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Posted: Jan 26, 2018

Fireboat Use for Water Supply at Structure Fires

Fireboat 343

Article by Anthony Rowett

Photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

When the use of fireboats is mentioned, the first image that may come to mind is that of a fireboat lobbing large master streams onto a building fire along the waterfront. Although the production of master streams is a common use for fireboats at structure fires, firefighters must understand all of the capabilities of the fireboat. Fireboats perform many functions, including both firefighting and non-firefighting related operations. Fireboats are commonly used to respond to structural fires along the waterfront, ship and vessel fires (both at the dock as well as while the vessel is underway), medical emergencies that occur in the water, search and rescue operations in the water, as well as any other type of emergency that occurs either in the water or along a waterfront. When operating at a structure fire along a waterfront, firefighters must understand the capability of fireboats to not only apply large flow master streams from the waterfront side of the building but to also support the land-based structural firefighting operations. One of the best ways a fireboat can assist land-based firefighting operations is to provide an additional water supply source for land-based firefighters, using the fireboat’s ability to pump supply hoselines from the body of water that it is in.

RELATED: Shipboard Firefighting Training from Scratch | Shipboard and Pier Fire Equipment and Apparatus | Preparing for Shipboard Fires

Fireboats possess great pumping capabilities, which allows them to produce multiple master streams that can be applied to the fire from the waterfront side of the building. The pumping capabilities of some fireboats can greatly outperform land-based fire apparatus. The pumping capacities of fireboats vary from fireboat to fireboat, but most possess substantial pumping capabilities that exceed those of land based fire apparatus. The Mobile (AL) Fire Rescue Department’s Fireboat Phoenix is a 35-foot vessel with two 2,000-gpm pump engines with four master stream appliances. The Fire Department of New York’s Marine 1--also known as Fireboat 343--is a 140-foot vessel with a pumping capacity of 50,000 gpm. The differences between these two fireboats is great, but both possess the capability to supplement land-based structural firefighting operations, in addition to supplying master streams from the waterfront side of the fire building.

The great pumping capabilities of fireboats are not limited to producing large flow master streams, but can also be used to provide an additional water supply. When a structure fire occurs along a waterfront...

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Posted: Jan 26, 2018

Fire at Fife motel snarls traffic on Pacific Hwy. East

A fire at a Fife-area motel is snarling traffic on a major arterial through the area. Firefighters responded to the scene, the Sunshine Motel in the 3800 block of Pacific Highway East, at about 7:20 a.m. Friday after receiving reports of smoke spewing from a second-floor unit there. Crews quickly exringuished the blaze.
- PUB DATE: 1/26/2018 8:17:50 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
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New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

By Alan M. Petrillo

 

While personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers continue to refine turnout gear for safety, comfort, and ergonomics, manufacturers of the fabrics that make up that gear are turning out new and improved products that enhance the overall performance of the PPE.

DuPont

Jian Xiang, global technology leader for Fire Service DuPont Protection Solutions, points out that DuPont’s™ Nomex® and Kevlar® fibers primarily are used in all three layers of turnout gear. She notes that a minimum of 70 percent of the fibers are in typical PPE.

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

Jeff Fackler, DuPont’s business development manager for North American fire service, says that DuPont Protection Solutions makes hundreds of different types of Nomex and Kevlar fibers that fabric mills make into hundreds of different fabrics. “We make the fibers that are the backbone of turnout gear in both long filaments and staple fibers,” Fackler says. “For example, Kevlar fibers are used for the majority of the straps on self-contained breathing apparatus. Nomex provides heat and flame protection and outstanding durability, while Kevlar provides strength and light weight in almost all of the firefighters’ PPE.”

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

Xiang notes that, with the exception of Nomex Nano, Nomex Nano Flex®, and thermal liner spun lace, DuPont markets its technology to fabric mills, which make the fabrics for PPE construction as well as webbing and other materials. She adds that the Nano name comes about because the fiber is at a submicron level that is a hundred times smaller than a human hair. “Because it’s such a smaller filament, a given volume creates a large surface area and is very light,” she says. “Nomex Nano Flex uses the same technology but is elastic in one direction that allows it to be used in areas where stretch is needed, like cuffs, hoods, and gloves.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
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New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

By Alan M. Petrillo

 

While personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers continue to refine turnout gear for safety, comfort, and ergonomics, manufacturers of the fabrics that make up that gear are turning out new and improved products that enhance the overall performance of the PPE.

DuPont

Jian Xiang, global technology leader for Fire Service DuPont Protection Solutions, points out that DuPont’s™ Nomex® and Kevlar® fibers primarily are used in all three layers of turnout gear. She notes that a minimum of 70 percent of the fibers are in typical PPE.

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

Jeff Fackler, DuPont’s business development manager for North American fire service, says that DuPont Protection Solutions makes hundreds of different types of Nomex and Kevlar fibers that fabric mills make into hundreds of different fabrics. “We make the fibers that are the backbone of turnout gear in both long filaments and staple fibers,” Fackler says. “For example, Kevlar fibers are used for the majority of the straps on self-contained breathing apparatus. Nomex provides heat and flame protection and outstanding durability, while Kevlar provides strength and light weight in almost all of the firefighters’ PPE.”

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

Xiang notes that, with the exception of Nomex Nano, Nomex Nano Flex®, and thermal liner spun lace, DuPont markets its technology to fabric mills, which make the fabrics for PPE construction as well as webbing and other materials. She adds that the Nano name comes about because the fiber is at a submicron level that is a hundred times smaller than a human hair. “Because it’s such a smaller filament, a given volume creates a large surface area and is very light,” she says. “Nomex Nano Flex uses the same technology but is elastic in one direction that allows it to be used in areas where stretch is needed, like cuffs, hoods, and gloves.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
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New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

By Alan M. Petrillo

 

While personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers continue to refine turnout gear for safety, comfort, and ergonomics, manufacturers of the fabrics that make up that gear are turning out new and improved products that enhance the overall performance of the PPE.

DuPont

Jian Xiang, global technology leader for Fire Service DuPont Protection Solutions, points out that DuPont’s™ Nomex® and Kevlar® fibers primarily are used in all three layers of turnout gear. She notes that a minimum of 70 percent of the fibers are in typical PPE.

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)

Jeff Fackler, DuPont’s business development manager for North American fire service, says that DuPont Protection Solutions makes hundreds of different types of Nomex and Kevlar fibers that fabric mills make into hundreds of different fabrics. “We make the fibers that are the backbone of turnout gear in both long filaments and staple fibers,” Fackler says. “For example, Kevlar fibers are used for the majority of the straps on self-contained breathing apparatus. Nomex provides heat and flame protection and outstanding durability, while Kevlar provides strength and light weight in almost all of the firefighters’ PPE.”

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)

Xiang notes that, with the exception of Nomex Nano, Nomex Nano Flex®, and thermal liner spun lace, DuPont markets its technology to fabric mills, which make the fabrics for PPE construction as well as webbing and other materials. She adds that the Nano name comes about because the fiber is at a submicron level that is a hundred times smaller than a human hair. “Because it’s such a smaller filament, a given volume creates a large surface area and is very light,” she says. “Nomex Nano Flex uses the same technology but is elastic in one direction that allows it to be used in areas where stretch is needed, like cuffs, hoods, and gloves.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
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