By Carl J. Haddon

Apparatus manufacturers have responded to their customers' shrinking budgets and requirements to do more with less by introducing multivocational fire trucks. These apparatus are designed and built to respond to a wider variety of calls and offer a broader range of services than a single type of truck.

Along that same line, as we consider needs for technical rescue equipment and associated personal protective equipment (PPE), might multiuse or multivocational uses for such equipment play into the equation?

Multiuse Equipment

Multiuse is a commonly used adjective to describe vehicles and equipment by some of us around the country with budgets that are less than dismal. We like to think that it makes us lean, mean, and resourceful. That said, consider a couple of examples where multiuse makes sense beyond budget considerations. Personal flotation devices (PFDs), or life jackets, are an example that often cause departments additional expense and stowage concerns because of their bulk and the limited available compartment space on their rigs. Using type 5 PFDs as the example, some are available as single-size vests (i.e., small, medium, large, or extra large). Other type 5 PFDs are made with a wider range of adjustments to accommodate a wider range of body types.

In my region of Idaho, fire departments do not perform technical rescue or vehicle rescue. These types of calls are handled by a technical rescue task force that is a division of the Idaho State Search and Rescue Team (ISSAR). I share this because we (ISSAR Salmon Task Force) respond to all water and ice rescue calls on the more than 80 miles of the Salmon River that run through our county. Obviously, we wear PFDs for all of our water or ice rescue calls. The size of my PFD depends on the temperature of the water. Whitewater rescue in the summer months requires a much smaller size PFD than the one I wear over an ice rescue suit in the cold weather months or even over a dry suit in spring and fall. Having the PFDs with greater adjustability means we typically need only one PFD per member. Otherwise, in my circumstance, the unit or department would likely have to have multiple single-size life vests available for each of us, depending on the time of year and what type of PPE we need to put the PFD over.

Continuing with water rescue as the example, life sleds or other personal watercraft-towed floating rescue boards are often used by rescue personnel in high surf coastal regions around the world. We found that the same technology and configuration work well for whitewater river rescue. These types of rescue sleds, detached from the personal watercraft, work remarkably well for ice and flood rescue and recovery work.

Check First

Over the past few years, a number of hydraulic rescue tool manufacturers have developed products with this same theory in mind. All-in-one battery-powered, electric-over-hydraulic rescue tools are advertised to be more convenient and space-saving for firefighters and fire departments. Additionally, these same tool manufacturers tout their tools' usage for responses such as building collapse and urban search and rescue activities, along with quick forcible entry situations.

As you consider the potential multifunctionality of a product, be sure to check with individual manufacturers to confirm that their equipment or products are approved, rated, and suitable for the tasks for which you intend to use them. During my career, I've found that companies often welcome questions about alternative or additional types of uses for their products or equipment, as these are often opportunities for them to market and seek additional revenue streams.

Multipurpose PPE

PPE makers have also jumped into the multifunction fray. PPE for both wildland firefighting and rescue operations is becoming more and more common. Fire depart

By Richard Marinucci

As a general rule, firefighters are action-oriented and will try to do something to help a situation even if they are not totally prepared or trained for a particular emergency.

I can recall early in my career, prior to becoming an officer or chief, when my department was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) because firefighters performed tasks for which they had not received training. The department was held responsible even though the firefighters acted on their own and were not forced to do anything. The firefighters felt personal responsibility to do something to help. Although no one was hurt, OSHA investigators stated that its rules were violated.

A year or two ago, I recall a department in California being criticized for not attempting a rescue in the ocean because the responders did not believe they had been trained to perform the tasks they had to perform. I am sure this was a difficult decision. The reports from the area indicated that the responders were concerned about the liability they could face for doing something that they were not trained to do. This is a difficult position to place firefighters in based on their desire to help fellow citizens.

Dealing with the Dilemma

These two separate and distinct examples demonstrate the challenges and ethical dilemmas that fire departments, officers, and firefighters face. This may be most evident in the area of technical rescue. Whether it is swift water, confined space, trench rescue, or any of the other disciplines that fall under the banner of special rescue, there is an established set of performance expectations-including protecting the rescuers with standard safety practices. Firefighters may be held to these standards regardless of the incident's outcome.

Recently I was watching the news, and one of the stories was about a fire department that had successfully rescued a victim from a trench. This piqued my interest. I watched closer to see more of the details. I subsequently read some of the print media accounts of the incident. From what I could tell, the department took some shortcuts and did not meet basic standards for trench rescue. I did not see the cache of lumber that technical rescue teams have available to them, nor did I see any other specialized equipment. Stories from the scene stated that the first-arriving companies immediately began digging and were successful at removing the patient with minor injuries.

