By Alan M. Petrillo

Evergreen Fire Rescue, in Kalispell, Montana, had previously purchased only preowned ambulances for its fleet, all of which had seen service for the federal government as rigs used in the federal penitentiary system.

But when it applied for and was awarded a Montana Department of Transportation (DOT) grant, it was able to apply the money, with a small contribution on Evergreen’s part, to the purchase of a brand new ambulance.

1 Evergreen (MT) Fire Rescue purchased its first new ambulance, a Demers Type 1, through Apgar Ambulance with the assistance of a Montana Department of Transportation grant. (Photo courtesy of Apgar Ambulance.)

“We put in for the Montana DOT grant in 2015 and got notification of receiving the grant late in the year,” says Craig Williams, chief of Evergreen Fire Rescue. “This is our first brand new ambulance, and we were lucky to receive the grant to purchase it.” He continues, “We then went through the bidding process, and Apgar Ambulance was chosen to provide the Demers ambulance for us. We were comfortable working with Apgar Ambulance because we had previously bought used federal government ambulances from them, going back to when we started emergency medical services (EMS) transport in 2007.”

Steve Apgar, owner of Apgar Ambulance, says the contract was through a Montana DOT safety grant that annually sets aside $1.2 million in federal highway funds to provide ambulances for rural providers in the state. “A lot of these grants are going to volunteer fire departments that have financial constraints,” Apgar observes.

2 The Demers ambulance is built on a 2016 4x4 Ford F-350 XLT chassis powered by a 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. (Photo courtesy of Apgar Ambulance.)

Response Area Requirements

Evergreen Fire Rescue is a combination department with 17 paid full-time firefighters, 20 volunteer firefighters, two stations, and a fire district that covers 20 square miles; its EMS district covers 108 square miles. Evergreen Fire Rescue had to come up with 10 percent of the total cost of the grant for the ambulance, which was $163,000.

Apgar notes that Evergreen chose some options that were allowed by the state contract to be added to its ambulance. “They chose to have drop-down chains installed, rear backup and interior module cameras, and a Liquid Spring suspension,” he says.

Williams points out that Evergreen wanted a Type 1 ambulance with four-wheel drive, “because we needed a high clearance on the vehicle and had to get into some congested and mountainous areas.” Evergreen also wanted different lighting packages than the standard, he says, “so we upgraded to high-wattage LED lighting because we’re in a rural area and need the additional visibility. We also chose all clear lenses instead of the stock lenses because we felt they were more visible.”

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1 Using a thermal imaging camera can increase the speed with which a firefighter and his crew can move; the lead firefighter with the camera must always remember to stay with his partner and not jump ahead and risk losing the crew. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

This is where your TIC training is extremely useful. It’s important for the firefighter with the TIC to stay focused on the job at hand, which means looking for fire, victims, or secondary egress. When performing a primary search with a TIC, firefighters need to remember that going too slow or too fast can have devastating results for the lead firefighter and the crew. Always keep in mind, as the team advances, the firefighter using the TIC cannot just stare at the display; he must share his observations verbally with the rest of the crew so everyone is aware of the current situation. The more time you spend training with a TIC, the more comfortable you will become and the easier it will be to establish an appropriate speed to maneuver through a burning structure.

During my TIC training, I often find that firefighters don’t fully understa

By Carl Nix

Last month, we looked at two common scenarios that put firefighters at risk when using a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to navigate structures in dangerous environments.

In each scenario, the common theme that emerged was a growing sense of firefighter overconfidence or complacency when using the TIC. This false sense of security can lead firefighters to abandon their basic firefighting skills and can quickly put them in harm’s way; mistakes can happen that can lead to tragic results. This month, we look at additional risks that firefighters commonly take when using a TIC to navigate structures.

One of the greatest advantages of using a TIC is the speed with which a firefighter and his crew can move through a structure because of the ability to see. The TIC increases the crew’s speed and enables members to quickly assess the situation or search for a trapped victim, but moving too fast or too slow can have negative consequences and can put firefighters in danger. The firefighter with the TIC begins to move at a faster pace because of his ability to see and risks losing his crew. While scanning the surroundings with a TIC, it’s easy to jump ahead of the crew, but it’s critical to always remember to stay with your partner. One of the most basic firefighting skills we are taught is to always stay with our partner. This skill is critical to our safety and should not be abandoned because a TIC is being used.

How is it possible to move too slowly through a structure when using a TIC? When a firefighter becomes so focused on interpreting the objects and shapes being seen on the TIC’s display, the crew’s advancement slows and the risk for the firefighters increases. The slower the crew moves, the greater chance that the fire gains intensity. With this scenario in place, the chance of a structure collapse while the crew is using the TIC to scan the building is relatively high. Let’s also remember, the slower the crew is moving, the more time firefighters are spending in a hazardous environment. Of course, if there are victims in the structure and the crew moves slower, there is a greater chance the victim’s outcome is compromised.

