Robert Tutterow

For the past two months, I have written about the Wingspread VI report that was released early this year. Why the emphasis on this report? It is the one report that looks at our service with a critical eye.

It identifies the threats and opportunities and offers action plans to move forward. Without an honest assessment of our state and a roadmap to move forward, the industry will dwindle - YES, dwindle. Our history and current news articles underline this thought. Staffing and funding are nowhere near the levels needed to professionally provide service to our customers. We must reverse the trend and become a thriving service. Granted, there are pockets within the country where the industry is thriving, but overall it is dwindling.

This is the sixth Wingspread Report, a once-in-a-decade report, to be issued since 1966. The report was developed by 40 people representing a diverse section of the U.S. fire service. The group met in Racine, Wisconsin, at the Johnson Foundation Conference Center last July and came up with 14 “Statements of National Significance to the United States Fire and Emergency Services.” The statements are, in effect, an overview of the threats and opportunities facing fire and emergency services.

In this column, I will highlight a few more of the statements that relate directly to firefighter health, safety, and equipment. Of the 14 statements, at least half of them are directly related. The other half have an indirect influence.

Statement #8

This statement reads, “The United States fire and emergency services must develop an efficient and effective process to collect and manage data.” Capturing and managing data are not in the mindset of most firefighters. We do not mind responding to incidents (the more, the merrier) to assist our communities. However, when it comes to documenting our activities, the “pencil whip” mentality kicks in. No one enjoys the paperwork or data entry part of our profession. Who is this impacting? Us. It has been said that the side with the most (and best data) wins. When we take our case to the body politic for more funds, more equipment, and more training, we often fail to have the data to adequately substantiate our requests. I recently learned that a major metro department’s data showed the city had a disproportionate number of cooking fires. A close examination determined the numbers were skewed because checking the nature of the fire as a cooking fire eliminated the need to fill out most of the rest of the report. Data matter. Accurate data matter more.

Statement #9

This statement reads, “Automatic fire sprinkler use has the ability to solve much of America’s fire problem in every class of occupancy. In addition to automatic fire sprinkler technology, the United States fire and emergency services must embrace all forms of technology where it is efficient, effective, and provides information that adds to organizational and community safety.” There is nothing new in this statement about sprinklers. Almost every organization has a mindset that it exists to mitigate emergencies, especially fire suppression. However, the mission also includes fire prevention. We stress quick response, as we should. However, a sprinkler head is like having a firefighter on the scene with a charged hoseline as soon as the fire breaks out. That is true customer service.

Other technologies are emerging faster than ever. Fire and emergency services must embrace and manage them. Doing so is the sign of an advanced profession that

Robert Tutterow

For the past two months, I have written about the Wingspread VI report that was released early this year. Why the emphasis on this report? It is the one report that looks at our service with a critical eye.

It identifies the threats and opportunities and offers action plans to move forward. Without an honest assessment of our state and a roadmap to move forward, the industry will dwindle - YES, dwindle. Our history and current news articles underline this thought. Staffing and funding are nowhere near the levels needed to professionally provide service to our customers. We must reverse the trend and become a thriving service. Granted, there are pockets within the country where the industry is thriving, but overall it is dwindling.

This is the sixth Wingspread Report, a once-in-a-decade report, to be issued since 1966. The report was developed by 40 people representing a diverse section of the U.S. fire service. The group met in Racine, Wisconsin, at the Johnson Foundation Conference Center last July and came up with 14 “Statements of National Significance to the United States Fire and Emergency Services.” The statements are, in effect, an overview of the threats and opportunities facing fire and emergency services.

In this column, I will highlight a few more of the statements that relate directly to firefighter health, safety, and equipment. Of the 14 statements, at least half of them are directly related. The other half have an indirect influence.

Statement #8

This statement reads, “The United States fire and emergency services must develop an efficient and effective process to collect and manage data.” Capturing and managing data are not in the mindset of most firefighters. We do not mind responding to incidents (the more, the merrier) to assist our communities. However, when it comes to documenting our activities, the “pencil whip” mentality kicks in. No one enjoys the paperwork or data entry part of our profession. Who is this impacting? Us. It has been said that the side with the most (and best data) wins. When we take our case to the body politic for more funds, more equipment, and more training, we often fail to have the data to adequately substantiate our requests. I recently learned that a major metro department’s data showed the city had a disproportionate number of cooking fires. A close examination determined the numbers were skewed because checking the nature of the fire as a cooking fire eliminated the need to fill out most of the rest of the report. Data matter. Accurate data matter more.

Statement #9

This statement reads, “Automatic fire sprinkler use has the ability to solve much of America’s fire problem in every class of occupancy. In addition to automatic fire sprinkler technology, the United States fire and emergency services must embrace all forms of technology where it is efficient, effective, and provides information that adds to organizational and community safety.” There is nothing new in this statement about sprinklers. Almost every organization has a mindset that it exists to mitigate emergencies, especially fire suppression. However, the mission also includes fire prevention. We stress quick response, as we should. However, a sprinkler head is like having a firefighter on the scene with a charged hoseline as soon as the fire breaks out. That is true customer service.

