By Alan M. Petrillo

Fire departments that have ocean, lake, or riverfront coverage areas often face different fire protection issues when dealing with fire aboard ships or on piers.

Very often, the apparatus and equipment used to deal with fires in those situations will vary from that found on typical engine and truck companies.

Fireboats and Equipment

William Buck, fire chief for the Port of Houston (TX) Authority (POHA), says his department has to protect 52 miles of ship channel and installations along it. The POHA has three fire stations along the channel, each housing an engine, a hazmat unit, and a MetalCraft 71-foot FireStorm 45-knot jet-drive fireboat.

Each fireboat can flow up to 15,000 gallons per minute (gpm) through a 5,000-gpm Stang gun on top, two Elkhart Brass 1,250-gpm monitors on the bow, two 1,250-gpm Elkhart Brass monitors aft, and from several other outlets. The fireboats also carry 300 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), extrication equipment such as saws and cutters to gain entry into a ship and its structures, chemical and radiological detection equipment, an onboard breathing air cascade system, and an onboard basic life support (BLS) medical facility.

1 The Port of Houston (TX) Authority (POHA) has three 71-foot MetalCraft 45-knot jet-drive FireStorm fireboats to protect 52 miles of ship channel. Each fireboat can flow up to 15,000 gpm. [Photos 1-2 courtesy of the Port of Houston (TX) Authority.]

Nick LoCicero, assistant chief of operations for Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue, says his department has been the leading firefighting agency in the 400-square-mile Tampa bay area for a number of years, and its jurisdiction covers Port Tampa Bay and the Port of Tampa, ranked in the top 10 ports in the country in terms of commodities tonnage handled.

Tampa Fire Rescue runs three primary fireboats: the Patriot, a 69-foot MetalCraft Marine jet-drive boat with a 35-knot top speed; a 30-foot Sea-Ark, powered by three 225-horsepower (hp) Mercury outboard motors that will make 30 knots; and a 27-foot Boston Whaler, powered by two 225-hp Mercury outboards, running at 30 knots. The Patriot has a 13,000-gpm water flow through a remotely operated, roof-mounted 5,000-gpm Stang gun; two 2,000-gpm Elkhart Brass bow monitors; and two 1,250-gpm Elkhart Brass stern monitors. The fireboat carries 500 gallons of foam, has two Hale RME and two FKM (Viton) fire pumps, and has a five-inch Storz discharge for land-side connection.

2 A POHA fireboat attacks a boat fire at a pier while a land-side engine applies water from the dock side.

The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has three primary fireboats, along with other fire and rescue craft. Three Forty Three is a 140-foot-long, 500-ton vessel capable of pumping 50,000 gpm and named in honor of the 343 FDNY members killed on September 11, 2001. Firefighter II is a sister vessel also capable of pumping 50,000 gpm, a

By Alan M. Petrillo

Fire departments that have ocean, lake, or riverfront coverage areas often face different fire protection issues when dealing with fire aboard ships or on piers.

Very often, the apparatus and equipment used to deal with fires in those situations will vary from that found on typical engine and truck companies.

Fireboats and Equipment

William Buck, fire chief for the Port of Houston (TX) Authority (POHA), says his department has to protect 52 miles of ship channel and installations along it. The POHA has three fire stations along the channel, each housing an engine, a hazmat unit, and a MetalCraft 71-foot FireStorm 45-knot jet-drive fireboat.

Each fireboat can flow up to 15,000 gallons per minute (gpm) through a 5,000-gpm Stang gun on top, two Elkhart Brass 1,250-gpm monitors on the bow, two 1,250-gpm Elkhart Brass monitors aft, and from several other outlets. The fireboats also carry 300 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), extrication equipment such as saws and cutters to gain entry into a ship and its structures, chemical and radiological detection equipment, an onboard breathing air cascade system, and an onboard basic life support (BLS) medical facility.

1 The Port of Houston (TX) Authority (POHA) has three 71-foot MetalCraft 45-knot jet-drive FireStorm fireboats to protect 52 miles of ship channel. Each fireboat can flow up to 15,000 gpm. [Photos 1-2 courtesy of the Port of Houston (TX) Authority.]

