By Robert Tutterow

My previous two columns have been about ways to cut fire station operating costs-both existing and new. These are costs that have no direct bearing on service delivery or firefighter safety. As stated in the previous columns, 49 percent of a building's lifespan costs are the ongoing costs for utilities, maintenance, and replacing furnishings. Items that were covered included materials selection for the exterior and interior of the station. This is a substantial sum of funds that, if properly managed, could be applied to apparatus, personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment, training, and other mission-critical items. In this column, there will be a bit more information on materials selection plus a tool that can be used to manage utility costs.

Minor but Big Payoff

There are minor expense items that have a big payback in a station's sustainability. These include corner guards for drywall-hopefully "abuse-resistant" drywall. Vinyl-wrapped ceiling tiles or epoxy painted drywall make for long-lasting ceilings. Flooring materials should be of materials that do not require vacuuming or waxing. Stainless steel is the most durable and easy to maintain material for kitchen appliances and cabinet surfaces. Never use particleboard for kitchen cabinets. Commercial-quality cooktops and ovens provide the best return on investment in a station where there is frequent cooking. Use porcelain or ceramic tiles in restrooms and shower areas.

Building Dashboard

And, now for the aforementioned tool-the building dashboard. Building dashboards are exactly what they sound like. Just as an automobile has a dashboard to inform drivers of what is going on with the vehicle, there is a growing number of buildings that have dashboards. In short, a building dashboard is a Web-based tool that provides real-time information about the building such as electricity or gas use, water use, temperature, humidity, and air quality. The dashboard can be configured to meet the needs of users and their capabilities, and expandability is almost limitless.

The dashboard can be used by management to monitor usage and detect areas of wasted energy. Firefighters can access the dashboard to learn more about energy usage and modify their behavior. If a department has more than one station, reducing energy consumption can become a competition. For example, several college campuses have placed building dashboards in their dormitories. They then have contests among the dorms to see which one can reduce its utility usage by the highest percentage. Students in the winning dorm receive a prize.

The beauty of the dashboard is that it provides data-manageable data. Think for a moment about driving a car without a dashboard. How do you know your speed? How do you know how much fuel is in the tank? How do you know how many miles are on the vehicle? In effect, that's what the fire service and society have been doing with buildings forever. Today we have the technology to manage a building-specifically a fire station.

Chart the Course

One beauty of the dashboard is its ability to provide graphs that chart utility usage over a period of time. At last year's Annual F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Symposium, Keith Pehl with Optima Engineering gave a presentation about building dashboards. He referenced an example of a building with a dashboard that indicated the air-conditioning had started to come on at night when the building was not occupied. This was during the winter months when the outside temperatures were below freezing. An investigation revealed that new information technology equipment had been installed in the building, and the venting system to release the heat was shut down when the building was not occupied. The problem was remedied, and the utility costs for the building returned back to a lower level. Without the building dashboard, the higher

By Richard Marinucci

As I begin to write this article attempting to predict the future, the federal government is shut down because of elected officials' inability to reach agreement on a budget. Regardless of your political affiliation, you are probably disgusted over this major issue. A prognosticator probably could have predicted this a few months ago. Yet this relatively recent development will have a huge effect on the economy and will impact recovery. This demonstrates how some actions that are out of most people's control make it very difficult to see too far in the future.

Improvement Continues

In spite of our elected officials' current action in Washington, D.C., the economy is improving, and indications are that this should continue for the foreseeable future. Based on this belief, organizations should anticipate what is coming and plan accordingly. Some believe that government lags behind the private sector in the economic realm. As many indicators point to better times in the private sector, it would seem that governments should be following shortly.

The recent recession's severity has created a new normal for many fire departments. This has affected service levels-some to the point that operations have changed significantly. One should not assume that an organization will automatically return to prerecession levels. In many cases, the actions taken changed the culture and structure, meaning it is no longer business as usual. Departments were forced to change, and some things clearly have had a negative impact on the ability to deliver service.

Staffing Levels

Organizations have changed staffing, training, apparatus and equipment acquisition, and prevention. The coming year will see efforts to begin restoring programs that had been greatly reduced or eliminated. Those in the profession know that a continuation of inadequacy will ultimately lead to poor service, even if nothing tragic has happened in the short term. The fire service is now challenged to change the discussion from economic survival to fire departments' needs to improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Staffing across the board has been reduced-in career, combination, and volunteer organizations. Many departments have used SAFER grants to supplement staffing and keep from getting to levels that would make them unable to function. These grants will end for many departments in the coming year. Local funds will be used to maintain staffing, or service levels will again be reduced. The leadership in these organizations must have a plan for maintaining or increasing staffing to the levels needed to provide service that truly makes a difference. This will most likely be a combination of an improving economy that increases the tax base and a request from taxpayers for more money to fund minimal levels.

One of the biggest challenges will be convincing policymakers that they need to return to investing in their labor force if they want to provide bare minimum levels of service. Unfortunately some people now believe that the reductions forced by the economic downturn proved that many organizations were overstaffed. Fire departments need to develop a strategy to reverse this thinking.

Investment

Many fire departments postponed making capital investments to save money and possibly protect personnel from layoffs. The fallout from this is that organizations are past due on replacing apparatus, protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus, and other vital equipment. Some departments have been fortunate in that they received federal grants to help with these purchases. That is a good thing. Yet those who have not been successful with grants are now in a position where their apparatus are approaching or are beyond their life expectancy or are becoming more unreliable every day. One thing to consider if you have not been in the market f

By Christian P. Koop

History, as many of us have learned, has a way of repeating itself-even when it comes to emergency response vehicle (ERV) maintenance and repair. What prompted me to go ahead and put pen to paper, as the saying goes, was a phone call I received from one of our vendors a few months back. The caller explained a problem he was encountering with a new rescue truck his dealership had recently sold but which was brought back with a complaint that during hard braking it pulled to one side. The dealer was having difficulty getting the problem diagnosed correctly. I quickly remembered and explained to him what the problem might be based on a similar symptom our shop had encountered 20 years earlier. It turns out it was the same problem. And, sharing this information proved valuable in getting the problem resolved sooner with fewer headaches for all involved.

Common Problems

For quite some time now I have felt the need to compile the major fleet problems or defects I have seen and experienced with ERVs over the years. By major, I am referring to those problems that affect a specific group of vehicles or are common fleetwide. Some of these issues might have been created by technical specifications that did not take into account real-world drive cycles, terrain, climate, vehicle weight, and other factors that can negatively impact ERV maintenance, reliability, and durability. Others were caused by poor design or just manufacturing defects that were not discovered until the ERVs were placed in service.

Many of these fleetwide issues manifest themselves right after the vehicles are purchased and placed into service. Other problems may take many months and even thousands of miles to rear their troublesome heads. My main goal behind writing about these past issues is that I feel some of the resolutions to defects and problems I have encountered over the years could be of value to others running into similar or even the exact same issues. This could be beneficial by providing information that may ultimately help cut down the time it takes to resolve similar problems. I am sure everyone reading this realizes that time is money, especially with today's budgets, and getting the unit back in service as soon as possible is paramount to all those who are involved or affected by the problem-not to mention the taxpayers.

