By Robert Tutterow

Is there a changing landscape in fire service trade shows?

In the past 30 years, there have been annual broad product-line trade shows with national appeal, and there have also been some "semi-regional" trade shows through this time. With one notable exception, the number of exhibitors at many shows seems to be trending downward-state shows and conferences excluded. Ask 10 trade show attendees why they think this is happening and you will likely get a dozen different answers. As the old saying goes, "I can't describe it, but I know it when I see it."

Without a doubt, the extended economic downturn is a contributing factor. I recently read a quote from Glen Usdin, a former magazine publisher, that states, "The fire service is a low-tech market that has zero potential for growth, and the amount of new products and services being introduced each year is very small. We keep our expensive stuff for a long time and don't really embrace much new technology." He adds, "Look at declining trade show participations as well, and you can see how tough it is to sell stuff to the fire service." I found this comment to be humbling as it was something I have never considered or heard mentioned.

Vendors have often expressed that there are too many trade shows. I understand that trade shows typically consume a weekend, and the cost of exhibiting at a trade show is very expensive. The expenses include space rental, booth transportation costs, booth material handling costs, booth liability insurance, booth electricity, transportation costs for booth staff, lodging costs for booth staff, food, and other various expenses. Important to note is that Interschutz, in Germany-the largest fire trade show on the planet-draws from all continents and it is held only once every five years. Is the United States headed toward only one major trade show? If so, is that good or bad?

Generational Disparity

What else is changing about trade shows? My observation is that the younger generation of firefighters has less interest in their equipment than the older generations. This is disappointing, because the fire service owes it to itself and the public to make informed apparatus and equipment selections and purchases. This publication is unique and has value because it provides a lot of needed information about equipment and the equipment industry. However, in my mind, there is no substitute for the educational value of a trade show. It provides the opportunity to speak directly with competing manufacturers at one time. It is the ideal setting for comparative analysis.

Reputable manufacturers want an informed and educated customer. Less reputable manufacturers-not so much. So much of the equipment we select is directly related to the safety and health of firefighters. Equipment selection should be based on an informed decision-making process. I can't think of a better format than a trade show for such information.

Prepare

Trade show attendees should have a prepared agenda before attending a show. They should research manufacturer Web sites for products of interest and have a prepared list of questions. Fire service personnel responsible for health and safety, specifying, recommending, or purchasing equipment should have a basic understanding of the industry-i.e., the real experts, movers, and shakers. Is a particular manufacturer trending upward, downward, or treading water?

One of my litmus tests is whether or not a manufacturer is engaged in the greater fire service. Does it really understand the fire service, and is it involved outside of its immediate self-interest? Or, is it simply trying to make the next quarterly report look good? I think involved manufacturers will outperform and outlast others. They better understand product support and product innovation.

In addition, most trade show

By Alan M. Petrillo

Diesel engine manufacturers have developed engines that give fire apparatus more power from the same size units yet run stronger and cleaner.

Listening to the wants and needs of pumper, tanker, rescue, and aerial apparatus users, engine makers have been beefing up their products to meet the increased power needs of apparatus that can be found in every phase of firefighting operations.

The ISX15 is the largest diesel engine Cummins builds for the fire service, with ratings from 455 to 600 hp. It features strong throttle response and pulling power as well as improved fuel economy. (Photo courtesy of Cummins.)

Customer- and Regulation-Driven

Chris Crowel, manager of specialty vehicle markets sales and support for Cummins Inc., says that customers and federal rules and regulations are key driving forces in diesel engine development. "The regulations challenge us to come up with new solutions, but our customers do as well," Crowel says, "and sometimes they compete with each other, which leads us to discover new technologies."

Crowel points to the technological progression in the development of diesel engines, noting, "We first started adding turbocharging and aftercooling to get more air into the system, then the use of more electronic controls, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), the addition of [the] diesel particulate filter (DPF), an oxidation catalyst, and the most recent step-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx)."

He adds, "Hydrocarbons and NOx have been reduced to levels that almost can hardly be measured, so now the next concern will be reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) when greenhouse gas regulations go into effect in 2014. However, when Cummins released its 2013 engines, we improved them to the levels required by the coming greenhouse gas regulations."

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new regulations for 2014 that limit the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted from diesel engines.

Navistar offers the MaxxForce 9 for the fire service, a diesel engine rated up to 330 hp and available in automatic and manual configurations. (Photo courtesy of Navistar.)

Cummins makes four engines used by the fire and emergency vehicle market, says Spencer Dell, senior communications marketing specialist. These are the ISX15, ISX12, ISL9, and ISB6.7, each including an XPI fuel system, VGT turbocharger, aftertreatment system with DPF, and SCR.

Crowel says that the integrated components of the Cummins 2013 engines deliver improved reliability, durability, and fuel economy. "Each shares a new single electronic control module (ECM) that manages the engine and the Cummins aftertreatment system for improved overall combustion efficiency," he notes.

The ISX15 has ratings from 455 to 600 hp, while the ISX12 has ratings from 370 to 500 hp. "Both engines deliver strong pulling power and throttle response and feature high-efficiency water, fuel, and lube pumps to help reduce parasitic loss and improve fuel economy," Crowel says.

The ISL9 has ratings from 270 to 450 hp and the ISB6.7 has ratings of 260 to 360 hp. Both engines have had an air i

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."

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