation of the National Fire Protection Association, the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, and others.

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While more research is needed to identify ideal nighttime intensity standards, if Bullough’s instincts are correct, lowering light intensity does contribute to a calmer nighttime scene. “I think when you have a situation where vehicles are stopped or parked, my sense is that’s a time when slowing the lights down, turning down the intensity, using a simpler flash pattern, and synchronizing things would be a bit more helpful,” Bullough says, when asked what would make nig

In April, at the start of the baseball season, the Angels and the city of Anaheim believed they were weeks away from finalizing a stadium deal. Now, at the end of a season in which the team and the stadium deal collapsed, Anaheim is bracing for the possibility the Angels could file two lawsuits against the city, LATimes.com reported.

On Tuesday, the Anaheim City Council is scheduled to discuss behind closed doors two “potential cases” of “anticipated litigation,” according to a meeting agenda posted Thursday night, the report said.

The agenda links to a letter dated Thursday, pointing out a new issue: Anaheim plans to build a fire station in the Angel Stadium parking lot, which the Angels say the city has no unilateral right to do, according to the report.

In August, the city council approved a contract for the fire station, in order to accommodate development in the so-called Platinum Triangle area, including the “OC Vibe” entertainment village around Honda Center, the report said.

The Angels’ stadium lease allows the city to develop a portion of the parking lot, but only for the following uses: a football stadium, a youth sports facility, hotels, shops, restaurants, offices and entertainment venues.

For more on this story, please go to LATimes.com.

Firefighters in a Pittsfield Township noticed a damp floor in one of their fire stations this spring, MLive.com reported.

After several months of searching, they determined the leak stemmed from a faulty shower pan, and specialized testing revealed black mold had taken hold, a fire official told township leaders during their meeting September 28, the report said.

The first tests at Fire Station 3 at 705 West Ellsworth Road came back with results the official described as “doomsday.” Officials sought another opinion. Further testing showed slight mold, not dangerous, according to the report.

Officials taped off the area and explored both the costs of remediating the issue and potentially finding temporary housing for firefighters, the report said.

The Pittsfield Township board OK’d paying for remediation costs up to roughly $43,700, as well as up to $25,000 for temporary rehousing of firefighters, should it be necessary, according to the report.

For now it appears they will be able to stay in the station safely, in rooms that haven’t been affected, the report said.

About 14 miles away from its longtime home on the barrier island, a Seaside Park fire truck that served residents well for decades sits seemingly abandoned, Lavallette-Seaside.Shorebeat.com reported.

Technically, it’s not abandoned – it’s for sale – and the story of how it ended up parked on the side of the road in Lakewood for years is emblematic of the many injudicious consequences of Superstorm Sandy, the report said.

The 1983 Mack bucket truck can be found in a gravel lot on Route 88 in Lakewood, just off the Garden State Parkway and down the road from a string of gigantic car dealerships, according to the report. There are just under 18,000 miles on the clock and, presumably, it remains for sale. The aforementioned gravel lot belongs to a small used car dealer who came to own the fire truck in the storm’s aftermath.

The classic fire engine wasn’t lost in a flood or consumed by the ocean’s wrath, the report said. Instead, firefighters in Seaside Park took it over the bridge before Sandy hit in order to make sure it would not be destroyed in the oncoming storm. After the system moved out, members of the volunteer department headed back to the island to rescue stragglers and make sure the town was secure.

The aging truck suffered a breakdown in the midst of the storm response, with mechanics determining an axle needed to be replaced, as well as some other work – a major project for an aging fire truck, the report said. An insurance carrier offered $28,000 for the value of the truck, however the deductible was $25,000.

For more on this story, please go to Lavallette-Seaside.Shorebeat.com.

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BRANDON (SD) – (September 30, 2022) –  Spartan Emergency Response, comprised of several subsidiaries of REV Group, Inc., and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, will host the 26^th Annual Fire Truck Training Conference (FTTC) Oct. 2-7 at The Lansing Center in Lansing, MI.

FTTC is the largest and most in-depth combined training symposium and testing event in the nation, attracting over 300 first responder driver-operators, technicians, equipment manufacturers, dealers, service center representatives and more from across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Asia. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn directly from the manufacturer, to test to certify or re-certify on EVT standards, and network with fellow technicians and driver-operators.

Spartan Emergency Response’s 26-year history of hosting this event reflects the company’s commitment to provide first responders with the safest, most effective fire apparatus possible, and to empower them with the skills and knowledge to keep their fleets well maintained and in service. This year marks the return of the popular event, which was cancelled the last two years due to COVID. 

FTTC provides multiple training tracks with 45 individual courses over five-days that spans repairs of brake systems, pumps, valves, roll-up doors, and more. Attendees of the training seminars can meet with component suppliers one-on-one to address specific troubleshooting issues and learn the latest maintenance techniques.

“FTTC demonstrates Spartan’s commitment to the first responder community,” said Mike Virnig, Vice President of Sales, REV Fire Group. “We’re proud to build the finest fire apparatus on the road, but equally gratified to know we’re doing our part to educate and share best practices that enhance the safety and wellbeing of the individuals we ask to protect our communities.”

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About Spartan Emergency Response

Spartan Emergency Response, comprised of REV Group subsidiaries Spartan Fire, LLC, Smeal SFA, LLC, Smeal LTC, LLC and Smeal Holding, LLC, is a North American leader in the emergency response market and offers brands including Spartan Authorized Parts, Spartan Factory Service Centers, Spartan Fire Chassis, Smeal, and Ladder Tower. Spartan Emergency Response vehicles are well known for safety, quality, durability, aftermarket product support, and first-to-market innovation. The company operates facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group^® companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through three segments: Fire & Emergency, Commercial, and Recreation. They provide customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances, fire apparatus, school buses, and transit buses), commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers), and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles). REV Group’s diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG