2 KME customized the interior of this cab for the Warren City (OH) Fire Department along the cab’s back wall with two vertical cabinets and one horizontal cabinet under the two forward-faci
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Posted: Sep 8, 2016
By Alan M. Petrillo
Fire apparatus makers have found ways to make the space in apparatus cabs more functional-from the driver and officer cab area to the extended cab where firefighters ride and additional gear is stored.
Besides the roominess of wide-body cabs, manufacturers are putting in custom cabinetry, seating, and ancillary equipment to create a more functional work space for firefighters on the way to a call.
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| 1 The officer area in a pumper built for the Buffalo (MN) Department by CustomFIRE inside a Spartan cab shows the accommodations made for a mobile data terminal, where the cut-away dash can accept a laptop or iPad that can be swung away from the front of the seat. (Photo courtesy of CustomFIRE.) |
Wayde Kirvida, sales engineer for CustomFIRE, says the crew cab area of fire apparatus has been getting more and more attention from department apparatus committees. “They are paying more attention to the needs of the firefighters who have to use that space,” Kirvida says. “We just completed a prebuild meeting on a truck for the Duluth (MN) Fire Department, where things on their list include air ride seats in the crew cab; cup holders; and space for the equipment they use daily, like emergency medical services (EMS) gloves, gas monitors, thermal imaging cameras, irons, 12-volt receptacles, and USB ports.”
Bruce Nalesnik, chassis group product manager for KME, calls design of crew cabs an issue of functional space instead of simply space for firefighters. “The past 10 years have seen an explosion in new cab designs, where potential storage areas are making use of every possible space that firefighters can think of,” he points out.
Seating
The number of seats typically found in a medium four-door cab (six seats) and a long four-door cab (eight to 10 seats) is changing too, Nalesnik says. “Now, departments are only putting four seats in a cab and putting compartmentation in the other areas to handle additional equipment and items firefighters are carrying,” he notes. “They want quick and easy access to that equipment, so we’re putting compartments under the front and rear crew seats and in the cab step-well areas and replacing rear-facing jump seats with EMS cabinets.”
Trapper Meadors, sales engineer for Precision Fire Apparatus, says he’s seen a change in seating trends in crew cabs. “We’re seeing either one rear-facing and four forward-facing on the back wall or three on the back wall with the other seat spaces taken up by EMS or other cabinets,” Meadors says. “We also outfitted a cab with a work desk in the rear-facing seating position, with a cabinet in front and charging stations across its top.”
 |
2 KME customized the interior of this cab for the Warren City (OH) Fire Department along the cab’s back wall with two vertical cabinets and one horizontal cabinet under the two forward-faci
Read more
- 408
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Sep 8, 2016
By Alan M. Petrillo
Fire apparatus makers have found ways to make the space in apparatus cabs more functional-from the driver and officer cab area to the extended cab where firefighters ride and additional gear is stored.
Besides the roominess of wide-body cabs, manufacturers are putting in custom cabinetry, seating, and ancillary equipment to create a more functional work space for firefighters on the way to a call.
|
| 1 The officer area in a pumper built for the Buffalo (MN) Department by CustomFIRE inside a Spartan cab shows the accommodations made for a mobile data terminal, where the cut-away dash can accept a laptop or iPad that can be swung away from the front of the seat. (Photo courtesy of CustomFIRE.) |
Wayde Kirvida, sales engineer for CustomFIRE, says the crew cab area of fire apparatus has been getting more and more attention from department apparatus committees. “They are paying more attention to the needs of the firefighters who have to use that space,” Kirvida says. “We just completed a prebuild meeting on a truck for the Duluth (MN) Fire Department, where things on their list include air ride seats in the crew cab; cup holders; and space for the equipment they use daily, like emergency medical services (EMS) gloves, gas monitors, thermal imaging cameras, irons, 12-volt receptacles, and USB ports.”
Bruce Nalesnik, chassis group product manager for KME, calls design of crew cabs an issue of functional space instead of simply space for firefighters. “The past 10 years have seen an explosion in new cab designs, where potential storage areas are making use of every possible space that firefighters can think of,” he points out.
Seating
The number of seats typically found in a medium four-door cab (six seats) and a long four-door cab (eight to 10 seats) is changing too, Nalesnik says. “Now, departments are only putting four seats in a cab and putting compartmentation in the other areas to handle additional equipment and items firefighters are carrying,” he notes. “They want quick and easy access to that equipment, so we’re putting compartments under the front and rear crew seats and in the cab step-well areas and replacing rear-facing jump seats with EMS cabinets.”
Trapper Meadors, sales engineer for Precision Fire Apparatus, says he’s seen a change in seating trends in crew cabs. “We’re seeing either one rear-facing and four forward-facing on the back wall or three on the back wall with the other seat spaces taken up by EMS or other cabinets,” Meadors says. “We also outfitted a cab with a work desk in the rear-facing seating position, with a cabinet in front and charging stations across its top.”