Based on my very basic knowledge, established safety practices were disregarded in the interest in time. Let me emphasize that I am in no way being critical of the incident or the actions of the people or attempting to Monday morning quarterback. Perhaps lack of access to a properly trained team that could respond in a timely fashion was a factor in their decision. The outcome was positive, but does that make this action acceptable? Could the department be fined by OSHA even with a positive outcome? The purpose of these questions is to generate discussion before the next incident so that companies take correct actions and do not make critical decisions solely during the "heat of battle."

Making the Right Call

The rules of engagement for firefighting are not generally as restrictive as the standards of operation for technical rescues. By that, I mean that fire suppression tactics allow for a much more aggressive approach to rescue and fire attack. Even the OSHA two-in/two-out regulation allows for an exception if responders suspect that there are trapped people who can be rescued. There is no explicit exception for technical rescue where standards exist. Therefore, fire departments and firefighters may be subject to more scrutiny regardless of an incident's outcome. Further, it is possible that enforcing agencies such as OSHA are more aware of these types of calls as there is often broad m

By Alan M. Petrillo

Command vehicles come in all shapes in sizes-from smaller types of units with no walk-in capability to tractor-drawn trailers that include bunking space, showers, and toilet facilities.

Apparatus makers report building command vehicles as small as slide-out units that fit into the back of a pickup truck bed or SUV to trailers hauled by traditional hitches and fifth-wheel arrangements.

Commonalities

Scott Oyen, Rosenbauer's vice president of sales, observes that all command vehicles exhibit a number of similarities. "Many of them have multiple slide-out sections that allow for larger conference facilities or more working space inside the unit," he says. "We've built command units with coffee machines, refrigerators, bathrooms, and showers."

Oyen adds, "The larger custom chassis command units usually have large generators onboard, upward of 20 kW, to power all the equipment they need to operate. And, they might even have a smaller generator to provide a clean power source for their computer systems." Oyen notes that most of the generators Rosenbauer furnishes for command vehicles are engine-driven, so the main engine on the vehicle can be shut off and the unit's equipment powered by the onboard generators.

Rosenbauer built this combination command and rescue truck for the Spotsylvania County (VA) Rescue Squad 4 with a command area in the crew cab area behind the front wheels and a walk- around rescue-style body on the back of the unit. (Photo courtesy of Rosenbauer.)

Kevin Arnold, rescue and specialty vehicle product manager for Ferrara Fire Apparatus, says that he has seen more departments putting bathrooms into command vehicles. "Some of them are fully plumbed like a recreational vehicle," he observes, "while others are trailers with a series of PortaJohns. We also have put in a 240-volt incinerating toilet in a command center for the San Francisco (CA) Fire Department."

Trending Smaller

Donley Frederickson, national sales manager for Rosenbauer, says fire departments "usually want either a pretty small command vehicle or one that is really big." He notes that Rosenbauer has built command vehicles of all sizes, from units on Ford F-550 chassis with the command center built into the rear of the vehicle to custom-chassis tandem-axle command units that have all the hallmarks of a traditional walk-in heavy rescue truck but are filled with command equipment.

On the smaller side of command vehicles, Oyen points out that Rosenbauer recently built a unit for Miami Dade County (FL) Fire-Rescue on a Ford F-350 extended cab chassis with a standard rescue body and storage for rescue and emergency medical services (EMS) equipment but set up as a command vehicle with extra radios and a satellite link. "In Miami Dade County, the battalion chief is in charge of a normal-size incident," Oyen observes. "But if it gets into a much longer day, they bring in a larger command vehicle built on a custom chassis."