Other technologies are emerging faster than ever. Fire and emergency services must embrace and manage them. Doing so is the sign of an advanced profession that

By Alan M. Petrillo

Generators come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types for use on fire apparatus, and generator manufacturers are using technology to bring their power-producing capabilities into the 21st century.

The assortment of generators available to fire departments for their rigs is wide, and where they are located on the vehicles varies according to need and vehicle size.

1 Harrison Hydra-Gen makes the Falcon MAS generator in 6-, 8-, and 10-kW models. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Harrison Hydra-Gen.)

Designed for the Truck

Paul Newton, marketing director for Harrison Hydra-Gen, says Harrison builds its generators around the fire truck type it is to go on, resulting in eight models of generators used in the fire service. “Our Falcon, Vulcan, and Stealth series are basically the same generator, but each has a different footprint to fit a different spot on a truck,” Newton says. “Falcon is the shortest of the three and can be turned sideways instead of going across the middle of the vehicle.” Falcon uses the Harrison designation of MAS and is available in 6-, 8-, and 10-kilowatt (kW) models.

“Vulcan is the low-profile generator we make, the LPG, that typically will be placed under an aerial ladder,” Newton says. “Stealth MCR is the opposite of the Falcon; instead of being square and low, it is thin and tall, aimed at an aerial customer that doesn’t have to worry about generator height but might only have a couple of feet between the aerial and the body for it. All three of these models have self-contained hydraulic systems.” Vulcan is available in 6-, 8- and 10-kW sizes, and Stealth is available in 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-kW versions.

2 The Patriot MPC generator made by Harrison Hydra-Gen is available in models ranging from 10 to 30 kW.

Newton says that Harrison’s Stinger MSV “is designed as a smaller kW-rated unit in 3.6-, 4.8-, and 6.0-kW sizes with 15-, 20-, and 25-amp main breakers. Stinger is the smallest footprint generator in the industry and is optimized for LED lighting packages.”

Other models made by Harrison Hydra-Gen include the Modular Component Series (MCS) that is available in ratings from 3.6- to 30-kW; the Patriot MPC in 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-kW ratings; the Hornet NCM in 15- and 20-kW sizes; and the Avenger MDS in 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-kW models.

3 The Stealth MCR generator made by Harrison Hydra-Gen is tall and thin, aimed at aerial customers that don’t need to worry about generator height.

Modular Design

George Adams, vice president of sales at Smart Power,

By Alan M. Petrillo

Generators come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types for use on fire apparatus, and generator manufacturers are using technology to bring their power-producing capabilities into the 21st century.

The assortment of generators available to fire departments for their rigs is wide, and where they are located on the vehicles varies according to need and vehicle size.

1 Harrison Hydra-Gen makes the Falcon MAS generator in 6-, 8-, and 10-kW models. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Harrison Hydra-Gen.)

Designed for the Truck

Paul Newton, marketing director for Harrison Hydra-Gen, says Harrison builds its generators around the fire truck type it is to go on, resulting in eight models of generators used in the fire service. “Our Falcon, Vulcan, and Stealth series are basically the same generator, but each has a different footprint to fit a different spot on a truck,” Newton says. “Falcon is the shortest of the three and can be turned sideways instead of going across the middle of the vehicle.” Falcon uses the Harrison designation of MAS and is available in 6-, 8-, and 10-kilowatt (kW) models.

“Vulcan is the low-profile generator we make, the LPG, that typically will be placed under an aerial ladder,” Newton says. “Stealth MCR is the opposite of the Falcon; instead of being square and low, it is thin and tall, aimed at an aerial customer that doesn’t have to worry about generator height but might only have a couple of feet between the aerial and the body for it. All three of these models have self-contained hydraulic systems.” Vulcan is available in 6-, 8- and 10-kW sizes, and Stealth is available in 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-kW versions.

2 The Patriot MPC generator made by Harrison Hydra-Gen is available in models ranging from 10 to 30 kW.

Newton says that Harrison’s Stinger MSV “is designed as a smaller kW-rated unit in 3.6-, 4.8-, and 6.0-kW sizes with 15-, 20-, and 25-amp main breakers. Stinger is the smallest footprint generator in the industry and is optimized for LED lighting packages.”

Other models made by Harrison Hydra-Gen include the Modular Component Series (MCS) that is available in ratings from 3.6- to 30-kW; the Patriot MPC in 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-kW ratings; the Hornet NCM in 15- and 20-kW sizes; and the Avenger MDS in 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-kW models.

3 The Stealth MCR generator made by Harrison Hydra-Gen is tall and thin, aimed at aerial customers that don’t need to worry about generator height.

Modular Design

George Adams, vice president of sales at Smart Power,