By Alan M. Petrillo

Quick attack pumpers and mini pumpers continue to be a mainstay feature of many fire department fleets. Users cite their maneuverability and ability to quickly get water on a fire until larger fire units can arrive on scene as well as being able to more easily negotiate tight roads, accessways, and even parking garages.

W.S. Darley & Company has introduced a new version of its quick attack WASP and Max-WASP mini pumpers called the WS Tactical Pumper. “This is on a new model chassis, the Navistar CV chassis that has up to a 23,000 GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating),” says Jason Darley, North American sales manager for the pump division. “The WS Tactical Pumper carries a 400-gallon water tank, an integral 25-gallon foam tank, a Darley PSMC 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pump, and a Darley AutoCAFS with a compressor rated at 120 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at 150 pounds per square inch (psi). We built a WS Tactical Pumper for an upstate New York volunteer fire department that has two 1¾-inch crosslays, one 2½-inch hoseline, and a 1-inch booster reel in the rear compartment, all preconnected for CAFS (compressed air foam system).”

• Darley Rebranding and Reinventing WASP Series Platform as WS Tactical Pumper
• Ringwood Borough (NJ) VFC No. 1 Has Darley Build WASP Quick-Attack Tactical Pumper
• Mini-Pumpers and Quick-Attack Rigs Remain Popular
• Quick-Attack Pumpers Continue to Enjoy Resurgence in Popularity

Troy Carothers, Darley’s contract administrator and CAFS manager, notes the WS Tactical Pumper can also be built on the Ford F-550 chassis powered by the 6.7-liter diesel engine. “In the Ford WS Tactical Pumper, we still will offer the Super Single tire and wheel kit like we do on the Max-WASP,” Carothers says, “and we are redesigning for the Navistar CV chassis, which requires heavier GVWR tires rated for the additional weight the chassis can carry.”

Joe Messmer, president of Summit Fire Apparatus, says quick attack and mini pumpers fit well in a fire department’s apparatus arsenal, especially for rural and suburban departments with the kind of housing lots where the homes are hundreds of feet down a driveway away from the road. “Many departments will drop a 4-inch LDH (large-diameter hose) off their mini at the end of the driveway and use their 300 gallons of water to tamp down the fire until a second-due engine can supply water to the mini,” Messmer says.

He notes that Summit built a mini pumper for the Edgewood (KY) Fire/EMS on a Ford F-550 chassis with a 750-gpm pump, a 250-gallon water tank, a small foam tank and foam system, 800 feet of 4-inch LDH hose, and a small ladder complement. “In town, there are three parking garages at a local hospital with a maximum height of 7 feet 2 inches,” Messmer points out. “The mini has gotten in there and hit the standpipes in the garage to extinguish fires and save a bunch of cars.”

Rob Wilkey, product manager at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says that some larger fire departments are purchasing mini pumpers for specific tactical reasons. “The San Antonio (TX) Fire Department is a large city with many exclusive homes that have narrow driveways win

Ferrara—Dickson (TN) Fire Department pumper. Cinder XMFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; Hendrickson Steertek front axle; AXIS smart truck technology; 102-inch-wide extruded aluminum body; ROM roll-up compartment doors. Dealer: Jeff Bagwell, American Emergency Response Training, Rockford, TN.

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For the first time, FDIC International 2023 will feature the “Fire Rescue Station of the Future,” an interactive showcase of cutting-edge design and products. Designed by H2M architects + engineers (H2M) and featuring more than 30 additional sponsors, this walk-through exhibit of a futuristic station will look at essential programmatic changes to the current fire station model.

The Fire Rescue Station of the Future is a full-scale fire station replica located in Lucas Oil Stadium and part of the Lucas Oil Experience (www.fdic.com/los-experience). The station incorporates modern design concepts with advanced technologies to improve safety and efficiency. Navigate through the futuristic station to explore the architecturally-designed building and room designs each with new equipment and products on display including electric apparatus, robots, drones, decontamination, command and dispatch, advanced training, well-being, and many more.