This article is not intended to bash manufacturers in any way for past problems. I will provide a brief history and background for each of the ERV fleet issues that I describe below to give the reader the best perspective in understanding what caused a problem and what those involved did to resolve it.

Alternator Failures

In the early 1980s, our department was using big-block gasoline-powered rescue trucks (aka ambulances) that were experiencing frequent alternator failures. Back then we were using a brush-type 165-amp alternator with internal rectification. In other words, it was an alternator with the diodes or bridge rectifiers built inside the unit as is still common today in most automotive, truck, and heavy equipment alternators. The root cause of the problem was extreme high under-hood temperatures causing the alternator diodes to die an early death. It was not because of an excessive electrical load. At the time, a gentleman out of Tampa, Florida-Whitley, if I recall correctly-began producing an external bridge rectifier to address the problem. Removing the stock bridge rectifiers from the excessive heat found inside the alternator and relocating them behind the grill area to receive cooler airflow resolved the problem.

Afterward, the shop modified the rest of the fleet, and alternator life was restored to acceptable levels. One very important point is that excessive heat is an enemy of charging systems, batteries, and electronic components. We went through this same ordeal just a few years ago when the wrong altern

By Paul C. Darley,
President and CEO, W.S. Darley & Company

In the movie "Money Ball," Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane uses statistical information to create a winning baseball team. You can do the same with your fire department, company, or just about any organization.

"Where is the fire industry headed?" and "When will it turn around?" are the two most common questions I hear from those in the fire industry trying to navigate through these difficult times. No one knows for sure, but there are a lot of industry data we can use to help answer these challenging questions.

Data-Driven Decisions

I've always been a believer in data-driven decisions. When it comes to figuring where this industry is headed, I turn to sources such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National League of Cities (NLC), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA)-just to name a few. Each organization collects data that it shares with the public and its membership.

Here are a few highlights of the data published from these different organizations.

The NFPA has an excellent research section on its Web site. One of the best reports is the Annual Fire Loss Report published each year in September. It is filled with more statistics than you can ever absorb, but high-level trends certainly emerge. For example, there were 1.375 million fires and 2,855 fire-related deaths in 2012. This was down one percent from the previous year and down more than 55 percent compared to 1977, when there were 3.3 million fires and 7,400 deaths. Fires accounted for only four percent of the 31.8 million calls in 2012, while 68 percent were EMS calls.

The search feature of the IAFC's Web site is great, and there are more articles on fire industry statistics than you can imagine. I encourage you to go to its Web site and type in the words "Fire Stats." You'll be hit with 2,500 records ranked by relevance. You can quickly narrow this down through a refined search on the topic of your choice.

The NLC publishes the single best annual report for determining the future health of America's cities, the "Research Brief on America's Cities." The 2013 report, released in mid-October, covers survey results from cities with populations ranging from 10,000 to three million residents. This report covers everything from building permit reports to spending activities. City finance officers report that they are now better able to meet their financial needs than at any time since 2007. This extremely favorable news is based on increased revenues and cuts in services. The report also addresses the 18- to 24-month lag between the general economy and municipal budgets.

The NVFC's Web site has a section devoted entirely to statistics. There are 756,450 volunteer firefighters in the United States comprising 69 percent of the nation's fire service. Of the 30,145 departments in the country, 20,200 are all volunteer, 5,530 are mostly volunteer, 1,865 are mostly career, and 2,550 are all career. The number of volunteer firefighters in the United States has declined by more than 18 percent since 1984. Major factors contributing to the decline include increased time demands and less focus on volunteering-this at a time when the average age of volunteers is increasing significantly.

The FAMA Web site also has some great tools, such as a weight and cube calculator to determine how much equipment can fit on your new truck. All United States fire apparatus manufacturers submit statistics on the number of new vehicle orders and those shipped each quarter. This detailed report is only for members, but the FAMA board has given me permission to share the following:

New orders for fire apparatus have increased recently. In

By Rod Carringer

Al Petrillo's great article on the impact of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles and Fire Hose Appliances, (2013 ed.), in my perspective, alluded to what will be only the tip of the iceberg as it relates to the testing of nozzles and appliances. As we look more closely at the wording and intent of the standard, the ability of many departments to actually meet the requirements may actually be quite limited.

More than Hose

The expanded standard, aside from testing hose, requires the following:

• Handheld nozzles are all to be tested as frequently as the hose they are used on is tested and shall be both flow and hydrostatically tested.

• Hydrostatic testing requires a minimum of 300- up to 450-pound-per-square-inch (psi) pressures, and flow testing requires a calibrated flowmeter.

• All appliances such as gated wyes, manifolds, portable monitors, ball valves, and even intake valves are to be hydrostatically tested annually.

• Intake valves are to be removed from the apparatus and tested to the standard. The attached pressure relief valve shall be removed and tested separately.

• Suction hose is to be vacuum-tested and measured to 22 inches of mercury for 10 minutes, and a clear inspection cap is to be installed.

As the scope of these standard changes sinks in, I remain somewhat torn. On one hand, as I am a corporate officer of Task Force Tips (TFT), the focus on safety, service, and repair of noncompliant products, and even the recommended replacement schedule, is of the utmost importance to help keep our responders safe. On the other hand, as I am a nearly 40-year veteran of a small volunteer fire department, this is yet one more unfunded mandate we have to try to deal with. The burden of annual testing of hose, ladders, pumps, and now nozzles, appliances, and flow hardware forces us into a position of either committing scarce human and financial resources to accomplish the standard's compliance recommendations or accepting the potential liability should one of our untested and undocumented components fail during service.

As you can see, this really is a multifaceted issue and like it or not, since earlier this year, it's the law of the land when it comes to testing, inspection, care, and replacement of hose, nozzles, and appliances. If you are associated with a hose testing company or are a hose testing franchise owner, this standard and the associated business expansion are truly windfalls. But if you're an agency that has always maintained a "do-it-yourself" attitude when it comes to testing, maintenance, and service, there will certainly be some challenges to achieve compliance. As one of the world's largest producers of high-performance water flow equipment, TFT will continue to offer its perspective and interpretation of the performance and testing aspects of NFPA 1962. Following are some of the key areas of interest we've identified from conversations with distributors and emergency responders.

Hydrostatic Testing Equipment

When hydrostatically testing nozzles and appliances, the following criteria applies:

• Nozzles, appliances, and hardware shall be attached to a hydrostatic pressure source capable of exerting 300 psi, or 1.5 times the manufacturer's recommended maximum. For TFT, many items are rated at 300 psi, so the required equipment needs to exert up to 450-psi hydrostatic pressure, depending on the component being tested.

• The pressure being exerted on the product being tested shall be increased at each level by 50 psi and held for 30 seconds without visible leakage. At the maximum pressure, the hardware shall be held for 60 seconds with no visible leakage.