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2 KME customized the interior of this cab for the Warren City (OH) Fire Department along the cab’s back wall with two vertical cabinets and one horizontal cabinet under the two forward-faci
Read more
- 247
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Sep 8, 2016
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Richard Marinucci |
Maintaining hazmat response capabilities can be challenging because, fortunately, significant responses are not typically common for most organizations.
Yet, there is an expectation that departments will be capable. There are some things that can be done to keep personnel “response ready.” Communities must determine the expected level of response and establish goals in this regard. This will vary based on the real and perceived threat of a hazmat event and a community’s willingness and ability to pay.
Preparation
One of the more challenging assignments of fire departments and firefighters is preparing for and responding to calls involving hazardous materials. There are considerations such as expense, training required, specialized equipment, and the continually changing chemicals and hazards that could be involved. Add to this that, for the most part, these calls are relatively infrequent (this is a good thing) and the methodology used for response is typically different than a firefighter’s approach to other emergencies.
As with so many aspects of the fire service, there are varying degrees of quality that organizations have with regard to hazmat response. While all must meet minimum standards and Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements, each elects the level of competence it wishes to attain and maintain. The ultimate level of response is determined by personnel (both talent and number), training, equipment, and leadership. Each of these requires funding, so the ability and willingness of a community to pay will affect the capabilities of those who respond.
The expense to staff and outfit a hazmat team is large. Again, the actual cost depends on the degree of performance expected of the team. The really good teams have an adequate level of staffing. In most cases, those on the team are taking this as an added assignment. This means that they will be getting extra compensation, either in some type of stipend or overtime or both. Those on the team are well deserved of this, so that is not the point. The issue is that to prepare to respond, there must be an investment in personnel. This is a major consideration for establishing and maintaining a team.
Personnel
Selecting and maintaining personnel on a team is not always easy. It is an extra assignment that requires additional training. If the assignment to the team is in addition to a regular company assignment, there can be additional hours required. Personnel should be very healthy and physically fit. They will be asked to work in protective suits that stress the human body. There are added risks to responders because of the potential of exposure to very bad substances.
Another challenge is maintaining membership. There is a lot of training required to maintain competence and often few incidents. This can lead to frustration because members could become bored with the infrequent opportunity to use these special skills. If this occurs, there is the added expense that results from turnover. New members need to be recruited and trained. Each time, the person is starting from scratch.
There are things that can be done to minimize turnover and maintain interest. First, there needs to be good leadership on the team. Firefighters are no different from others in that they want to work for competent people who are passionate about their job. Strong leadership goes a long way in determining stability. The right people have to be selected fo
Read more
- 326
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Sep 8, 2016
|
|
Richard Marinucci |
Maintaining hazmat response capabilities can be challenging because, fortunately, significant responses are not typically common for most organizations.
Yet, there is an expectation that departments will be capable. There are some things that can be done to keep personnel “response ready.” Communities must determine the expected level of response and establish goals in this regard. This will vary based on the real and perceived threat of a hazmat event and a community’s willingness and ability to pay.
Preparation
One of the more challenging assignments of fire departments and firefighters is preparing for and responding to calls involving hazardous materials. There are considerations such as expense, training required, specialized equipment, and the continually changing chemicals and hazards that could be involved. Add to this that, for the most part, these calls are relatively infrequent (this is a good thing) and the methodology used for response is typically different than a firefighter’s approach to other emergencies.
As with so many aspects of the fire service, there are varying degrees of quality that organizations have with regard to hazmat response. While all must meet minimum standards and Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements, each elects the level of competence it wishes to attain and maintain. The ultimate level of response is determined by personnel (both talent and number), training, equipment, and leadership. Each of these requires funding, so the ability and willingness of a community to pay will affect the capabilities of those who respond.
The expense to staff and outfit a hazmat team is large. Again, the actual cost depends on the degree of performance expected of the team. The really good teams have an adequate level of staffing. In most cases, those on the team are taking this as an added assignment. This means that they will be getting extra compensation, either in some type of stipend or overtime or both. Those on the team are well deserved of this, so that is not the point. The issue is that to prepare to respond, there must be an investment in personnel. This is a major consideration for establishing and maintaining a team.
Personnel
Selecting and maintaining personnel on a team is not always easy. It is an extra assignment that requires additional training. If the assignment to the team is in addition to a regular company assignment, there can be additional hours required. Personnel should be very healthy and physically fit. They will be asked to work in protective suits that stress the human body. There are added risks to responders because of the potential of exposure to very bad substances.
Another challenge is maintaining membership. There is a lot of training required to maintain competence and often few incidents. This can lead to frustration because members could become bored with the infrequent opportunity to use these special skills. If this occurs, there is the added expense that results from turnover. New members need to be recruited and trained. Each time, the person is starting from scratch.
There are things that can be done to minimize turnover and maintain interest. First, there needs to be good leadership on the team. Firefighters are no different from others in that they want to work for competent people who are passionate about their job. Strong leadership goes a long way in determining stability. The right people have to be selected fo
Read more
- 343
- Article rating: No rating
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