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Posted: Oct 1, 2018

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Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Chooses Decontamination Options for New Rescue-Pumpers

OCALA, FL—E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, has announced a new collaboration with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. Working with E-ONE to address the issue of exposure to harmful materials and carcinogens contaminating firefighters’ protective gear, Miami-Dade has chosen new decontamination options for its new E-ONE custom rescue-pumpers.

Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Chooses Decontamination Options for New Rescue-Pumpers

These options for E-ONE fire trucks are designed to help mitigate contaminants brought inside the cab and to promote a better environment for firefighters. For its Typhoon rescue-pumpers, Miami-Dade’s research and development personnel worked with E-ONE to address the needs of maintaining a clean cab environment to isolate the firefighters from contaminants on self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and bunker gear.

The 74-inch E-ONE Typhoon cab was modified to include the following:

  • A transverse SCBA storage compartment directly behind the rear cab wall, completely sealed off from the cab and exterior elements, designed with slide-out capability for rapid deployment of SCBA once on scene.
  • A cab compartment over the front wheel well, modified to safely store firefighter bunker gear by providing only exterior access.
  • NonSCBA seats to help prevent contamination from SCBA entering the cab.
  • Seats covered in Valor Tech XD antimicrobial upholstery to promote a cleaner environment inside the cab.
  • Dave Downey, chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department, comments, “Designing an apparatus that protects our firefighters from potentially harmful contaminants on bunker gear and SCBA after a fire is of paramount concern to our department. The clean cab design that we created with E-ONE is one of many steps we have taken to provide the safest environment possible for our firefighters.”

“This unique solution is the result of a collaborative effort to address the issue of exposure to harmful materials and carcinogens contaminating firefighters’ protective gear,” says Dan Peters, president of E-ONE. “This demonstrates E-ONE’s ongoing efforts to design the safest, cleanest fire apparatus to protect our customers on their way to and from the fire station.”



HONEYWELL FIRST RESONDER PRODUCTS AND DUPONT SAFETY & CONSTRUCTION announced that nominations are now being accepted to award 20 expenses-paid scholarships to provide first responders with advanced training at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International in Indianapolis April 8-13, 2019. Nominations can be completed at http://www.fdicscholarship.com. Firefighters can choose from more than 200 classes and workshops plus attend evening social

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Posted: Oct 1, 2018

Why Attend the FDSOA Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium?

Richard Marinucci

Richard Marinucci

To paraphrase Rick from the classic movie “Casablanca,” of all the conferences in all the world, why should I attend the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium?

The main reason is its uniqueness. Most, if not all, conferences focus on apparatus displays and opportunities to “kick tires.” This event is different in that it brings together apparatus committees, fleet managers, mechanics, vehicle manufacturers, and suppliers. There are no large displays, and the purpose is to get more into the details of all aspects of fire department apparatus—from specifications to purchasing, maintenance, and replacement. It also covers the various components from the new to the improved and everything in between.

Anyone with responsibilities for apparatus, whether specifications, acquisition, maintenance, or replacement schedules, should be interested in making sure that the vehicles are reliable, efficient, and effective. The vehicles need to be in service almost all of the time and need to deliver under the pressure of an emergency. Out-of-service apparatus does no good when 911 is called, nor is it beneficial to have a truck that doesn’t deliver when needed. As such, individuals and departments must learn as much as possible so citizens receive the service they need and deserve.

All of the aspects of fleet management require in-depth understanding. There is no better way to gain the knowledge needed than to talk to experts in the field. These professionals are on fire departments and work for manufacturers and suppliers. Having the opportunity to talk to people who are passionate about their work and who have committed to the improvement of the service is priceless. But besides the intangibles, there is no doubt that you can learn various ways to save money. If you pay just a little bit of attention and spend your time networking, you will learn ways to save your organization money and still be able to get the reliability that you need.

The 31st Annual Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium will be held in Orlando, Florida, January 20-23, 2019, at the Wyndham Resort. Doing this program for that many years shows its value to the fire and emergency service. There are preconference sessions on Sunday including an all-day, hands-on class for mechanics and also a post-conference session. In between, workshops will cover all aspects of apparatus. The Symposium will conclude on Wednesday with nationally known expert Janine Driver speaking on body language. There is something for everyone with any level of responsibility in the apparatus area of a fire department. You should make plans today to attend. Visit www.fdsoa.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Florida in January.

RICHARD MARINUCCI is the executive director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA). He retired as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department in 2008, a position he had held since 1984. He is a Read more

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Posted: Oct 1, 2018

Why Attend the FDSOA Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium?

Richard Marinucci

Richard Marinucci

To paraphrase Rick from the classic movie “Casablanca,” of all the conferences in all the world, why should I attend the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium?

The main reason is its uniqueness. Most, if not all, conferences focus on apparatus displays and opportunities to “kick tires.” This event is different in that it brings together apparatus committees, fleet managers, mechanics, vehicle manufacturers, and suppliers. There are no large displays, and the purpose is to get more into the details of all aspects of fire department apparatus—from specifications to purchasing, maintenance, and replacement. It also covers the various components from the new to the improved and everything in between.

Anyone with responsibilities for apparatus, whether specifications, acquisition, maintenance, or replacement schedules, should be interested in making sure that the vehicles are reliable, efficient, and effective. The vehicles need to be in service almost all of the time and need to deliver under the pressure of an emergency. Out-of-service apparatus does no good when 911 is called, nor is it beneficial to have a truck that doesn’t deliver when needed. As such, individuals and departments must learn as much as possible so citizens receive the service they need and deserve.