• Aside from the necessary calibrated gauge on the hydrostati

By Chris Mc Loone

I always enjoy putting together our December issue. Doing so gives me the chance to check in with industry suppliers and get an idea of where they feel their markets are headed in the coming year. Some might think, "Big deal. The tool manufacturers are optimistic. What's that got to do with me?" The answer is actually quite a bit.

When the manufacturers are saying that municipal budgets are showing less constraint, that means it's time for you to begin ensuring you get a piece of that pie. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period just opened, but it is time for us to stop relying on grant monies to accomplish what we need to do. If municipalities are starting to loosen the purse strings even a little bit, make sure you are the first in line to ensure your firefighters get new PPE, or that they get new apparatus that will stay out of the shop, or that they get SCBA that meets the most current edition of NFPA 1981.

You're not going to know whether or not your municipality has the money to spend unless you ask. The whole country knows we have suffered long enough, but what our budget directors are going to want is proof.

Data-Rich Environments

Like it or not, today we live in a world that is driven by data. We look at statistics to predict where the world economy is headed, whether to buy an ambulance or a pumper, or to plan our own capital improvements on our homes. Usually data are available at the click of a mouse. But, one area where many departments still struggle is documenting their activities to use as criteria for capital purchases.

For example, my department is working to achieve national accreditation. This has been a sometimes arduous process, especially in the beginning when we were getting systems in place to collect data regarding our training, our responses, our records, and attendance levels. Data collection required some companies in the department to change certain processes within their own organizations-no easy feat when most of the companies in the department are more than 100 years old and have been using their own processes the entire time.

Although the department is still several months away from finding out if it is accredited, the data we have collected have already resulted in many benefits. For one thing, we now have a more formal "seat at the table" with our elected commissioners. A few tangible benefits have been realized. We received funding for an expanded training program, which includes capital expenditures; we have expanded our training facility with a larger multipurpose training building; we constructed a training/storage building for the various training props and training equipment we have accrued; and, most importantly, at least one public safety training academy will send instructors to our facility for Firefighter I classes.

Another example is a preventive maintenance reimbursement program. The data we have collected have been used as justification for this program, under which each company is reimbursed by the township for preventive maintenance performed on apparatus, equipment, and facilities.

Obviously, not every department will realize such benefits. Economic realities are what they are. However, through a proactive program, it is possible to more effectively place your department "on the map" of your municipality, thus securing the funding necessary for you to continue providing the services your community has come to expect. Being able to prove you are doing what you say you are doing has benefits that transcend just counting pennies. It is hard to argue with data.

We have struggled enough during the economic downturn. The time is now for you to get your "seat at the table" and demand the funding that is long overdue for your department. If you have been assembling data, get them organized and present them effec

Chris Mc Loone

If there's one thing the current economy has taught most of us, it's that there is no crystal ball we can use to predict when things are going to turn around. Even when things start to look like they're going pretty well, we again realize that very little of this is within our control. So, although things are pointing toward a 2014 that is better than 2013, the optimism remains understandably tempered.

Market Outlook

Many fire industry manufacturers are proceeding with caution considering the fragility of the economy. Things are better than they have been, but there is still a long way to go. "We are optimistic that municipal budgets will continue the improvement we have seen in the last couple of years," says Giff Swayne, president, Holmatro, Inc. "It is of course a fragile recovery, and there is still a good deal of pressure on fire department budgets. But, overall we are cautiously optimistic that the gains we have seen over the past couple of years will continue. During the depth of the recession and housing crisis, it was common to hear that departments were deferring purchases of new equipment because of budget cuts. But, we are not hearing that much anymore."

David Durstine, vice president, marketing, Akron Brass Company, says that his company is optimistic for the North American fire service and is looking forward to seeing industry growth in 2014. "Although we expect the growth to be mild, there is a pent-up demand as many fire departments have been delaying purchases or equipment upgrades over the past four to five years, and we are beginning to see a positive outlook on many city and state budgets."

Braun Industries is also looking forward to continued growth. "The economic indicators show a slight increase in growth for our industry in 2014," says Chad Brown, vice president, sales and marketing.

On the apparatus side, Bobby Williams, vice president, sales and marketing, Pierce Manufacturing, says federal demand will remain down, but the company continues to see evidence for improvement in municipal demand. "Some of the areas that were hit harder economically are now beginning to show signs of life," he says. "More of the larger fleet customers are starting the buying cycles, which is promising."

Economy's Effects

Of course, the general state of the economy will have an effect on the fire industry and municipality buying patterns. It's hard to pinpoint what the exact state of the economy is, but William Smith, president and CEO of Waterous, says, "Over the last two years, the economy has been stabilized and has been showing positive signs. As long as the government continues to support the fire service, 2014 will be a good year."

Keeping an eye on Washington, D.C., is key. "I wish that there was a defined state of the economy," says Swayne. "The gridlock in Washington, the uncertainty brought on by new legislations and regulations, and the roller coaster that is fiscal policy will play a role in our market in 2014. The problem is no one seems to have a clear understanding of where we are heading economically."

Durstine adds, "As we saw recently with the United States federal government shutdown, optimism could change at the flip of a coin or significant events beyond our control."

Braun cites the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a potential influencer on companies in his market. "I think there is some hesitation in the marketplace with ACA and how that will impact the departments and agencies financially."

Swayne adds, "The recovery we have seen is fragile. Although the grants and Fire Administration funding seem to be intact for fiscal 2014, we need to keep a close eye on Washington and work with all industry stakeholders to ensure it stays that way."

Willi

Alan M. Petrillo

The Bel Air (MD) Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is one of the busiest volunteer departments in Maryland, covering an 80-square-mile area as first-due response and providing mutual aid to three counties. Last year Bel Air ran 6,495 emergency medical service (EMS) calls with four first-line advanced life support (ALS) ambulances.

Specific Need

Bel Air VFD, centrally located in Harford County, operates out of three stations and averages nearly 24 EMS calls a day, so quality, ease of maintenance, and reliability were chief concerns when the department looked to purchase a new ambulance, says Greg Sentman, the department's ambulance committee chairman. "PL Custom gave us the option of using a 12-volt hardwired electrical system instead of a multiplex system," Sentman says. "Because of the number of ambulance calls we run, the time required for service, as well as the ease of getting parts for a 12-volt system, we decided not to go with a multiplex system."

(1) The Bel Air (MD) Volunteer Fire Department chose PL Custom Emergency Vehicles to build three Type 1 ambulances to upgrade its fleet. (Photos courtesy of PL Custom Emergency Vehicles.)

Sentman notes, "It's easier to go to our local automotive electrical shop and buy a $10 relay rather than take an ambulance out of service to run it to a dealer's shop in Baltimore to adjust the multiplex." The onsite mechanic that PL Custom offered also was a selling point because his location was only about two hours away from Bel Air's main station.

Rig Trifecta

Shortly after Bel Air awarded the ambulance contract to PL Custom, the department increased its order to two identical ALS ambulances. Ultimately, Bel Air VFD ended up ordering a third rig from PL Custom, which is currently being built.

