Getting your specifications right at the outset is more important today than ever before. You communicate to the builder you choose through the specification you generate. You want to ensure that you are getting the apparatus you want and need for the price you are paying. This month, we ask Bill Adams and Ricky Riley: What is the biggest mistake fire departments today are making with their specs?

 Not Having Situational Awareness

I am seldom at a loss for words discussing fire apparatus purchasing specifications (specs). Its been a favorite topic for years (e.g., https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/apparatus-purchasing-decep- tive-and-confusing-boilerplates/ and www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fire-apparatus/apparatus-purchasing-deceptive-specification-writing/). Having written specifications as both buyer and seller, I’ll attempt to answer the question from each perspective while treading lightly. The way the question is framed, a response taken out of context could be construed as saying fire departments make willful mistakes during the process. There is no allegation of that. At the same time, there’s no way to describe what the biggest mistake might be without possibly and unfairly accusing the spec writers. I’m not going there.

An observation relevant to both career and volunteer entities is that a fire department might not be aware of the complexities and legalities when writing purchasing specifications. According to the Oxford Dictionary, unfamiliarity is the “fact of not knowing something.”

That is not claiming the spec writer is uneducated or uncaring. Fire department members tasked with the duty of writing specifications may not have been taught how to accomplish the task-through no fault of their own.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

A politically correct response to this month’s question is: “Not having situational awareness of the spec writing process is detrimental to achieving the apparatus desired.” That statement sounds good. It shouldn’t aggravate people. But unfortunately, it really doesn’t say anything definitive that you can hang your hat on. It sounds like a politician talking.

Two pragmatic statements are: “People not well-versed or educated in the competitive bidding process can be placed in a position where they are responsible for writing the purchasing specifications for a million-dollar fire truck. It is possible there may be no oversight or accountability for their actions.” It is human nature for some spec writers to become defensive if challenged. If it’s too hot, decline getting into the kitchen.

The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) signing the check is ultimately responsible and accountable regardless of who physically writes the purchasing specification document-a task usually delegated to the fire department. Large departments purchasing scores of apparatus per year have more experience and expertise in writing specifications than small fire companies that might only purchase a new rig every two decades. My comments can be applicable to both.

FACT OF LIFE

Fire departments don’t really write specs on their own. They need outside help regardless of whether they are provided by vendors, manufacturers (OEMs), professional spec writers, or outside consultants. Apparatus OE

A Maysville firefighter was struck by a tow truck while assisting another department whose fire truck had become stuck in a ditch, according to a Facebook post by the Maysville (AR) Volunteer Fire Department.

Maysville Assistant Chief Braxton Handle announced on Facebook that the firefighter was airlifted to a trauma center. Handle confirmed the firefighter underwent surgery, is out of recovery and doing well.

The department had responded to a structure fire earlier that day when a neighboring department’s fire truck got stuck in a ditch, 5newsonline.com reported. 

A tow truck was called in to assist, but during the recovery process, it struck the Maysville firefighter, the report said.

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While crews with the Hendersonville Fire Department (HFD) were working a motor vehicle accident recently, a secondary incident occurred when a driver failed to yield to emergency vehicles and nearly struck personnel on scene, the department said in a Facebook post. This close call resulted in significant damage to Engine 25.

“Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and all HFD staff, as well as personnel from Hendersonville Police Department and Sumner County EMS, who were also on scene, remained unharmed,” the post said. “Their equipment was not affected.”

This is a reminder of the dangers first responders face while serving the community on roadways, the post said.

“We urge all drivers to slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles. It’s not just the law—it’s a matter of life and death.

“We’re grateful this incident didn’t end in tragedy. Please help keep our emergency responders safe.”

The post Hendersonville (TN) FD Pumper Hit at Accident Scene appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

A Honolulu Emergency Medical Services ambulance caught fire this morning in Waialae Iki, but no one was injured.

The Honolulu Fire Department received a 911 call at 10 :59 a.m. for an ambulance on fire in the driveway of 2181 Okoa St.

EMS relayed to HFD dispatch that all personnel safely exited the ambulance and relocated to the rear of the residence, HFD said in a news release.

HFD said when firefighters arrived at 11 :08 a.m., the ambulance was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters used a fire hose and “aggressively attacked the vehicle fire, ” and brought it under control at 11 :11 a.m. and extinguished it by 11 :27 a.m.

Shayne Enright, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, said a patient was inside the ambulance, ready for transport, when EMS personnel smelled smoke and used a fire extinguisher to try to put out the fire.

When asked whether the fire originated in the engine compartment or elsewhere, Enright said that is under investigation.

A second ambulance was called to transport the patient, who was listed in stable condition, to an emergency room.

The Honolulu Fire Department is investigating the cause.

The ambulance that caught on fire was not among the new rigs received by EMS.

It is a 2020 Ford-350, which had been released into operation last week after undergoing scheduled servicing, including brake and ignition work, the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said in an email.

It had logged 105, 000 miles.

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The ambulance will be replaced by another ambulance and put back into service.

In Aug. 2022, an EMS ambulance caught fire in the driveway of Adventist Health Castle, killing a 91-year-old patient and critically injuring a paramedic.

That case was linked to an oxygen device.

The Honolulu Fire Department said that the fire originated at the portable oxygen regulator assembly.

The paramedic was connecting a breathing device to a portable oxygen cylinder and heard a pop and saw a bright flash of light before smoke and fire began filling the ambulance.

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