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Posted: Nov 6, 2015

Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue Adds Three Braun Ambulances to Its Fleet

Alan M. Petrillo

Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue has taken delivery of three Braun custom Super Chief Type 1 medium-duty ambulances, one a bariatric unit, and integrated them into its fleet of 14 advanced life support (ALS) ambulances.

Standardizing the Fleet

Frank Pfister, specifications officer for Tampa Fire Rescue, says the first unit was put in service last year, while the second and third (the bariatric unit) went into service in September. Tampa Fire Rescue’s fleet of ambulances shows an assortment of brands accumulated over the years, including Med Tech, Horton, Wheeled Coach, and others. While the department tried to keep continuity among the rigs, with equipment stashed in similar compartments, it was a difficult chore because of manufacturing differences and designs.

“Our neighboring department, Temple Terrace Fire Department, ran Braun ambulances,” Pfister says. “We asked them about the rigs and if they would buy Braun ambulances again. They said they were very happy with Braun and gave their ambulances a big thumbs up. That led us to buy our first Braun ambulance in September 2012.”

Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue purchased three Braun Super Chief Type 1 medium-duty ambulances on Freightliner M2 chassis to replace three older units in its fleet. (Photos courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue.)
Tampa (FL) Fire Rescue purchased three Braun Super Chief Type 1 medium-duty ambulances on Freightliner M2 chassis to replace three older units in its fleet. (Photos courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue.)

Pfister says that the department’s officers and paramedics like the fit and finish as well as the performance of the Braun ambulance, so they decided to order three ambulances of the same design, with an exception for the one that would serve as a bariatric unit. The resulting rigs are built on Freightliner M2 chassis in the Super Chief design, powered by Cummins ISB 6.7-liter 260-horsepower engines and Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmissions.

Chad Brown, vice president of sales and marketing for Braun Industries, says the Tampa ambulances feature solid body aluminum construction. “We take flat sheets of aluminum, bend them to individual custom shapes, then full seam weld them on the outside of the truck to make a unitized body,” Brown says. “We build our cabinets in the same way-all aluminum and welded in so that the cabinets become part of the structure of the unit. Everything then is sprayed and seal coated.”

One of the Braun-built rigs for Tampa Fire Rescue is a bariatric unit designed to handle heavier than typical patients. The unit has a winch at the head of the cot that’s used to ease a patient-loaded cot into the back of the rig
One of the Braun-built rigs for Tampa Fire Rescue is a bariatric unit designed to handle heavier than typical patients. The unit has a winch at the head of the cot that’s used to ease a patient-loaded cot into the back of the rig.

Cindy Morgan, vice president of equipment and rescue sales for Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the Braun dealer for Florida and Georgia that sold the rigs to Tampa, says Tampa wanted to match its existing fleet of ambulances in terms of exterior compartment sizes and the interior layouts. “They wanted to be able to have the same equipment in compartments, even though the other ambulances were made by different manufacturers.”

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Posted: Nov 6, 2015

Apparatus Symposium

Richard Marinucci

Virtually every fire truck manufacturer and all of their suppliers are selling their products nationally and probably internationally.

This is not to imply that some don’t rely more on their regional areas, but the point is that there are few, if any, in this industry that are not doing their best to expand their market across the country and around the world. This global approach has its benefits to fire departments in that they can look to purchase vehicles and components from anywhere and from anyone. This exposes fire departments to more information and requires them to do more research when looking for the best fit for their organization.

One such opportunity to get “upfront and personal” with those inside the industry is the 28th Annual Apparatus Symposium, presented by the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA), to be held January 17-19, 2016. For much of its history, this conference has been held in Florida. For the first time in a long time, it is moving closer to the West Coast and will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona. For those who have attended in the past, this is an opportunity to see another part of the country while getting the same quality content from the Symposium. For those who are west of the Mississippi, the conference is even closer and more convenient. If you haven’t attended, this is a chance to see what you are missing when researching your next major apparatus purchase.

There are those who believe they can do all their research locally and do not need to expend funds traveling to learn about their next apparatus purchase or improve their maintenance program. Still others are unable to convince those who control the budget of the value of in-person research. But for those who attend, there is no doubt that with participation comes the opportunity to find ways to maximize the benefits of new apparatus while minimizing the cost. Past attendees can attest to specific cases where lessons learned in this environment have saved much more money than the cost of attending the Symposium.

When looking for new apparatus, it is important to know what you absolutely need to have and which items are up to your discretion. Knowing as much about this as possible allows you to make the right choices and ultimately purchase a vehicle that meets your needs, proves to be reliable, and is completed at the best price possible. There is no doubt that apparatus is a huge investment; mistakes can be costly not only to the budget but also in terms of functionality and reliability. Often it is the little things you learn that can really prove to be beneficial when acquiring apparatus.

You must approach fleet management in its entirety, from acquisition to the retirement of the vehicle. This would include the overall maintenance of the vehicle during its expected lifetime. This Symposium will cover many of the critical aspects of apparatus maintenance, again offering insight that will save money and improve reliability. The value of attending is not only in the excellent presentations that are a part of the program but also in the networking opportunities that link like-minded individuals who are extremely dedicated to their work.

There are other apparatus considerations-including record keeping, liability, safety, and risk management. All of these topics will be covered during the Symposium. Like so much of the fire service, apparatus and everything related to it including the components have become more complex. The importance of staying up on the latest information and innovations, including the standards that provide direction and regulation, cannot be overstated. Those who wish to excel and offer the most appropriate and reliable app

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Posted: Nov 6, 2015

Apparatus Showcase

Delivery of the Month

View the Showcase>>

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Posted: Nov 6, 2015

Regional Fire Apparatus Builders Report Strong Interest in Array of Vehicles

The United States was built on the foundation of small businesses, so it’s no surprise that some fire departments prefer to work with one of a number of regional or midsize fire apparatus builders.

