Chris Mc Loone

CM: What do you think has led to the success of the Commander chassis?

HB: I think some of it is the background work we did in the design and engineering of it. We spent a full year going around to fire departments, getting their input on it, and showing them some preliminary designs. Also, we worked with our own in-house engineers and we contracted to some outside engineering specialists, who had engineers who had come from other chassis manufacturers. So, they had the do's and the donts and the "best of" types of things from different chassis and they incorporated a lot of those into our design. And also the commitment of our dealers when they had their own chassis to sell and promote-our dealers were a very big part of the success of this. We also had large order from Saudi Arabia, which saw the design and bought into it right away.

CM: What's next for Rosenbauer America?

HB: We don't have any major projects on the horizon. Right now we want to just focus on efficiencies and enhance and improve some of the current features we have. In Europe, they introduce new products about every five years at Interschutz. In the United States, the Americans try to introduce new products at FDIC and a lot of times, Americans end up designing something just so they can introduce something. Right now we're going to hold off on any new major introductions for a few years and really fine tune what we have, become more efficient at it, take some cost out of things, and hopefully reduce costs for the fire departments.

CM: What do you think is the most important innovation in the fire service during the past five years?

HB: I think in the past five years it's the introduction of electronics throughout the fire industry, primarily in fire apparatus. Everything is electronic. The emissions on the chassis are controlled by electronics, electronic governors, the foam systems have electronics, the aerials have electronics. LED lighting even has electronics-you can program different flash patterns. The advent of all the electronics and LED lighting that are introduced on fire apparatus today, to me, is the biggest thing that's come.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards are updated about every five years. Those standards were written around all the analog systems and dial gauges. With technology in electronics moving so fast, it's hard to adapt the electronics to meet the old NFPA standards-when you talk about size of numbers, size of gauges, things like that. We can make the control panels a lot smaller now with electronics. But, the old NFPA standards still say that the access panel has to be so big, for example. It is difficult for the NFPA standards to keep up with the electronics because they move so fast. By the time a standard is written, the technology may already be obsolete.

CM: What do you think is the biggest issue facing the fire service today, and how should we address it?

HB: There are a few issues that are facing the fire service. One, obviously, is funding. The federal and local budgets are being cut and are really being held back. So, that's an issue all the way around. I'm not sure how to address that. The volunteers always have their fundraisers, but volunteers get tired of holding fundraisers so they can buy themselves protective clothing.

In some areas, the luster of being a firefighter has worn off a little bit. They're not seen as the heroes like they once were-like after 9/11. That has changed a little bit. I'm not real sure how to get that back. Maybe more visibility by the fire service, doing good public service type of things in the community. To me, that's the biggest thing.

CM: What keeps you up at night?

HB: Probably the biggest thing

Newtex Industries Z-Flex® Silver™ multilayer aluminized fabric system combines Z-Flex Multilayer Aluminization (MLA™) technology with a proprietary 3D Mock Knit™ fabric featuring PBI flame-resistant fibers. Z-Flex Silver is a five-layer outer shell composite that has been completely engineered to provide durable, comfortable protection from high-energy radiant heat. By reflecting back the heat, Z-Flex Silver allows close flame proximity while reducing the rate of heat absorption that can lead to thermal fatigue. The innovative Z-Flex Silver fabric starts with the Z-Flex MLA process that employs thin film vapor deposition technology to apply very fine, highly reflective aluminum particles to both sides of a high-temperature polymer film barrier. Z-Flex® films are designed to reflect up to 95 percent of radiant heat with zero flame or afterglow even when exposed to direct flame.
-www.newtex.com, 800-836-1001

FLIR Systems, Inc. K-Series thermal imaging cameras (TICs) are designed for easier operation and better visibility. K-Series offers two models: the K40 with a 240×180 thermal detector and the high-resolution K50 with a 320×240 detector. Both TICs provide five imaging modes to optimize sensitivity for higher or lower temperature ranges, including search and rescue (SAR) and hotspot detection options. A bright four-inch LCD clearly shows detailed images and colorized isotherms generated by the various dynamic ranges. And, oversized buttons make it easy for gloved hands to quickly toggle through modes, press zoom, and access other functions. K-Series also features onboard image storage for up to 200 thermal JPEGs, which can be reviewed later from the camera's archive or exported via USB for reports.
-www.FLIR.com, 877-773-3547

FoxFury Lighting Solutions Nomad Area-Spot light clamps mount to walls and vehicles. These clamps, along with the Nomad carrying bag, permit first responders and industrial professionals to easily store and retrieve the Nomad Prime and 360. This Nomad clamp system provides a safe and secure storage solution. Users have found, that properly mounted, these clamps enable the Nomad to function as a vehicle mounted light. Each set of two Nomad wall clamps secures the Nomad Prime or 360 lights to a wall or service vehicle via #10 bolts (not included). The Nomad can be removed or secured in fewer than 20 seconds, even if thick gloves are worn. The FoxFury Nomad Series Area-Spot lights are combination area lights and spot lights.
-www.foxfury.com, 760-945-4231

Task Force Tips's (TFT) Hemisphere initial attack monitor offers a full hemisphere (360 degrees) field of attack, as well as an easy-to-use monitor base mount that attaches quickly and safely to a beam, a railing, a tank lip, a concrete barrier, or even a common trailer hitch. This monitor, when attached to a 2½- or three-inch attack line, delivers up to 500 gpm, with 200 (plus) pounds of nozzle reaction. Similarly, the Hemisphere's new "anti-drop" mechanism prevents operator errors. If the monitor is mounted upsid

Dave Poulin

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in fire investigations and inspections. Photographs have long served a critical role for fire investigators and inspectors by allowing them to document scenes to preserve important information.