1 Using a thermal imaging camera can increase the speed with which a firefighter and his crew can move; the lead firefighter with the camera must always remember to stay with his partner and not jump ahead and risk losing the crew. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

This is where your TIC training is extremely useful. It’s important for the firefighter with the TIC to stay focused on the job at hand, which means looking for fire, victims, or secondary egress. When performing a primary search with a TIC, firefighters need to remember that going too slow or too fast can have devastating results for the lead firefighter and the crew. Always keep in mind, as the team advances, the firefighter using the TIC cannot just stare at the display; he must share his observations verbally with the rest of the crew so everyone is aware of the current situation. The more time you spend training with a TIC, the more comfortable you will become and the easier it will be to establish an appropriate speed to maneuver through a burning structure.

During my TIC training, I often find that firefighters don’t fully understa

By Carl Nix

Last month, we looked at two common scenarios that put firefighters at risk when using a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to navigate structures in dangerous environments.

In each scenario, the common theme that emerged was a growing sense of firefighter overconfidence or complacency when using the TIC. This false sense of security can lead firefighters to abandon their basic firefighting skills and can quickly put them in harm’s way; mistakes can happen that can lead to tragic results. This month, we look at additional risks that firefighters commonly take when using a TIC to navigate structures.

One of the greatest advantages of using a TIC is the speed with which a firefighter and his crew can move through a structure because of the ability to see. The TIC increases the crew’s speed and enables members to quickly assess the situation or search for a trapped victim, but moving too fast or too slow can have negative consequences and can put firefighters in danger. The firefighter with the TIC begins to move at a faster pace because of his ability to see and risks losing his crew. While scanning the surroundings with a TIC, it’s easy to jump ahead of the crew, but it’s critical to always remember to stay with your partner. One of the most basic firefighting skills we are taught is to always stay with our partner. This skill is critical to our safety and should not be abandoned because a TIC is being used.

How is it possible to move too slowly through a structure when using a TIC? When a firefighter becomes so focused on interpreting the objects and shapes being seen on the TIC’s display, the crew’s advancement slows and the risk for the firefighters increases. The slower the crew moves, the greater chance that the fire gains intensity. With this scenario in place, the chance of a structure collapse while the crew is using the TIC to scan the building is relatively high. Let’s also remember, the slower the crew is moving, the more time firefighters are spending in a hazardous environment. Of course, if there are victims in the structure and the crew moves slower, there is a greater chance the victim’s outcome is compromised.

1 Using a thermal imaging camera can increase the speed with which a firefighter and his crew can move; the lead firefighter with the camera must always remember to stay with his partner and not jump ahead and risk losing the crew. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

This is where your TIC training is extremely useful. It’s important for the firefighter with the TIC to stay focused on the job at hand, which means looking for fire, victims, or secondary egress. When performing a primary search with a TIC, firefighters need to remember that going too slow or too fast can have devastating results for the lead firefighter and the crew. Always keep in mind, as the team advances, the firefighter using the TIC cannot just stare at the display; he must share his observations verbally with the rest of the crew so everyone is aware of the current situation. The more time you spend training with a TIC, the more comfortable you will become and the easier it will be to establish an appropriate speed to maneuver through a burning structure.

During my TIC training, I often find that firefighters don’t fully understa

By Chris Mc Loone

I recently had the chance to visit the USSC Group’s headquarters. In a way, it was like coming home again. USSC is located in a building formerly used by National Foam, which is where my grandfather worked after retiring from the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department. I hadn’t been inside the facility in years, and it was impressive how much USSC has invested into creating a modern, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. I don’t remember exactly why there were fire trucks on the factory floor in the National Foam days, but I was a kid who loved fire trucks, and I had a blast climbing all over them when my grandfather would bring me there to look around.

This time around, I sat down with Steve Toren, vice president of sales for USSC Valor Seating, and Joe Mirabile, president of USSC. Toren was gracious enough to participate in the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment “Five Questions” column. Visit www.fireapparatus.com for bonus questions answered by Mirabile.

1. What are the most frequent requests you receive regarding seating for fire apparatus?

The top requests we get are related to the following: durability of our upholstery-fabric and foam. Our VALORTech XD Upholstery is the most durable in our industry. It is military-grade fabric with an antimicrobial protectant that significantly resists pathogens and carcinogens. Additionally, the foam is a high-grade material formed based on pressure mapping to provide the utmost comfort and durability. All of the covers are removable and replaceable and maintenance-friendly. The seats are built for fleet service to be able to simply and effectively clean them and replace parts over the life cycle of the vehicle.

2. How challenging has it been to enter the ambulance seating market?

Our entrance into the emergency medical technician (EMT) seating market has been very exciting. We have received tremendous feedback and a level of excitement from the EMT market on the product. We have seen a very strong acceptance and desire from the majority of ambulance builders to use our product because of our tireless validation and testing and, most importantly, response to voice of customer during the three-year development of the seat.

3. What is the most important aspect of a Valor seat?

The quality and overall durability in every aspect of this made-in-the-United-States product-designed to significantly exceed all pertinent standards: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Society of Automotive Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, etc. Seat suspension is air-ride, electric, and mechanical. The ultra-durable seat structure borrows from our military-grade heritage. And, our upholstery.

4. Is there anything in the pipeline you can talk about?

We are developing business at all levels: OEMs, OEM dealers, and numerous end users with great success.

5. What keeps you up at night?

Assuring that we provide every first responder with the safest, highest quality seat in our industry-exceeding their expectations in every possible way.