Nick LoCicero, assistant chief of operations for Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue, says his department has been the leading firefighting agency in the 400-square-mile Tampa bay area for a number of years, and its jurisdiction covers Port Tampa Bay and the Port of Tampa, ranked in the top 10 ports in the country in terms of commodities tonnage handled.

Tampa Fire Rescue runs three primary fireboats: the Patriot, a 69-foot MetalCraft Marine jet-drive boat with a 35-knot top speed; a 30-foot Sea-Ark, powered by three 225-horsepower (hp) Mercury outboard motors that will make 30 knots; and a 27-foot Boston Whaler, powered by two 225-hp Mercury outboards, running at 30 knots. The Patriot has a 13,000-gpm water flow through a remotely operated, roof-mounted 5,000-gpm Stang gun; two 2,000-gpm Elkhart Brass bow monitors; and two 1,250-gpm Elkhart Brass stern monitors. The fireboat carries 500 gallons of foam, has two Hale RME and two FKM (Viton) fire pumps, and has a five-inch Storz discharge for land-side connection.

2 A POHA fireboat attacks a boat fire at a pier while a land-side engine applies water from the dock side.

The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has three primary fireboats, along with other fire and rescue craft. Three Forty Three is a 140-foot-long, 500-ton vessel capable of pumping 50,000 gpm and named in honor of the 343 FDNY members killed on September 11, 2001. Firefighter II is a sister vessel also capable of pumping 50,000 gpm, a

HAIX® Airpower® XR2 Station EMS boot is built to be lighter weight and more comfortable and was developed with the company’s newer ultra-light composite safety toe. Airpower XR2 is NFPA-compliant for emergency medical operations as well as certified to ASTM and CAN/CSA for toe protection, puncture, and electrical hazards.

The waterproof CROSSTECH® inner liner keeps feet dry no matter the weather as well as protected from bloodborne pathogens and chemicals. The HAIX Lacing System offers the quick on and off of a zipper boot with the personal fit of a lace-up boot. www.haix.com, 866-344-4249

CMC Rescue RigTech Pack™ helps rescue and rope access technicians stay light, fast, and efficiently organized with their gear. The pack was developed to fulfill ongoing requests from rescue teams in need of a specialized solution for keeping their rigging equipment in order and securely packed when in the field. The full-featured backpack delivers comfort, stability, and organization for backcountry and urban rescue teams as well as rope access technicians.

It is constructed from durable high-tenacity, water-resistant nylon for long life. Its contoured shoulder straps, adjustable sternal strap, and padded waist belt offer comfort and stability when carrying on rugged terrain. It also features 12 pockets specifically designed to provide efficient organization options. www.cmcrescue.com 800-513-7455

Milwaukee Tool M18™ LED Search Light is designed to provide maximum performance and versatility in the toughest jobsite environments. The new light boasts a beam distance of more than 700 yards and 1,250 lumens of light, allowing users to spot farther and flood brighter. With four modes to address a variety of lighting situations, just one unit can do the job of two lights at once.

A Spot Mode helps identify problems from afar. A patent-pending Spot Flood Mode assists in viewing issues from 700 yards but also provides a wider view of the surrounding area, reducing tripping hazards. A Flood Mode provides a broad beam for area and task lighting. A Strobe Mode is for communication and safety needs. www.milwaukeetool.com, 800-SAWDUST

Pelican™ 7100 and 7600 LED flashlights feature aluminum body construction made with a robust anodized finish. Measuring five inches long, the Pelican 7100 LED flashlight is compact without sacrificing performance, providing nearly 700 lumens of intense light. The Pelican 7100 LED flashlight is equipped with a USB rechargeable lithium ion battery and capable of operating on a single AA disposable battery when power is not available.

The six-inch Pelican 7600 LED provides greater than 900 lumens of clear, brilliant white light. It also easily toggles to night-vision friendly red and green LEDs with the twist of a switch. The red and green modes can be used for traffic control when partnered with an optional slip-on wand/holster accessory. Read more

• 329
• 0
• Article rating: No rating