Chad Newsome, PL Custom's national sales manager, says that his firm had spoken with Bel Air in the past but that it was never able to get the department as a customer. "DPC Emergency Equipment, in Marydel, Maryland and Delaware, is the one that made this happen," Newsome says. "DPC was able to sell them the first ambulance, then Bel Air ordered a second, and now we are building a third for them. It's gratifying any time you are able to win a new account, but more so when they come back and order more trucks."

(2) Bel Air opted to include a squad bench in its ambulances so their interiors were similar to other ambulances in its fleet.

The ambulances are duplicate rigs, Newsome notes, with only small refinements among them and no wholesale changes. Each vehicle is built on a 2013 International 4300 M7 chassis and powered by a 300-hp International MaxxForce 7 diesel engine and an Allison 2200 EVS automatic transmission.

Jeff Hawkins, DPC Emergency Equipment's sales and marketing coordinator, says he brought a demo unit to Bel Air early in the purchasing process and after the specs were put out, PL Custom was one of three bidders for the contract. "It was a fairly clean bid spec where they wanted to duplicate their current interior layout but wanted the truck on a 12-volt electrical system," Hawkins says. "We were able to do that for the

Chris Mc Loone

CM: How has the ACCESS pump module been received thus far?

ST: The ACCES module has been very well received. At FDIC we had very good reviews of that product and we've continued to send out specifications to fire departments that want to write this product into their specs. The biggest thing that intrigued the folks in the fire service was the access-the ability to lift it up and get inside and do repairs without a whole lot of "turning yourself into a pretzel" and for not that much additional money. Some actuators, a hinge, and some adjustments-you have to split the module at the point just below the hose trays. Based on that, the interest has been tremendous.

CM: What do you see as the biggest issue in the fire service right now, and how does Waterous work to address it?

ST: I think the biggest issue in the fire service right now continues to be lack of revenues in fire departments in North America. I think Canada is doing better than the United States as far as that goes. How are we helping with that? We continue to work hard at Waterous to keep the cost down in our product and come up with innovations that provide the fire suppression capability in the pumping part of the apparatus but keep the cost down.

CM: What do you think is the most important Waterous innovation for the fire service during recent years?

ST: I really believe that, and it's not an innovation in the truest sense, but from a pumping standpoint, from the fire suppression standpoint, it is compressed air foam and the improvements in that part of fire suppression or the pumping part of the apparatus. In particular, our new ONE STEP, and that's a Waterous innovation. Overall, CAFS has really taken more center stage. I think from the standpoint of innovation, what has been done with compressed air foam from the actual foams-they are vastly improved-proportioning, again vastly improved, and ONE STEP and its ability to mix the three components in CAFS-water, foam, and air-most efficiently and come out with a product that is far superior to straight water.

CM: What's next for Waterous?

ST: Waterous is going to continue to make improvements to our products. We continue to improve where we are headed with our ONE STEP product in compressed air foam, and then electronic pump controls.

CM: What keeps you up at night?

ST: Being director of sales and marketing here at Waterous, what keeps me up at night is really keeping business coming in the door here at Waterous. Over the past four or five years, the economy has really been a problem. It's been coming up, so we've seen improvement there. And, I'm very excited about what's coming up for the future and so business is coming in the door, but the main thing that keeps me up at night is keeping the shops busy for our employees.

Chris Mc Loone

The HME, Inc. the fire service knows today is not the same HME Magnus Hendrickson founded in 1913. Staying in business for 100 years is no easy feat. Ken Lenz, president, who has been with the company for 36 years, attributes the company's perseverance and dedication to both the trucking and fire industry as keys to its success. "Staying ahead of the curve in relation to our ever-changing technology has always allowed HME to maintain an edge on the competition," he says. "Throughout the company's history, HME has opened its doors to other OEMs and provided them with our products to assist them in growing their companies."

Almost 22,000 custom trucks later, HME now specializes in manufacturing custom fire and emergency apparatus cabs and chassis as well as a full product line from the smallest rescue unit to the 104-foot Scorpion platform.

(1) HME began designing and manufacturing a line of fire apparatus chassis for Grumman Emergency Products in 1989. The chassis HME created for Grumman was a variation on its original VT-100. It eventually became known as the Panther I, for aerials, and Panther II, for pumpers. During a three-year period, HME manufactured almost 300 chassis for Grumman. (Photos courtesy of HME, Inc.)

Origins

HME traces its roots back to 1913 when Magnus Hendrickson, a designer and manufacturer of custom truck chassis, founded the company as Hendrickson Mobile Truck Company. Hendrickson was one of the first engineers of his day to see the potential for two rear axles, along with the incorporation of suspension systems. In fact, there is still a division of the original company that continues to supply suspensions for trucks and trailers, still bearing the name "Hendrickson."

In 1978, the Hendrickson family sold the company's various divisions to the Boler Group, which continued to supply suspension and chassis to the truck industry. In 1985, Hendrickson sold the assets of the Mobile Equipment Division with the cab and chassis business being purchased by Kovatch Mobile Equipment and the remaining product lines by HME's present ownership. The Hendrickson Mobile Equipment name was eventually shortened to the now familiar HME.

The first HME design to be released under the new ownership was a custom truck chassis known as the VT-100. The VT-100 was a Class 8 conventional truck chassis engineered to withstand the rigors of severe construction applications.

In the 1950s, HME designed the first tilt-cab over, which tilted to the rear. In 1983 it introduced tilt-cab engineering to the fire service when it designed the first tilt cab for fire apparatus. The company found that using a tilt cab in tandem with cab-forward trucks, which featured shorter overall lengths and improved maneuverability, was very practical for fire apparatus applications. In addition to the practical aspects of driving the apparatus with these features, using the tilt-cab design also provided easier and more efficient access to the engine compartment, ultimately reducing maintenance time and costs.

(2) The HME SilverFox® can be easily recognized by its 12-inch raised roof, 96-inch-wide SFO cab, rugged 12-gauge natural finish, stainless steel pump module, and heavy duty body with the ladders and hard suction through-the-tank design as standard.

In

Laura Ballantyne

Although the dramatic events of the Boston Marathon validated the reality of possible continued terrorist attacks, previous anthrax attacks identified vulnerabilities in early identification of any biological event. Any type of terrorist attack or major incident needs superior coordination among the diverse agencies that respond to such occurrences and tighter control of how areas or sectors are managed.

The rapid evolution of the anthrax cases and their impact across multiple locations, jurisdictions, and professional communities and constituencies (e.g., public health, hospitals, private physicians, police, environmental agencies, military response teams, firefighters, and affected workers and their unions) revealed the benefit of coordination planning.

