California OES E-382, a 2014 HME/Ahrens Fox 1871-SFO 1250/850-20 WUI engine, works at the deadly Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara County as part of Strike Team 4804A, staffed by firefighters from the Sacramento Fire Department. Engine 382 was one of more than 1,000 engines and 8,000 firefighters working the fire, which burned more than 280,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 structures and damaged 280 others, and caused one firefighter death. The Thomas Fire became the largest wildland fire in California history. (Photo by Keith D. Cullom/www.fire-image.com.)

By Alan M. Petrillo

Cranes are being fitted to rescues and technical rescue trucks by some manufacturers for fire departments around the country and are being used for a number of different functions.

These include deploying dive boats or rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIBs), serving as hoisting points for below-grade rescues, vehicle stabilization, and urban search and rescue (USAR) work.

Crane Use Approaches

Mark Weaver, account manager of crane sales for Altec Industries, which makes Auto Crane, says that there are three different approaches used by the fire service when it comes to cranes. “One is to use a boom on a flatbed to load and unload pods,” Weaver says. “Second is a tractor mount to allow all-terrain vehicles or other equipment to be unloaded off of a trailer. Third is a rear-mount crane, which is often used on rescues.”

Weaver notes that Altec’s cranes have been installed on San Diego (CA) Fire Department rescues and also for the Santa Rosa (CA) Fire Department. “San Diego does a lot of below-grade rescues, and the crane allows them to use it as belay points,” he says. “Both San Diego and Santa Rosa’s rescues use a single set of straight-down outriggers to stabilize the vehicles when the crane is in use.” Weaver adds that depending on the model crane chosen, it could have from three to eight extension sections, as well as attachments for one- or two-person platforms, hazmat barrels, and grapnels.

Mark Zipse national account manager for Iowa Mold Tooling (IMT), says his company makes a wide range of cranes for use on fire apparatus and works closely with Pierce Manufacturing when placing them on rescues. “The largest boom lengths are in excess of 80 feet of reach, but typically the ones on rescues average around 25 feet,” Zipse says. “For instance, our Model 26/180 crane has 26 feet 11 inches of reach and can pick up 6,440 pounds. It’s considered a 26-ton or a 180,000-foot-pound crane. The same crane at a hydraulic reach of 70 feet 6 inches could still pick up 1,345 pounds.”

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