Visualize how spaces can be utilized, take an architect-guided tour, ride on an electric engine; reserve a spot to join us for breakfast and lunch in the training room, or relax in the outdoor wellness area.

H2M’s Architects and Station Designers will be offering tours of the Station for all attendees seeking firsthand answers to questions like “How will current fire/rescue station designs evolve to accommodate new needs? How can we charge a growing number of electric apparatus and support vehicles? How can we manage the electric service of a building while dealing with local codes and ordinances for proper fire separation and fire suppression systems? Can fire stations accommodate battery storage technology? Will drones and robots become common? Will biometrics become the new standard for measuring the health and well-being of responders? How can we retrofit existing stations with these ideas and equipment so that all battalions are prepared for the future? What does a truly futuristic station look like?”

Attendees will navigate through the exhibit, exploring exciting new building and room designs with new equipment/products in each.

Explorable spaces will include: bays with brand new electric apparatus, robots, drones, and the state-of-the-art apparatus support; decontamination and transition zones and laundering facilities that will bring visitors from the traditionally “dirty/red” side of the building to the “clean/green” side; cutting-edge training rooms where presentations will be offered throughout the conference; a top of the line command and dispatch center; modern living quarters and exercise room; and an outdoor/well-being area.

The Overall Station Sponsor is 3am/Microsoft.

The station is designed by: H2M Architects.

Room Sponsors are:

• American Red Cross
• Arctic Compression
• AT&T
• Autel
• Coach Me Plus
• Door Engineering
• Draeger
• Fire Fighter Cancer Registry
• Firecompanies.com
• First Arriving
• H2M Architects
• Howe & Howe Technologies – Textron
• IL Firefighters Association
• ImageTrend
• Innotex
• International Truck (Navistar)
• Meiko
• Nanotech Energies
• Polaris Industries
• Ready Rack by Groves
• Retreat Behavioral Health
• Rosenbauer
• Safety Components
• Shark Robotics
• Soot Soap
• Streamlite
• Stryker
• Tesla National
• TFT
• The Fire Academy
• Toxic Suppression
• USSC

Tours will be offered during exhibit hall hours on Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29, 2023. Find out more about FDIC International and register to attend online at FDIC.com<

The legal action seeks to hold the NFPA liable for standard requiring “forever chemicals” in fire fighter gear 

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) filed a lawsuit today against the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for its role in imposing a testing standard that effectively requires the use of carcinogens in fire fighter protective gear. The case, International Association of Fire Fighters v. National Fire Protection Association, Inc., was filed in Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. 

Toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in fire fighter bunker gear and have been linked to cancer, the leading cause of fire fighter death. Nearly 75 percent of those honored at the 2022 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial died of occupational cancer. 

• NFPA Rejects Appeal from IAFF on Firefighter PPE and PFAS
• Researcher Responds to Claims About PFAS, Firefighter PPE
• It’s Time for Firefighters to Demand PFAS-Free PPE
• Your Gear, Your Life: Firefighter PPE Toxins and What to Do About Them
• Hacking Your PFAS Exposure

The complaint seeks to hold the NFPA liable for its Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (Standard 1971). The standard – which establishes minimum levels of protection from thermal, physical, environmental, and biological hazards faced during firefighting – calls for using PFAS in the middle moisture barrier of fire fighter bunker gear to satisfy the NFPA’s Ultraviolet Light Degradation Test. The standards committee deliberately chose the time of exposure to UV light. A shorter exposure time would allow numerous other materials to pass, but a longer exposure time would allow no materials to pass. The set 40 hours is the threshold where only PFAS passes, meaning all fire fighters must wear bunker gear laden with dangerous chemicals.  

“The very gear designed to protect fire fighters, to keep us safe, is killing us,” said IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “Standard 1971 needlessly requires the use of PFAS in fire fighter gear. Even when presented with independent science on the health and safety risks, the NFPA has refused to help save our lives. The IAFF has a duty to protect our members’ health and their families’ wellbeing.” 