Some endemic factors that impeded coordination were very basic. Procedures as seemingly routine as standard practices for clinical and environmental testing and use of proper protective clothing and equipment proved to differ among public health officials, fire and rescue services, police, environmental specialists, and so on. For some, responding to these incidents represented the first time they had met with and coordinated with other agencies. This approach results in disagreements on which procedures and standards to follow. In addition, plans need to anticipate the need to forge quick relationships and procedures between the public health departments and local emergency responders or police affected and involved in these types of emergencies. Most importantly, they need to know whom and what are entering into these now "classified hazardous areas." This potentially catastrophic omission needs to be rapidly addressed and quickly rectified.

New and unanticipated working relationships also contribute to difficulties communicating critical information, such as key decisions on who should be allowed to enter such dangerous areas. Should they be expected to just walk in and report to someone who looks in authority? Similarly, communications and coordination channels between public health and private groups affected by the emergency-such as hospitals-do not fully anticipate such mass convergence of emergency responders in their response plans. This results in rapidly establishing ad hoc restrictions, which result in people who could help being restricted while anyone in a uniform is allowed to enter with no questions being sought regarding their validity.

Agency Interoperability

Clearly, these types of events led organizations to recognize the need for greater interaction, control, coordination, and communication among various constituencies. How, then, is it possible to establish a rapidly deployed sector management system that all parties can simply understand and apply-one that will feed a newly defined discipline of what qualifications, competency, authority, and experience are deemed safe to ensure no one is allowed to enter unchecked into such potentially dangerous environments? The answer lies in reasserting the traditional role of sector management while integrating technology that improves the management control functions.

Whenever there is a need to deploy large numbers of emergency service personnel, together with their vehicles and equipment, a sophisticated incident command system (ICS) is brought into use.

This system divides a fireground into sectors for operational command; command support; safety; USAR; marshalling; entry team control; logistics; decontamination; water; foam; relief management; crew rehabilitation; and welfare, communications, and press liaison. In effect, the fire and rescue service controls the inner cordon, the police service controls the outer cordon, and the ambulance service controls the casualty clearing stations.

However, there are major omissions in the system. There is no focal point for the operational sector commande

By Raul A. Angulo

One of my favorite cartoons is by Deputy Chief Gary English, the Seattle (WA) Fire Department (SFD) assistant fire marshal. The cartoon shows a group of five or six firefighters with all their gear and equipment standing in a circle looking down into a giant manhole. The caption reads, "You know, we would have been able to save you before we were trained." Isn't that the truth!

I remember a call we had when I was on Engine 33. My crew was dispatched to a drowning on Lake Washington. The victim was about 14 years old and ended up going down in about seven feet of water 40 feet from shore. I tied a rope around my lead firefighter and handed him my swimming goggles. We saved the kid, but he died 10 days later. There were some chiefs who wanted to formally reprimand us for violating the policy against free diving and for not waiting for the dive team. I asked those guys, "How long did you expect this kid to hold his breath?"

I recently watched a few seasons of Emergency! In one rescue, Johnny and Roy had a patient over the beach cliffs. The crew anchored the rope to the front bumper hooks of Engine 51 and threw the coil of rope over the cliff. Johnny and Roy both took a couple of wraps around the hook of their ladder belts and rappelled down to the patient. Chet and Marco sent the equipment and the Stokes basket down on another line. The two paramedics treated and packaged the patient. Engineer Stoker put the apparatus in reverse and towed everyone back up to safety-simple and fast.

(1) Pictured are the Traverse Rescue 540 Rescue Belay (left) and the CMC Multi-Purpose Device (MPD) (right). The rope-loading diagram is etched into the face plate of the 540 for easy rigging. The rope can be loaded from either end by taking 1½ wraps around the oval-shaped pulley or 540 degrees. The orange parking brake dial in the center of the MPD is one of the safety devices that can be set in case the operator needs to leave his position, locking the load in place. It is used in conjunction with the secondary friction post. (Photos by author.)

My, how we've complicated this evolution! Now we need Class III harnesses, a main line, a belay line, travel limiters, prusiks, anchor plates, anchor straps, brake racks, carabiners, and pulleys. We have to know how to tie water knots, interlocking long-tail bowlines with a Yosemite finish, a double figure eight, and the infamous Munter hitch. We have positions like attendant, controller, and safety and commands like, "Attendant ready? Main line ready? Belay ready? Up, up! Down, down! Stop!" Oh yeah, now we're not supposed to say "slack" anymore, just up or down. How are we supposed to remember all this when this is a high-risk/low-frequency event?

That's what this job is all about and why we train hard-to get it right for an event that may never happen in our career. As a captain of a ladder company, there's no evolution that puts more pressure on me than technical rope rescue. There are so many moving parts to this evolution. The crew is working independently to set up all the components and the person who gets the least "hands on"-the company officer-is the one who has to make sure and check that the system is set up correctly. He has to make sure every knot is tied correctly and all the rigging is as it should be.