Command unit areas inside apparatus can run from large to Read more 795 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Feb 6, 2014 Considerations When Specifying a Rescue Apparatus Bill Proft Specifying a new rescue apparatus can be a daunting task, given that there are few common defining features. Some refer to them as "heavy rescues," while others call them "squads." Still others use names that capture the main purpose of the vehicle such as "air and light," "hazmat," or "fireground support" vehicles. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) lumps them all under the heading of "special service fire apparatus." Recognizing the importance and complexity of these apparatus, the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) has an apparatus body technical committee dedicated, in part, to the special aspects of these apparatus. Drawing on the expertise of this committee, this article will provide some items to consider when specifying your next rescue apparatus. Consider End Use and Purpose Before settling on a specific size and type of rescue, give proper consideration to how it will be used. Identify how many firefighters will be on board. Will the vehicle be used for rehab while on scene? What equipment and capabilities are necessary, such as hydraulic tools, breathing air, or perhaps a water tank and pump? With these items identified, it becomes easier to decide on a general type and size of rescue truck. Give some thought to the types of calls your department is typically involved with, and consider those calls you might have based on your community, local industry, and geography. Motor vehicle accidents, fireground support, below-grade rescue, hazmat, and water and ice rescue are all possibilities. From this, develop a list of tools, equipment, and capabilities that will be necessary on your new vehicle. Chassis It is very easy to get stuck thinking that you "need" a specific type of body or chassis and then proceed to specify and purchase just that. The reason behind giving thought and consideration to the end use and purpose of the vehicle is to help guide everyone on the correct vehicle. The decisions for the type and size of chassis and body should not be independent activities. The two must work in concert, and one certainly affects the other. Obviously, custom cabs and chassis allow for great amounts of flexibility with a commensurate price tag. They can carry anywhere from two to 10 firefighters, have many available roof heights, often provide a shorter wheelbase because of the "cab over" design, and ultimately provide many unique storage possibilities. Commercial cabs and chassis are solid products, but most of the customization has to be accomplished at the body builder's facility rather than at the chassis manufacturer's plant. They have limited numbers of options compared to the custom products, but the price tag is typically much lower. Consider the overall size of the vehicle based on maneuverability and the amount of space within your fire station. A vehicle that has all of the correct equipment but is too tall, is too long, or cannot negotiate turns on your community streets will serve no useful purpose. So, pick a chassis that meets the needs of your firefighting crew and allows for sufficient body storage space. I have heard many people say that they "need" a tandem rear axle because of the length of their vehicle. That is absolutely not true. Tandem axles provide for greater weight-carrying capability and, therefore, if a vehicle that meets your requirements can be manufactured with a single rear axle, go with that. Although a tandem axle plays well with the "macho factor," it also adds cost (twice as many wheels, axles, and tires), is not as easy to maneuver, and causes more tire scrub and wear. However, if your requirements dictate a tandem axle vehicle, consider an air ride suspension. It provides a bit of a softer ride that benefits the firefighters, the vehicle, and the equipme Read more 715 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Feb 6, 2014 First Cloud-Based Mobile App Integrates Data from Multiple Sources By Chris Mc Loone Mobile data computers (MDCs) or mobile data terminals (MDTs) have been the primary source of mobile information for the fire service in recent years. As wireless technologies have advanced, it has become possible for chiefs' vehicles, ambulances, and fire apparatus to carry laptops configured as MDCs and MDTs. Information relayed includes CAD information with the location of the call; mapping options with the location of the incident; hydrant locations; preplan information if available; and in some cases, depending on the software, GPS functions for routing to the call. Although these have increased the availability of information at the point of dispatch and response, the MDCs do not always allow for true mobility on the fireground. What do allow for mobility are the various mobile apps available to consumers and now at an increasing pace to the fire service. Apps for the fire service are not new. They have been around for a while from simple "police scanner apps" to more involved apps that serve as references-for example, for tying the various knots we need to know to perform our duties. Although apps for the fire service have been around for a while, none has been designed to cull data from various sources and put them in one central location to be at the disposal of incident commanders (ICs) during a response and once on the fireground. An issue like this is often the mother of creation, and it is what led Charlie Jacobson, a Princeton University student from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to look into designing an app geared specifically for ICs that focuses on, according to Jacobson, accurate and efficient data collection for a more effective response. FireStop is the world's first end-to-end, cloud-based system that helps departments take fire data from inspection all the way through to the fireground. (Photos courtesy of FireStop.) The FireStop App According to Jacobson, the idea for the FireStop app came from his own experience at the Englewood Cliffs (NJ) Fire Department. "We got a grant for technology, so we bought software that did some of the job," he says. "It helped us collect a database of information. We had the capability to view the information on the go, but no one was really using it. There was no great way to access the data. Still, we were seeing day in and day out how useful this data could be on the fireground. I thought not only would firefighters want to use better designed software, but also that it could make a huge impact on firefighting operations." The app itself is geared toward the IC for fire response. Jacobson says it provides all the important information an IC needs to know while en route and on scene. "So, we're talking about how to get to the incident, what you're dealing with at the incident, what's around you, routing, satellite imagery, and once you're on scene giving you the nearest hydrants, building information, what you're likely to find inside, and other hazards that might be in the area," comments Jacobson. The app performs these functions by harnessing Google's vast capabilities to provide users with access to the most recent satellite imagery and StreetView of the fire building and nearby exposures. The idea for the app is that it sits in the cab of first- and second-due apparatus or chief's cars. But as the incident grows, it is oriented for the IC to have an overall view of the location of all apparatus, what kind of resources he has at hand, the incident he's dealing with, and the building. 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