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We take a look at a video of a vehicle fire and ask you to consider more than what is obviously missing.

Erich Roden, Editor-in-Chief FireRescue Magazine:

Although shocking in terms of blatant disregard for the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), this video gives me much more holistic perspective, even though I may be wrong; however, I'd like to discuss some things that could perhaps have contributed to the events that transpired on the day this video was taken:

1) The department is obviously a volunteer organization. The tractor-trailer fire occurred during the day and these firefighters were available during normal working hours to respond to a fire on the freeway. What's the availability of the members in your volunteer fire department? As volunteer firefighter numbers decline, what are our fire departments doing to recruit and retain volunteers? We should cherish the ones who can respond during normal business hours and late at night and aren't the ones "cherry-picking" the calls they show up to. Equipment and PPE are so good nowadays, that it's having the bodies to use them that is the greatest challenge. Hooray for these guys who were around to put out a large semi fire during the day; however...

2) What is the condition and status of their equipment and PPE? The apparatus in the video is vintage in most respects. NFPA 1901 requires frontline apparatus to be serviceable as a frontline piece for ten years. This ol' Mack pumper in the video looks to me like it's the first one out the door and pumps like a champ; and the apparatus operator seemed very capable of pumping it as he got water, quick. Hooray for trained and able apparatus operators; however...

3) Who's getting the grant money to buy new apparatus and PPE? And does this department have anyone able and willing to submit an Assistance to Firefighter's Grant (AFG) to replace "Ol' Trusty?" The AFG requires departments write and submit their own grants. Have you ever filled-out a grant application? It's tedious for a reason, and takes patience and creativity. Do you have anyone in your department that loves to spend hours writing these things? Who does?!? Moreover, the AFG was established so that we see less vintage apparatus and PPE in videos. Perhaps we should reevaluate the dollars allocated to departments until see less of what's in this video. I'd rather see these guys in newer rigs and PPE as much as anyone else than a new center for project being developed to research what everyone else is already doing or has done. Hooray for available dollars to fund new equipment; however...

4) If we are issued equipment and PPE, then we have use it - it's the least we can do after our administrators get us what we've been begging for or lamenting in this video. But let's fact it, the elephant in this video is obviously the lack of PPE. If these members had it with them and disregarded it for this incident, or knowingly left it back at the firehouse, then shame on them. To me, this seems like the only winning piece missing in this video, as we see capable and aggressive firefighters stretching operable hose off of an operable pumper. But before we cast the first stone, make sure that we know if these guys even have their own set of PPE (not shared as is the case in many places; seriously); are the only ones we can depend on to be there during the day when driving through at 1pm and needing the fire department; and that you (have) wear each and every piece of PPE that you are issued at vehicle fires or other emergency. Until then, hooray for PPE compliance and our dedicated volunteers!

Bill Carey, Online News/Blog Manager:

It is what it is, as the saying goes. Had no one videotaped the

CLICK ABOVE FOR A GALLERY FOR LADDER 489 >>

By Michael N. Ciampo

The West Lake Fire Department is located in Millcreek Township in Erie County, Pennsylvania, which is located in the northwest section of the state. West Lake is a suburb of Erie and is primarily a suburban setting with a mix of residential structures, commercial and industrial properties, and a host of hotels and motels for the yearly vacationers to nearby Lake Erie. The department also provides fire and rescue protection to the Erie International Airport, Presque Isle State Park (a large peninsula jutting out into Lake Erie) and the famous Waldameer Amusement Park (founded in 1896). The town sits just off the shores of Lake Erie and has two firehouses: Station 48 and 49.

The West Lake (PA) Fire Department was founded in 1937 and was the first volunteer department in Millcreek Township. Presently it is one of four departments that serve Millcreek Township. It was organized much like many departments have in the past—a fire occurred in the town and the building was a complete loss, partially because of the time it took the nearest department (Erie) to arrive. So, concerned citizens banded together and raised money and started the department with a Howe pumper with a 300-gallon water tank. In addition, being on the waterfront with many cottages, commercial fishing vessels, pleasure boats and swimmers, the department saw a lot of boat fires and drownings. They were the first in the area to have a rescue boat to handle all the calls for assistance on the water.

Today, West Lake runs two engines, one ladder, one rescue truck, one utility vehicle, two jet skis, one ice rescue boat, one zodiac rescue boat and one Husky Air boat between both stations. The department once had a scuba unit, but it was disbanded and has turned into a joint water rescue team. This team is now part of an alliance that is made up of the West Lake, West Ridge, Lake Shore, and Belle Valley Fire Departments and responds as one team. The teams are all trained in open water, swift water, and ice rescue because of the emergencies they encounter on Lake Erie and in the Presque Bay.

Ladder 489 is a 2011 Marion Body Works/Spartan single-axle quint featuring an aluminum extrusion cab that responds out of the five-bay Station 48. It responds as the first-due truck and responds first-due on mutual aid calls or as a RIT tam when called upon. It is equipped with a 75-foot aerial device and prepiped waterway, and its single axle and short wheelbase allow the unit to gain access through the narrow streets and passageways to the cottages that sit along the lake’s shores. The unit is painted all red with both roll-up compartment doors and hinged solid compartment doors. It has a 500-gallon tank with a 1,500-gpm pump and carries four-inch large-diameter hose. Along the base of the cab and then running along the midsection of the rig’s body is a large black stripe with two yellow reflective stripes outlining the larger stripe. The front cab door is lettered with the department’s name and station number, while the crew cab doors have Ladder 489 on them. Also located on the cab just behind the front doors are accreditation stickers from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These stickers represent that the department participates and is recognized in the state’s certification program. On the rear roll-up compartment in big letters is the rig’s designation: L489. O