Departments that make bad decisions when acquiring apparatus will not only pay for it with scarce resources, but they will also pay for it when it contributes to poor performance and years of compromising on-scene execution.
The consequences will last a long time. Next to personnel, apparatus is the most expensive item in a fire department budget. Besides the cost, the units are expected to last for years while remaining reliable so that quality service can be maintained. This should lead departments to invest in the proper research and information gathering prior to purchasing apparatus.
One of the ways departments and individuals can gain as much information as possible regarding purchasing and maintaining apparatus is to attend the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Specification and Safety Symposium. The 28th annual event will be held January 18-20, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is a gathering of individuals specifically focused on acquiring and maintaining emergency apparatus. It includes fire service members of all ranks, mechanics, and apparatus and component manufacturers. There is no other such event that includes this mix of attendees solely with the theme of apparatus.
Those who attend have the opportunity to choose from a variety of workshops that address specification writing and vehicle maintenance on virtually every piece of apparatus available-from aerials to ambulances. There will be sessions on pumps and plumbing, diesel emissions maintenance, aerial controls, emergency lighting, and drone technology in the fire service. There will be other workshops covering some of the more managerial aspects of apparatus purchasing and maintenance. This will include the political realities involved in organizations, other fire department and firefighter experiences, ideas to maximize productivity and use, and how apparatus fits in with Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings.
As safety is the most important part of the FDSOA, there will be sessions on safety relative to apparatus, including operations and even issues that can contribute to future problems. One such area is the need to understand the effect of weight on apparatus performance. Departments need to realize the importance of axle weight management, and there will a great workshop presented by industry experts Mike Wilbur and Jason Witmier on this topic.
The Symposium will open and close with two dynamic and well respected speakers. Jim Juneau, a long-time contributor to the fire service and an attorney, will deliver the keynote address and present his perspective on legal issues relative to apparatus. He has been a part of the Apparatus Symposium many times and always delivers an informative lesson to attendees. Reviews of his previous appearances are outstanding and clearly indicate that those who attend benefit greatly.
The conference will close with Gordon Graham speaking on risk management. While many in the fire service have had the opportunity to sit in on one of his classes, there are many who have not had the pleasure. Even those who have been in a workshop by Graham will benefit, as this presentation will combine the risk management issues relative to apparatus as well as safety concerns in the fire service. The information is critical to those looking to improve performance as an organization and individually. This program is not just for fire service personnel but will also prove beneficial to manufacturers and vendors.
The networking opportunities will be plentiful, and this aspect of the Apparatus Specification and Safety Symposium should not be overlooked. There is