Those manufacturers report they are seeing strong interest in their apparatus and have been turning out custom pumpers, tankers, rescues, wildland trucks, and specialty vehicles.

Pumpers

Joe Messmer, president of Summit Fire Apparatus, sees multipurpose vehicles as a continuing trend that will be with the fire service for some time. “Rescue-pumpers seem to be the truck of the day right now and will probably continue that way for a while,” Messmer says. “Doing more with one truck and the lack of staffing for some fire departments are a couple of reasons for the rise in rescue-pumper use. It’s actually a good natural blend for a fire vehicle.”

Bob Sorensen, vice president of SVI Trucks, says SVI has delivered three out of five identical pumpers ordered by the Greeley (CO) Fire Department. “Each one is on a Spartan chassis set up as a paramedic engine for four firefighters,” Sorensen says. “They each have a Cummins 550-horsepower (hp) diesel engine, independent front suspension, Waterous 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) side-mount pump, and an L-shaped 750-gallon water tank that allows for a low hosebed. The pumpers also have FRC SpectraMax scene lighting and a rear compartment to house hydraulic rescue tools.”

Summit Fire Apparatus built this custom side-mount pumper with an extended front bumper for the Green Township (OH) Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of Summit Fire Apparatus.)
Summit Fire Apparatus built this custom side-mount pumper with an extended front bumper for the Green Township (OH) Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of Summit Fire Apparatus.)

Grant Spencer, general manager of Spencer Manufacturing, says his company has been doing a lot of customization on fire trucks. “We’re not building the same trucks every day,” he says, “because departments want their pumpers, quick-attacks, and pumper-tankers customized to their needs.”

Mark Albright, general manager of 4 Guys Fire Trucks, believes the industry as a whole has picked up in fire truck orders. “There’s a lot of activity going on with custom pumpers and rescue-pumpers,” he says, “as well as with rescues, aerials, and tankers. We are seeing more rear-pump-design apparatus, although top-mount pump applications are still out there. They both make sense because of the increased visibility the operator gets.”

 SVI Trucks built several Type 3 Model wildland trucks with 500-gpm pumps and 500-gallon water tanks for Dallas (TX) Fire-Rescue. (Photo courtesy of SVI Trucks.)
2 SVI Trucks built several Type 3 Model wildland trucks with 500-gpm pumps and 500-gallon water tanks for Dallas (TX) Fire-Rescue. (Photo courtesy of SVI Trucks.)

Mike Weis, owner of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment Co., says he’s been seeing a lot more use of high-end quick-attack-style pumpers. “We build a hybrid brush and rescue truck that’s a quick-attack vehicle departments use for first responder calls, car, and brush fires,” Weis notes. “Some departments buy the quick-attack and set it up to handle a vehicle accident first and medical treatment second. Most are on Ford F-450 and F-550 chassis, along with some Dod

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Posted: Nov 6, 2015

Case Study: Ultrasonic Technology Helps First Responders Do a Tough Job Even Better

First responders depend greatly on their personal protective equipment (PPE).

It keeps them safe and helps them do their jobs well in the life-and-death situations they face every day. Two companies and many fire departments are using ultrasonic cleaning technology to provide the highest level of cleaning to firefighters and emergency personnel at an affordable cost. They do this while maintaining the structural integrity of delicate items and meeting the strict requirements established by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Firefighting and Proximity Firefighting, care standards.

MarKen PPE Restoration, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Northwest Safety Clean, in Portland, Oregon, both specialize in the cleaning and restoration of firefighter equipment. They must clean anything first responders may encounter on search and rescue calls, including mud, soot, and blood-even after it has been caked or cooked on to equipment.

1 MarKen PPE Restoration and Northwest Safety Clean use Omegasonics ultrasonic cleaning systems to provide clean and safe personal protective equipment to firefighters that meet NFPA 1851 care standards. (Photo courtesy of Omegasonics
MarKen PPE Restoration and Northwest Safety Clean use Omegasonics ultrasonic cleaning systems to provide clean and safe personal protective equipment to firefighters that meet NFPA 1851 care standards. (Photo courtesy of Omegasonics.)

Before ultrasonic cleaning technology was available, hand washing was the industry standard for items that couldn’t be tumble washed like boots, helmets, and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) face pieces. These companies know hand scrubbing alone isn’t good enough. It is time-consuming, and the results are frequently not up to the meticulous cleaning standards of the industry, which require low pH levels and water temperatures.

Additionally, the labor hours required by the old methods meant there was less profit to be made from the service. Many fire departments exist on slim budgets, making it difficult to charge enough to make much more than cost.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

MarKen PPE Restoration began using Omegasonics’ Restoration Pro® multistage ultrasonic cleaning machines-containing a presoak tank, an ultrasonic tank, and a rinse tank-not long after it started in 2010.

Hand cleaning fire helmets used to require disassembly, cleaning, drying, and reassembly. Since ultrasonic bubbles can reach remote crevices easily, disassembly and reassembly aren’t required, and MarKen’s cleaning times have been reduced by 75 percent. Employee training used to require 30 hours but now only requires four-a decrease of 85 percent. These cost efficiencies mean MarKen is able to offer a price point affordable to departments but still make a profit on the service.

“We would have lost money on the venture had it not been for Omegasonics,” says Joey Beeman, manager of operations for MarKen. “Firefighters are understandably resistant to anyone tinkering with their helmets too much. They’re concerned about maintaining structural integrity and working functionality, but they’re also a superstitious bunch. We want to be sure they feel comfortable and secure with their equipment before heading out on the job.”

Safe, Affordable Cleaning for Fragile Equipment

Northwest Safety Clean has been around for 20 years, but once it started

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