The IAFF has retained three nationally recognized law firms, Motley Rice LLC; Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC; and Sullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo P.C., in its effort to combat cancer in the fire service. The firms, collectively known as the PFAS Law Firms, are available to assist IAFF members made sick by PFAS exposure at work.  

“The NFPA has a unique role in promulgating standards that eliminate fire-related deaths and personal injuries while also protecting fire firefighters. Our client alleges NFPA conspired with the PFAS industry and abdicated its solemn obligation to North American fire fighters and it seeks to stop this alleged conduct,” stated T. David Hoyle, Motley Rice attorney.

“Getting cancer i

The Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department has a new $500,000 tender, pqbnews.com reported.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) announced the new arrival, which was purchased to replace the current tender.

The new truck was made possible through a partnership between the RDN, the Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department and the Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department Society, the report said.

With input from the DVFD and other fire service representatives, Fort Garry Fire Trucks designed and built the truck in 18 months, with a number of unique specifications, the report said. The new truck carries 2,000 gallons of water, a 500-gallon increase over the current 1997 GMC tender, according to the report.

Wilmington Fire Chief Andy Mason told WKRC how the firefighters freed the man.

Firefighters rescued a 77-year-old victim entrapped in corn in a bin in the 3800 block of Stone Road in Sabina at about 11:15 a.m. Monday.

• Nominate a Rural Fire Department to Receive Life-Saving Grain Bin Equipment

The farm worker entered the grain bin to investigate a potential leak. Firefighters attempted to remove the man from the top of the bin after placing a rescue tube around him.

But eventually firefighters had to cut holes in the bin to let corn out to lower the levels enough to extricate the man.

He was transported to the hospital, but remained conscious and communicating with firefighters throughout the rescue.

PRESS RELEASE

PACIFIC GROVE – Calif. (March 13, 2023) – California American Water, in collaboration with the American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, announced today that the Foundation awarded a $25,000 State Strategic Impact Grant to the Monterey County Fire Training Officer’s Association for the purchase of a Pump Pod recirculating training tool.

The Pump Pod training apparatus will greatly enhance the safety and training of our local firefighters while also saving our communities millions of gallons of water. The apparatus will enable firefighters to train with full-flow water pressure that can be deployed to individual battalions, eliminating the need to curtail water service during training exercises. This new system will significantly increase training hours while reducing time and costs related to these exercises.

“Being a good neighbor in our local community has always been an important part of who we are as a company,” said Chris Cook, Director of Operations. “Working with California American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation to bring much needed resources to our local community is very rewarding for all of us.” 

Benefits derived from the training apparatus is that it could save millions of gallons of water each year using its innovative water recirculating design and construction. In just two days of training operations since receiving the training apparatus, Monterey Fire has saved 25,000 gallons of water using the Pump Pod.

The State Strategic Impact Grant is part of the Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, focusing on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.  These grants support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s regulated footprint.

This significant water saving measure is consistent with California American Water’s robust conservation programs which encourage efficient water use.

For more information on California American Water’s conservation programs visit www.amwater.com/caaw/conservation/ 

About California American Water

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to more than 725,000 people. Information regarding California American Water’s service areas can be found on the company’s website www.californiaamwater.com.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The Klein Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Services District No. 16 celebrated the grand reopening of Station 6 last month, communityimpact.com reported.

The station was reopened after renovations were completed. Construction on the station began in the summer of 2021, the report said.

KVFD Station 6 houses a 2023 Pierce engine, a 2018 Pierce 100-foot tower ladder and a 2018 booster/grass fire truck, according to the report.

The station is located at 18822 North Eldridge Parkway, Tomball (TX).

Mara H. Gottfried

Pioneer Press

(TNS)

St. Paul will be the first fire department in Minnesota with a fully-electric fire truck, the mayor and fire chief announced Wednesday.

Rosenbauer, a design and manufacturing company, has started the build process for St. Paul’s truck and delivery is expected by 2025. It’s planned to coincide with the completion of a new Fire Station 7 on the East Side.

The city is submitting federal funding requests to support the purchase. Information wasn’t immediately available Wednesday about the cost of the fire truck.