In recent years, the evolution of technology has brought digital video into the mix as well, which expands the ability to collect valuable data in the field. Not only does video capture information that photos may not, it also has numerous other benefits, including being especially effective in a courtroom. However, many popular consumer-grade video cameras are not suitable for use in fire service-video quality may be poor, especially in low-light conditions or bad weather, and the information may not be admissible in court because of chain of command requirements. While professional grade video equipment is another option, cameras may be too heavy and bulky for efficient field service, and the technology may be out of reach because of limited budgets.

Wearable Solutions

To overcome these challenges, today's modern fire service professionals are turning to industrial-grade wearable video solutions. Designed for first responders, these advanced tools can capture and store tamperproof video and audio to deliver an accurate and unbiased record. As wearable technology, the devices serve as total situational awareness and seamless digital information capture tools and important assets for fire scene investigators and inspectors.

Engineered to collect information in a range of environments, wearable video solutions can capture information that might otherwise be missed. Optimized to record both day and night images, wearable video solutions built for industrial use can operate continuously for as much as five hours and produce high-resolution video. Complete with wide angle fish-eye views and built-in microphones, the latest wearable camera devices even feature gyroscopic stabilization and image distortion correction software and can allow for video playback while maintaining the evidence integrity of the original file. Wearable cameras built for industrial use also often offer a ruggedized form factor that is both dust- and water-resistant, which ensures a level of durability superior to consumer-grade models.

(1) Designed for first responders, these advanced tools can capture and store tamper-proof video and audio to deliver an accurate and unbiased record. As wearable technology, the devices serve as total situational awareness and seamless digital information capture tools and important assets for fire scene investigators and inspectors. (Photo courtesy of Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.)

Evidence

When it comes to evidence recovery in the field, wearable video devices can be critical for investigators in the aftermath of a fire. According to the latest estimates on major fire causes, in 20111 United States fire rescue crews responded to an estimated 28,900 intentionally set home structure fires. In potential crime scene cases where intentional fires may have been set, wearable camera devices are especially useful because investigators can use footage from fire rescue operations to preserve hard-to-document early scene images that may prove critical to solving an investigation. These include bystanders, nearby vehicles, and other potential evidence that can be easily lost, moved, or forgotten in the confusion and panic at the scene of a fire. Once suspects have been identified and located, investigators can also use the footage to evaluate testimony provided during witness interviews.

In prosecutions, fire investigation

Alan M. Petrillo

Nozzle technology has become so advanced, the firefighter on the nozzle has an array of options for choosing flow, stream, and even pressure. Manufacturers of nozzles have spent time through focus groups and voice-of-the-customer sessions with seasoned handline-using firefighters to determine how to provide better streams and allow for adjustments in flow, stream, and pressure.

Final Stop

Eric Combs, director of marketing for Elkhart Brass, characterizes the nozzle as an integral part of the fire suppression solution. "It's the last part in the whole system of the water supply, the pump, the pressure governor, and the hose," says Combs, "and all components have to work in concert with one another. If you change the pressure flow setting on the nozzle, it will have an effect on the system, including changing the flow on other devices in the system."

Combs notes that Elkhart Brass engages in what it calls "active listening"-engaging with firefighters and fire departments face to face to determine what the industry wants out of nozzle performance. "The number one element that firefighters want from their nozzle is an effective fire stream every time they open it up," Combs says.

He points out that a number of variables are at work in putting water on a fire through a nozzle: flow rate, stream quality, stream reach, and reaction force. "But at the end of the day, it's the gallons per minute (gpm) to remove British thermal units (Btus) that put the fire out," he adds. "That's where it's so important to know your flow and how your nozzle is performing."

Elkhart Brass makes four types of nozzles for handline use, Combs says: deluge, fixed-gallonage, selectable, and automatic. He notes that adding foam, ultra high pressure, or compressed air foam (CAF) can improve the effectiveness of most nozzles even more than by using plain water.

(1) Akron Brass Co.'s HydroFX nozzle incorporates a flow-sensing device in the waterway and displays water flow through colored LED lights placed on the nozzle body under the bail. (Photo courtesy of Akron Brass Co.)

Simplicity

Rod Carringer, chief marketing officer (CMO) for Task Force Tips (TFT), says firefighters have told TFT that they want their equipment to be simplified, robust, and easy to use. "The pendulum has swung from the long-time usage of only smoothbore tips a number of years ago toward combination nozzles," Carringer says. "Take a look at a rig today and you may see five or six defined attack lines with specific nozzles on them designed for two- or three-firefighter operation."

David Durstine, vice president of marketing for Akron Brass Co., says his company also has reached out to firefighters for their input on nozzles and received many responses to keep the nozzle and its operation simple. "That's why we unveiled our new nozzle, the Hydro FX," Durstine says. "The Hydro FX incorporates a patent-pending flow-sensing device in the waterway that takes measurements of the water flow, correlates them against predetermined settings, and displays the flow rate via LED lights."

Durstine says a predetermined flow rate might be 150 gpm at 100 pounds per square inch (psi). If the flow rate is at or above 150 gpm, the LED light on the nozzle sensor would be green. For a flow rate below 150 gpm but above the predetermined low-flow setting, a yellow LED would light up. If the flow drops below the low-flow setting, 100 gpm for instance, the LED goes to a red indicator. "Instead of guessing about the flow, a firefighter has visual indication of