The Fulshear-Simonton (TX) Fire Department has taken delivery of the first of its two newly purchased purpose-built High Water/Flood Rescue Trucks from Acela Truck Company.

With 47-inch tires, 23 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel-drive drivetrains, waterproof alternators and starters and deep-water fording kits, the Acela Monterra-based specialized flood rescue trucks are capable of navigating a whopping 50 inches of water while safely carrying up to 17 seated passengers with ample room and payload for pets, personal property or rescue gear. One of the two trucks is additionally equipped with a heavy-duty “V-plow” for clearing emergency access roadways by pushing downed trees and debris after major hurricanes, wind events, storm surges, etc.

“As flooding becomes more and more prevalent in our area, we knew we needed trucks that were truly purpose-built for the response mission. The Acela High Water/Flood Rescue Trucks fit our criteria for ensuring the safety of our community in times of need,” says Fire Chief Gilbert “Herc” Meier Jr., “Simply put, these trucks can go where no others can during flooding events and will significantly enhance our response capabilities, particularly during flooding events.”

Both High Water/Flood Rescue Trucks will be outfitted in the future to do year-round double duty as brush/wildland trucks and can be quickly and easily adapted for other departmental operational or logistical needs as required.

Fulshear-Simonton’s second High Water/Flood Rescue Truck is scheduled to be delivered in November, 2018

For more information about Fulshear-Simonton Fire Department, please visit their website at www.fsfd.org.

For more information about Acela Truck Company, please visit their website at www.acelatruck.com.

 

VIDEO: Sometimes spontaneous combustion is responsible, but authorities are still looking at what caused this huge pile of hay to go up in flames, especially since it was reported early Saturday morning. Walla Walla County fire crews, Sheriff's deputies and others responded to the 3100 block of Reser Road for this one.
- PUB DATE: 10/15/2018 11:43:02 AM - SOURCE: KFLD-AM 870

As one of the busiest departments in the country, St. Petersburg (FL) Fire Rescue has committed resources to elevate the protection of its firefighters at the fire scene. For two years, the department’s Safety and Training Division has been researching health and wellness issues as the industry continues to publish studies about fireground contaminants. It has focused its first efforts on upgrading fireground protocols and turnout gear, specifically related to hoods.

A member of the Safety and Training Division, Lieutenant Robert Neuberger, says, “Several firefighters in our area have needed aggressive treatment for neck and throat cancer, so this has been an important issue for our department. Our unit decided we needed to upgrade the department-issued hoods to NFPA-compliant particulate hoods to provide better protection against fireground particulates.” The group evaluated various particulate hoods on the market and set the requirements for a hood that provided the highest level of protection after being washed repeatedly using the NFPA laundering protocols. 

The Safety and Training Division ran a wear trial during which firefighters from the two busiest stations evaluated the hood for more than 60 hours, which included responding to structural fire and hazmat calls. They had two important reasons for the wear trial. First, they wanted to ensure that the hood performed well in real fireground conditions. Second, and just as important, they wanted to make sure that the firefighters liked the particulate hood; the firefighters that evaluated the new hoods have been in the service for many years, so this would be a change for them. According to Neuberger, the firefighters’ feedback was very positive, saying, “The GORE^® Particulate Hood was comfortable, and it provided better protection. It fit around the neck and the longer length stayed tucked in. They really liked the combination of the inspection opening and the red stitching that was only on the outside. The stitching helps them be sure they have the right side out after using the inspection opening to visually check the particulate-blocking barrier for cuts, tears, or holes.” So, based on this feedback, St. Petersburg purchased 400 GORE^® Particulate Hoods.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue personnel wearing the GORE^® Particulate Hood during training.

The Safety and Training Division talked with its MES dealer, John Schmidt, about decontamination protocols. As a retired firefighter, John had been doing his own research, and he had been developing protocols at his department before he retired. St. Petersburg has just ordered an additional 400 hoods so that each firefighter can swap out his or her hood during rehab at the fire scene. Neuberger explains, “It doesn’t make sense for us to stress wearing a clean hood for every call if they don a filthy hood when they return to the scene after rehab. Once we receive the additional hoods, our protocol will require all firefighters to don a fresh hood after rehab to help avoid contaminating their neck and face if they were to pull on a dirty hood.”

When asked about dealing with the increased costs of this program, Lieutenant Neuberger said the Safety and Training Division faced this potential issue directly. “We justified the investment by researching the total cost of our health and wellness programs, including health insurance and the impact of sick days. We also considered the importance of the morale of our firefighters. If they know we are looking out for their health and welfare by providing the best possible gear, then that has a positive effect on thei