Read more 713 0 Ambulance Designs Reflect Safety Trend Posted: Nov 12, 2013 Ambulance Designs Reflect Safety Trend Alan M. Petrillo Ambulance makers are stressing safety in their vehicles, both for patients and attendants in the rigs, as well as providing more easy-to-use storage and equipment space for responders-inside and outside of the patient box. Structural Safety David B. Cole, vice president of sales and marketing for Horton Emergency Vehicles, says that his company has been testing vehicles by sled tests and dynamic tests since 2007 and roll testing since 2009. "Every test we do provides us with additional information that we use in making a safer vehicle," Cole says. "For instance, our VI-Tech vibration isolation technology isolates the body of the ambulance from the road and enhances handling with less bounce and sway. The vibration reduction gives a firmer ride and means less noise penetrates the box, so it's a quieter ride." (1) The Horton Occupant Protection System (HOPS), standard on all Horton Emergency Vehicles custom model ambulances, includes a three-point seat harness system used with inflatable head curtain and tubular air bags. (Photo courtesy of Horton Emergency Vehicles.)   Cole also points to the Horton Occupant Protection System (HOPS) as a technology that has made its rigs what he calls "some of the safest ambulances in the industry." HOPS starts with a three-point seat harness system used in conjunction with barrier seat bolsters to confine the occupant. A detachable feature on the over-the-shoulder part of the harness allows the medical responder to move forward to access a patient without removing the seat belt. HOPS also includes progressive resistance headrests at all seating positions that dissipate energy throughout a laminated protective surface that eliminates the bottoming effect and offers additional protection much like that provided by high-impact sports and racing helmets, Cole says. In case of a side impact rollover, HOPS deploys two types of air bags-an inflatable head curtain and a tubular structure air bag. The head curtain protects the attendant from the inhalation area cabinet while the tubular air bag is used in the main attendant area and at the CPR seat for additional head protection. The fourth element designed into HOPS, he notes, is a roll sensor that calculates the speed at which the vehicle is rolling to determine when to fire the air bag restraints. Cole points out that HOPS is standard on all of Horton's current custom models. (2) PL Custom Emergency Vehicles uses radiused corners, blunted strike points, and thick padding on the patient area's walls to keep both attendants and patients safe inside its ambulances. (Photo courtesy of PL Custom Emergency Vehicles.)   Safer Seating Chad Brown, vice president of sales and marketing for Braun Industries, believes the biggest strides made in safer ambulance design relate to seating. "Seating is a big safety issue," Brown says. "We put medics in a seated position and make sure they are harnessed yet still are able to perform their duties from that seated position." Brown notes that different configurations are being developed in ambulances instead of the typical captain's chair, CPR seat, and squad bench. "We Read more 726 0 More Painless Cost Cutting Posted: Nov 12, 2013 More Painless Cost Cutting By Robert Tutterow Last month I discussed a long-term cost-cutting opportunity that is painless-building or modifying sustainable fire stations. The premise is that 49 percent of a building's lifespan costs are ongoing costs for utilities, maintenance, and replacement of furnishings. Now let's discuss materials selection. Building Interior and Exterior To continue with the exterior, a metal roof is a cost-effective and long-term choice if the station has a pitched roof. Bollards are short posts strategically placed to protect the station and other fixtures on the station property. They are common at the apparatus bay door openings to protect the station. They are also used to protect outside fixtures such as storage buildings, fuel pumps, and generators. Bollards should be embedded in concrete that is isolated from the rest of the apparatus apron or bay floor. This is done so that if the bollard is hit, the impact does not damage concrete other than the base in which it is installed. Wall material is another example for sustainability. Painted concrete blocks are an excellent choice for apparatus bays. They can also be used in the interior. However, most interior walls are drywall. If drywall is used, then fire departments should consider abuse-resistant drywall. It is a harder material that will minimize the need for wall patching from accidental damage. The abuse-resistant drywall is not that much more expensive than regular drywall. At a minimum, at least the lower four feet of drywall should be abuse-resistant. Entry and Exit Points Apparatus bay doors are other high-maintenance items. For extremely busy stations, horizontally hinged four-fold doors provide for low maintenance and long-term durability. For other stations with conventional roll-up sectional doors, three important criteria should be considered. First, assuming the doors have glass panels (important so the public can see the equipment that serves them), the glass should have UV blockers. This will prevent UV degradation to firefighters' PPE that might be stored in an area that receives sunlight. Second, the lower panel should be nonglass. This is because when overhead roll-up doors "attack" apparatus, the damage is usually to the lower panel, and it is cheaper to replace than glass panels. The lower panel being nonglass does not detract from the public's ability to see the apparatus. Third, the metal frame of the door should be clear anodized aluminum for the lowest maintenance costs. Bay doors are not the only doors to take into consideration for long-term sustainability. Walk-through doors have durability and safety considerations. Never use wood doors. Hollow core metal doors are a much better choice. Also, if the door is a passageway door (lots of foot traffic), then a glass panel should be installed so people on the other side can be seen before the door is pushed open into them. All passage doors should be oversized in width, and other doors that access areas such as storage rooms are often better suited for double doors. Any room that might house large equipment should have double doors. Furnishings There is longevity in upholstered furniture if the furniture is leather (especially recliners) or the cushions are not attached to the frame. With nonattached cushions, the cushions are easily replaced and often the covers are removable for washing. In addition to longevity, this allows for a cleaner, healthier, and better looking environment. As more and more fire stations install washers/extractors to clean turnout gear, there are several issues to address. First, a washer/extractor needs to be mounted on a thickened, reinforced slab. Also, the machines might require special drain requirements. The decontamination equipment, such as tables and sinks, should be all stainless steel with hands-free valve capability. A Read more 733 0 Taking Apparatus Inspection to a New Level Posted: Nov 12, 2013 Taking Apparatus Inspection to a New Level Alan M. Petrillo National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1911, Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus, (2012 ed.) might be one of the most important documents a fire department has on its shelf of rules, regulations, and operating procedures, according to one apparatus inspection specialist. NFPA 1911 (2007 ed.) combined for the first time NFPA 1911, Standard for Service Tests of Fire Pump Systems on Fire Apparatus; NFPA 1914, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Devices; and NFPA 1915, Standard for Fire Apparatus Preventive Maintenance Program. According to NFPA 1911's origin and development section, the organization changed "service test" to "performance test," and new testing requirements were added for the apparatus chassis, low-voltage electrical system, foam proportioning system, compressed air foam system (CAFS), line voltage electrical, and breathing air compressor system. Chapter one's sentence 1.1.1 states that "This standard defines the minimum requirements for establishing an inspection, maintenance, and testing program for in-service fire apparatus." Sentence 1.2.1 states that, "The primary purpose of this standard is to provide requirements for an inspection, maintenance, and testing program that will ensure that in-service fire apparatus are serviced and maintained to keep them in safe operating condition and ready for response at all times." One company at the forefront of providing inspection programs that comply with NFPA 1911 is Sunbelt Fire, based in Fairhope, Alabama. Neil Clark, service sales manager for Sunbelt Fire, says that although chiefs aren't stampeding to his door to hand him orders for apparatus testing, "It's interesting to note that we're getting business from all types of fire departments. There are departments that see the value in this testing, and we are performing inspections and pump tests to a constantly increasing number of customers." 1) Apparatus inspectors at Sunbelt Fire's Alabama service shop perform inspections on a number of rigs, including an aerial ladder from the Natchez (MS) Fire Department and pumpers from the Madison (MS) Fire Department and Foley (AL) Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of Sunbelt Fire.)   