“It brings us all the critical green energy benefits of an electric vehicle, while meeting the high safety and efficiency standards we have for all our fire equipment,” Mayor Melvin Carter said in a statement.

The city’s “Climate Action & Resilience Plan” focuses on achieving carbon neutrality in city operations by 2030 and citywide by 2050. “In addition to furthering climate goals, this investment helps reduce diesel emissions and supports firefighters’ overall health and wellbeing,” the city said in a statement.

The fire departments in Los Angeles, Calif., and Vancouver, British Columbia, have also purchased the Rosenbauer RTX electric fire truck, according to the city.

The truck’s final assembly will happen at Rosenbauer’s facility in Wyoming, Minn.

• WATCH: MN Governor Unveils State’s First Electric Fire Truck

The Shawnee Fire Department has installed a new station alert system designed to wake sleeping firefighters less abruptly for nighttime callouts.

The alerting system, which cost $150,000, wakes firefighters with a red light instead of a bright one and an alarm that starts softer before increasingly getting louder, KMBC reports.

The new systems, which replace the blaring horns that awaken firefighters, are designed to place less stress on the heart when firefighters are toned out in the middle of the night.

The department also hopes the new heart-healthy alerting system will make the workplace more appealing and help it attract and retain firefighters.

Read the features and news on fire trucks and fire equipment from the March 2023 issue of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazine.

Florissant Fire-Rescue District held a special ceremony to dedicate its newest light rescue truck as an addition to the fleet, mountainjackport.com reported.

Members of the community then helped push the light rescue rig into the garage to signify its status as officially being in commission to help serve those in the community who are in need, the report said.

Norfolk Fire-Rescue will break ground on a new 14,000 square foot fire station in the Fairmount Park neighborhood at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 21, the department said in a news release Monday.

The new station will be located at 2601 Lafayette Boulevard and will replace Fire Station 11 on Verdun Avenue, which has been in service for 100 years and was the first in Norfolk to house a motorized fire apparatus.

Units from Station 11 are some of the city’s most essential, frequently responding to fires in other districts due to their central location.

Plans for the new fire station include a new fire engine and an additional response unit to provide citywide supervision for fire and emergency services personnel.

Construction is set to begin next month with a targeted completion date of April 2024.

Ferrara—Greenville Township Fire and Rescue, Floyd Knobs, IN, pumper. Spartan FC-94 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2002 single-agent foam system; FRC InView 360 camera system; Whelen scene lighting. Dealer: Lonnie Leake, Mid-America Fire & Safety, Evansville, IN.

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A remote northern Ontario Cree community expects to receive a fire truck in the next week. It will arrive two months after a child died in a fire, cbc.ca reported.

In late January, a 10-year-old girl in the community of Peawanuck died in a house fire, the report said. At the time, the community of around 200 people near the Hudson Bay coast didn’t have access to fire services or basic firefighting equipment.

A city official with Weenusk First Nation, which includes Peawanuck, said the fire truck has been ready for around a week, and they are just waiting for the winter road to the community to be ready so the vehicle can be driven from Winnipeg to the community, the report said.

Winnipeg-based Fort Garry Fire Trucks is expected to deliver the pumper.

The city official said the small community has never had sufficient resources to deal with house fires, the report said.

The fire truck will have to be parked in a vacant warehouse for at least the next year, according to the report. The community plans to build a proper fire hall, but still needs to bring in engineers to sign off on the structure they have planned, the report said. 

In the meantime, the city official said the community plans for four people to get immediate training on how to use the fire truck, so they can start using it right away, the report said.

A falling tree slammed into a fire truck in Walnut Creek during Tuesday’s powerful windstorm, nbcbayarea.com reported.

The tree came down along Ygnacio Valley Road, shutting down multiple lanes of traffic and damaging the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District engine, the report said.

The firefighters are OK, but the truck will need repairs, according to the report.

Fire officials said everyone should expect more falling trees into Tuesday night, and they asked people to stay inside if they can.