All of the aspects of fleet management require in-depth understanding. There is no better way to gain the knowledge needed than to talk to experts in the field. These professionals are on fire departments and work for manufacturers and suppliers. Having the opportunity to talk to people who are passionate about their work and who have committed to the improvement of the service is priceless. But besides the intangibles, there is no doubt that you can learn various ways to save money. If you pay just a little bit of attention and spend your time networking, you will learn ways to save your organization money and still be able to get the reliability that you need.

The 31st Annual Apparatus Specification and Maintenance Symposium will be held in Orlando, Florida, January 20-23, 2019, at the Wyndham Resort. Doing this program for that many years shows its value to the fire and emergency service. There are preconference sessions on Sunday including an all-day, hands-on class for mechanics and also a post-conference session. In between, workshops will cover all aspects of apparatus. The Symposium will conclude on Wednesday with nationally known expert Janine Driver speaking on body language. There is something for everyone with any level of responsibility in the apparatus area of a fire department. You should make plans today to attend. Visit www.fdsoa.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Florida in January.

RICHARD MARINUCCI is the executive director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA). He retired as chief of the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department in 2008, a position he had held since 1984. He is a Read more

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Posted: Oct 1, 2018

Uses for Your TIC at Various Incident Types

Thermal Imaging | Carl Nix

Carl Nix

Writing this column has been a privilege. Each month, I get to share my knowledge and love of firefighting training with you to help keep you safe. Many of you have reached out to me during the past couple of years to share your experiences fighting fires using thermal imaging technology. Thank you for sharing.

With my increasing responsibilities in the fire service, this will be my last column. My thanks to Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and all the folks at the magazine for letting me share my thermal imaging camera (TIC) training insights with you. My final column is a compilation of thermal imaging camera safety tips that I have shared over the years. Stay safe and train every day, and always look out for one another.

Three-pass scans, preflashover situations, fire attack, overhaul, search and rescue, hazmat calls, motor vehicle incidents, and heat pattern identification are all areas where TICs are useful at incidents. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

1 Three-pass scans, preflashover situations, fire attack, overhaul, search and rescue, hazmat calls, motor vehicle incidents, and heat pattern identification are all areas where TICs are useful at incidents. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

THREE-PASS SCAN TECHNIQUE

Using your TIC to scan a room when entering a smoke-filled structure is critical to staying safe. Once you enter the structure, scan the room with your TIC using a three-pass technique. The first pass is across the ceiling looking for heat accumulation, potential vent points, and structural integrity. The second pass is across the middle of the room looking at the physical layout and its contents as well as the location of any secondary egress points. The third pass is across the floor looking for collapsed victims and any special hazards. All three scans take less than 10 seconds but are important to maintaining proper orientation with your TIC.

FLASHOVERS

In a flashover situation, fire conditions progress rapidly from what was a hot fire to what becomes an inescapable fire. As an instructor, I have heard firefighters say that a TIC can help you during a flashover. This is not true. A TIC is a tool to help detect a flashover, but it can’t help you if you’re caught in a flashover. You have to move quickly. You don’t have time to look at your TIC. A preflashover situation is where your TIC can help. Your TIC can give you a visual indication of warning signs that you would otherwise not see. Without the use of a TIC, the thick smoke acts as a visual barrier to what is actually going on above you. Convective velocity, thermal layering, and even rollovers are often hidden inside the smoke and are difficult or impossible to detect. The TIC can hel

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  • 268
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  • Article rating: No rating
Posted: Oct 1, 2018

Uses for Your TIC at Various Incident Types

Thermal Imaging | Carl Nix

Carl Nix

Writing this column has been a privilege. Each month, I get to share my knowledge and love of firefighting training with you to help keep you safe. Many of you have reached out to me during the past couple of years to share your experiences fighting fires using thermal imaging technology. Thank you for sharing.

With my increasing responsibilities in the fire service, this will be my last column. My thanks to Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment and all the folks at the magazine for letting me share my thermal imaging camera (TIC) training insights with you. My final column is a compilation of thermal imaging camera safety tips that I have shared over the years. Stay safe and train every day, and always look out for one another.

Three-pass scans, preflashover situations, fire attack, overhaul, search and rescue, hazmat calls, motor vehicle incidents, and heat pattern identification are all areas where TICs are useful at incidents. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

1 Three-pass scans, preflashover situations, fire attack, overhaul, search and rescue, hazmat calls, motor vehicle incidents, and heat pattern identification are all areas where TICs are useful at incidents. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

THREE-PASS SCAN TECHNIQUE

Using your TIC to scan a room when entering a smoke-filled structure is critical to staying safe. Once you enter the structure, scan the room with your TIC using a three-pass technique. The first pass is across the ceiling looking for heat accumulation, potential vent points, and structural integrity. The second pass is across the middle of the room looking at the physical layout and its contents as well as the location of any secondary egress points. The third pass is across the floor looking for collapsed victims and any special hazards. All three scans take less than 10 seconds but are important to maintaining proper orientation with your TIC.

FLASHOVERS

In a flashover situation, fire conditions progress rapidly from what was a hot fire to what becomes an inescapable fire. As an instructor, I have heard firefighters say that a TIC can help you during a flashover. This is not true. A TIC is a tool to help detect a flashover, but it can’t help you if you’re caught in a flashover. You have to move quickly. You don’t have time to look at your TIC. A preflashover situation is where your TIC can help. Your TIC can give you a visual indication of warning signs that you would otherwise not see. Without the use of a TIC, the thick smoke acts as a visual barrier to what is actually going on above you. Convective velocity, thermal layering, and even rollovers are often hidden inside the smoke and are difficult or impossible to detect. The TIC can hel

Read more
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