Apparatus Service Provider Sunbelt Fire provides NFPA 1911 inspections, pump testing, and preventive maintenance to departments from those with a couple of vehicles to others with more than 50 pieces of apparatus, Clark notes, and from rural volunteer departments to some of the largest municipalities in its coverage area. "We do everything that can be done on a fire truck," Clark points out. "We have seven road service technicians, portable pump test trailers, a full shop, and two satellite service operations." Clark notes that all in-service fire apparatus must meet NFPA 1911's requirements. "We've spent a lot of time making sure that what we offer meets or exceeds the requirements of NFPA 1911," he says. Stephen Dean, chief of the Mobile (AL) Fire-Rescue Department, says maintenance "of our rolling stock is important in that it must meet all the standards and not have any safety issues either with the public who shares the road with us or our personnel on those vehicles." Dean says that his department uses Sunbelt Fire to perform inspections, pump tests, and other maintenance on its fleet of 20 first-line pumpers, seven aerials, Read more 693 0 In The News Posted: Nov 12, 2013 In The News • R•O•M CORPORATION and Specialty Manufacturing Inc. (SMI) announced that they will combine under new ownership with The Sterling Group, of Houston, Texas. Both companies are suppliers for specialty vehicle safety components. The Sterling Group will help R•O•M and SMI continue to improve their organizations, providing better service and products to their customers. Sterling plans to continue the efforts and successes both companies experienced while operating as portfolio companies of Century Park Capital Partners. The combination of R•O•M and SMI gives the new organization increased size and resources. As part of the announcement, both companies will continue operating and marketing the R•O•M and SMI brands. Primary points of contact at each company remain unchanged. • WATEROUS COMPANY recently hosted the 2013 Minnesota Home Day. With sponsor support from Rosenbauer-America, Physio Control, Image Trend, Emergency Apparatus Maintenance, FoamPro, and the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, the vision for the 2013 Minnesota Home Day was to bring together the triad that represents the Minnesota fire service: Minnesota's fire chiefs, government leadership, and industry professionals. The group took aim at "Unifying the Voice for the Minnesota Fire Service" to communicate and learn the changing landscapes that affect hometown heroes and their effectiveness to answer the call. Keynote speaker Jerry Rosendahl, Minnesota state fire marshal, states, "Citizens and elected officials need to become more aware of their fire department's organization and needs." Budget issues are affecting firefighters' abilities to be well-trained and well-equipped to handle the emergencies in our communities. In Minnesota, he says, there is a need "to make sure that a balance of support and resources from federal, state, and local levels continues to exist." • HME, Inc. has been awarded a multiyear contract from the state of California Department of General Services (DGS). This is the second consecutive multiyear award that HME has obtained from the California DGS to produce both the Type 1 apparatus for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Type 3 apparatus for CAL FIRE. The previous contract resulted in 269 apparatus to be manufactured by HME: 49 Type 1 engines for OES and 164 Type 3 engines for CAL FIRE. An additional 56 apparatus were also sold through the Municipal Fire Apparatus Cooperative Purchase Program. The OES fleet has more than 120 Type 1 apparatus and the entire fleet now rides on the HME product. • DUPONT launched DuPont™ Nomex® MHP fabrics, its latest flame-resistant innovation. Nomex MHP offers inherent, multihazard protection that can help keep wearers safe from a variety of thermal hazards. Nomex MHP was engineered in response to market needs and to meet or exceed the international standards for heat and flame protection (NFPA 2112, ENISO11612), arc flash (NFPA 70E, IEC 61482-2), and small molten metal splash protection (ENISO11611), while excelling in comfort, durability, and value. Engineered to absorb moisture, Nomex® MHP dries faster than cotton. The flame protection of Nomex MHP, like in all products made of Nomex®, is inherent and provides permanent protection that won't wash out or wear away. • SETCOM® CORPORATION, a manufacturer of intercom systems and headsets for fire service vehicles, has released its latest innovation for fire apparatus communications: CommandCom™. CommandCom is a Setcom microphone and speaker system that is fully integrated into an H.O. Bostrom headrest. The newly released system uses Setcom's patent-pending Phase Contouring™ technology. When using the system, a firefighter is able to seamlessly communicate with other Read more 697 0 Apparatus/Equipment News Posted: Nov 12, 2013 Apparatus/Equipment News Pelican 3315 LED Flashlight was created with first responder and industrial safety professionals in mind. Requiring only three AA batteries (included), the run time is nine hours and 45 minutes with a light output of up to 113 lumens. The Pelican 3315 LED features a beam distance of 153 meters and a peak beam intensity of 5913 candelas. The shape of the light's body is engineered to fit in the natural grasp of gloved hands and the ridges along the handle allow for a strict nonslip grip. Additionally, it features a lockable battery compartment with a tethered door and a castle top so the user can see that the light is on if left standing upright. The 3315 LED comes in safety yellow or black and is made of virtually indestructible polymer material. A safety wrist lanyard is attached to avoid losing the 3315 LED in risky situations. -www.pelican.com, 800-473-5422 Airspace carbon monoxide and flammable gas detectors have been redesigned to offer 25 percent longer battery life and additional efficiency by using motion switch technology. A backlight has been added for the LCD readout and more alarm lights have been added. Retained in the new models is the Airspace five-year warranty, which includes the sensor. A failure alarm system eliminates the need to routinely bump test. A redesigned circuit board, new software, and more energy efficient components now offer up to 40 days of full 24/7 performance. Motion switch technology can be chosen to manage the monitor. Any movement will reactivate the monitor, and 45 minutes without movement will return it to an energy conserving, standby mode. -www.airspaceinc.com, 888-654-5126 VENTRY® fans are now available with the option of medium flat-free wheels and skids. For one-handed transport, this option includes a handle that moves straight up and down from the center of the fan. It also includes two powder-coated steel stair skids that allow for easy maneuvering of the fan over stairs, curbs, and other obstacles. These industrial-duty tires are six inches in diameter and two inches wide, so they roll easily over rough and unpacked terrain and provide extra clearance between the fan guard and the ground during transport. The tires are made from solid microcellular polyurethane foam with a zinc-plated, two-piece steel hub. Flat-free wheels are small enough to be practical even on compact 20-inch VENTRY fan models. -www.ventry.com, 888-257-8967 Streamlight®, Inc. Knucklehead® HAZ-LO® Flood and the Knucklehead® HAZ-LO® Spot lights are both rechargeable and feature a Class 1, Division 1 safety rating. Offering the latest in C4® power LED technology, each light has a 210-degree articulating head that rotates a full 360 degrees and a removable magnet with 135-pound pull strength that attaches to most contoured steel surfaces. Both models are available with either an integrated storable hang hook or clip. The new lights each offer four microprocessor-controlled modes: high, low, emergency flash, and a moonlight setting. On the high setting, the Knucklehead HAZ-LO Fl Read more 752 0 EMS: Making a Difference in the Moments that Matter Posted: Nov 11, 2013 EMS: Making a Difference in the Moments that Matter By Richard Marinucci Emergency medical services are such a vital part of many fire departments' responsibilities that the performance of personnel on every call has become a measure of fire departments' capabilities in the eyes of many in the public. Of course, as with fire calls, the public has little real knowledge and establishes its opinion based on its perceptions, not necessarily reality. This doesn't matter. The fire service must be professional in its approach and provide the best possible service it can based on its knowledge, not necessarily public perceptions. Responders should consider two parts to every call: the customer service that is provided and the technical aspect of the skills needed to adequately resolve the emergency. This approach accomplishes addressing potential perception issues from the public and ensuring that the best possible care is given. Another way to put this is that "bedside manner" is just as important as the actual care, and they should not be considered mutually exclusive. With this philosophy comes the responsibility to make sure that personnel are prepared for both. EMS Competence Competence in EMS can be measured in various ways; there is a subjective component regarding how well the service is being provided. Those in the EMS business can tell those that have the greatest skill regardless of what the measurement tools say. If you were to survey your medics as to whom they would want treating their loved ones, you would probably find that a majority identify the same medics. Those in the profession know who the high performers are because they see them performing every day. There is nothing scientific about this, just professional perspective. Competence is attained through study, training, and practice. There are varying skill levels among EMS personnel even within the same licensure. Some are more capable of starting IVs while others read EKGs better. It could be a combination of natural abilities and practice. Regardless, all EMS personnel must be able to perform at a particular level. That level should be high, and the goal of every organization should be to greatly exceed the minimum standards established for the profession. Avoiding the Routine Many EMS calls could be considered "routine" by those that respond. That is because they happen frequently and fit into the category of normal or "textbook" incidents. For these calls, there is great success delivering the expected service. It is a combination of frequency, which gives responders confidence and experience to handle the calls, and the fact that the incidents fit into the established protocols and diagnoses. Medics are trained a certain way, and if the incident fits the training, it makes the treatment almost automatic. Further, repetition increases competence and confidence. Less frequent are the calls that require more skill, knowledge, and ability. These are the calls where responders can truly make a difference. They are the calls that don't happen frequently and don't fit into the normal expectations. The performance on these calls really determines an individual's and organization's overall competence. Every organization can handle the routine-only those that really pursue their professionalism can perform consistently at a high level regardless of the type of call, its frequency, or when it occurs. Organizations aspiring to be truly outstanding must commit the energy, effort, and resources to make differences in the moments that matter. The Right Time; the Right Tools One component of great service is response time. The sooner definitive treatment begins, the better the outcomes. There are some that will say that this may not be true statistically. If you look at all the routine calls, you might be able to make a case. But if you are talking about the less frequent but mor Read more 714 0 The Importance of Tire Pressure Monitoring: a Firefighter's Perspective Posted: Nov 11, 2013 The Importance of Tire Pressure Monitoring: a Firefighter's Perspective Jason Estep Responding to and from incidents has traditionally been a leading cause of firefighter fatalities and injuries. It is an area that requires constant attention and improvement. Think about the changes we've seen in apparatus safety during the past 20 years. We have enclosed cabs, added reflective striping on all sides of apparatus, installed seat belt monitors and signed seat belt pledges, installed tire pressure monitors, and removed loose items from the cab-yet we are still having the accidents. Why? I think the answer is two parts: first is driver training. We have to make sure that the people driving these rigs are properly trained to handle the apparatus. I could write for hours on driver training, but we'll leave that for another time. The second part of the answer is tire maintenance, or the lack thereof. Tires are an overlooked maintenance item and are more than likely a contributing factor to apparatus incidents, although it is often overlooked by investigators. As firefighters, we take great pride in our equipment, always making sure that it is ready to respond at a minute's notice. However, we often overlook the most important part of the apparatus-the tires. I know they're black and round; we kick them to make sure they have air, and we usually spray tire shine on them for a parade. How much more do we need to know about a tire? We could all stand to gain a little more tire knowledge. Basic tire maintenance only takes a few minutes and is actually very simple, but it is important to understand the purpose, use, and limitations of a tire to properly maintain it. Tire Construction First, we need to understand how a tire is constructed. A radial tire is made up of six main parts: the inner liner, carcass ply, beads, sidewall, crown plies (belts), and tread. The inner liner is the tire's air chamber, making tubes a thing of the past. Usually made of a synthetic rubber called butyl rubber, it is nearly impenetrable by air and water. However, over time it can allow for slight air loss, so make sure you check your tire pressures. The carcass ply is the layer above the inner liner, often made of textile cords or steel wire (or cables) bonded into the rubber. These cables are largely responsible for determining the strength of the tire. The bead is the area of the tire that seals to the rim. The sidewall protects the side of the tire from impacts with curbs, rocks, and other road hazards. This is also the area that important tire details can be found such as tire width and speed rating. The crown plies or belts provide a rigid base for the tread and serve as protection for the carcass ply and inner liner. Traction, propulsion, braking, and cornering are all provided by the tread of the tire, which is designed to resist wear, abrasion, and heat. Multifunctional Parts Tires are one of the most, if not the most, critical components on a fire apparatus. Most parts of a fire truck perform one function. Tires on the other hand have numerous functions that are vital to safe responses. The tire's first job is to support the weight of the apparatus. Did you know that gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) depends on properly inflated tires? A pressure loss of just five pounds per square inch (psi) in front tires can often be enough to lower the weight- carrying capacity of the tire below the weight capacity of the front axle. The tire also acts as part of the suspension, softening the impact from the road. Tires that are below the recommended tire pressure can severely affect the handling of the apparatus, especially when dropped off the road or on rough roads. Tires transmit propulsion and braking power to the road, and they are a critical piece of the steering system. Tires that are underinflated have longer stopping distances than tires with the correct air pressure. This is very important considering fire apparatus already have a stopping Read more 715 0 Engine Technology Today and Tomorrow Posted: Nov 11, 2013 Engine Technology Today and Tomorrow By Chris Crowel, Manager of Specialty Vehicle Sales and Support, Cummins, Inc. As everyone in this industry is well aware, the rules and regulations governing emissions for all types of vehicles and power equipment-including engines used in emergency vehicles-changed rapidly during the past decade. This has resulted in the introduction of new aftertreatment technologies, modifications to maintenance procedures, and the need to train operators. Compared to the hardware and aftertreatment systems changes that occurred in conjunction with 2004, 2007, and 2010 emissions regulations, the 2013/2014 regulations do not result in any new aftertreatment technologies. In fact, for anyone who has purchased an apparatus with a model 2013 engine, it is likely that the product already meets the 2014 compliance requirements. Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) member companies, both engine and apparatus representatives, have worked collaboratively to deliver one product launch in 2013 that meets both new regulations. That being said, there are still some important items worth noting. There are two main drivers for the 2013/2014 regulations: new federal requirements for onboard diagnostics (OBD) for all on-highway engines and new regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and corresponding fuel efficiency standards. It is important to note that in our industry, GHG and fuel efficiency are treated as a symbiotic relationship-improved fuel economy results in reduced GHG. This is great news for customers as it leads to improved engine efficiency. Because the OBD changes were required to be implemented in 2013, most engine manufacturers decided to combine the OBD and the fuel economy improvements into a single design release for customers a year early. OBD OBD is the industry term for electronic messages that allow a technician to determine if there is a potential engine or emissions system fault. OBD will continuously monitor the performance of all emissions-related systems during operation. A new dash lamp, known as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), will illuminate if the OBD system detects a malfunction in the engine or emissions system. A less obvious change with OBD is the reclassification of many items under the hood into the "emissions component" category. Nonengine components that can impact emissions are also included in the OBD approach. Fuel Economy Improvements Up until now, emissions regulations have been almost exclusively designed to measure oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). But that changed when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States Department of Transportation introduced new regulations to regulate GHG emissions and fuel efficiency that will take effect in 2014. Robust electronic engine controls and ongoing improvements in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, first introduced to the North American on-highway market in 2010, have made it possible for engine manufacturers to achieve the fuel economy gains and lower GHG emissions necessary to meet these new regulations. SCR technology provides a strong foundation for manufacturers to meet further GHG targets in the future. Lower rolling resistance tires also play a part in lowering GHG emissions and improving fuel economy. DEF Fluid Level Derates SCR-equipped engines require diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). Because DEF is required for proper SCR performance, earlier SCR-equipped engine performance could be derated if DEF levels became too low. Cummins and other engine manufacturers worked closely with industry organizations such as FAMA, regulatory bodies including the EPA, and chief's associations to determine the best solution for customers based on regulations issued by the EPA. In addition to education and outreach efforts, some engine manufacturers chose t Read more 705 0 RSS FirstPrevious916917918919920921922923924925NextLast Theme picker Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2024 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM