We take a look at a video of a vehicle fire and ask you to consider more than what is obviously missing.
Erich Roden, Editor-in-Chief FireRescue Magazine:
Although shocking in terms of blatant disregard for the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), this video gives me much more holistic perspective, even though I may be wrong; however, I'd like to discuss some things that could perhaps have contributed to the events that transpired on the day this video was taken:
1) The department is obviously a volunteer organization. The tractor-trailer fire occurred during the day and these firefighters were available during normal working hours to respond to a fire on the freeway. What's the availability of the members in your volunteer fire department? As volunteer firefighter numbers decline, what are our fire departments doing to recruit and retain volunteers? We should cherish the ones who can respond during normal business hours and late at night and aren't the ones "cherry-picking" the calls they show up to. Equipment and PPE are so good nowadays, that it's having the bodies to use them that is the greatest challenge. Hooray for these guys who were around to put out a large semi fire during the day; however...
2) What is the condition and status of their equipment and PPE? The apparatus in the video is vintage in most respects. NFPA 1901 requires frontline apparatus to be serviceable as a frontline piece for ten years. This ol' Mack pumper in the video looks to me like it's the first one out the door and pumps like a champ; and the apparatus operator seemed very capable of pumping it as he got water, quick. Hooray for trained and able apparatus operators; however...
3) Who's getting the grant money to buy new apparatus and PPE? And does this department have anyone able and willing to submit an Assistance to Firefighter's Grant (AFG) to replace "Ol' Trusty?" The AFG requires departments write and submit their own grants. Have you ever filled-out a grant application? It's tedious for a reason, and takes patience and creativity. Do you have anyone in your department that loves to spend hours writing these things? Who does?!? Moreover, the AFG was established so that we see less vintage apparatus and PPE in videos. Perhaps we should reevaluate the dollars allocated to departments until see less of what's in this video. I'd rather see these guys in newer rigs and PPE as much as anyone else than a new center for project being developed to research what everyone else is already doing or has done. Hooray for available dollars to fund new equipment; however...
4) If we are issued equipment and PPE, then we have use it - it's the least we can do after our administrators get us what we've been begging for or lamenting in this video. But let's fact it, the elephant in this video is obviously the lack of PPE. If these members had it with them and disregarded it for this incident, or knowingly left it back at the firehouse, then shame on them. To me, this seems like the only winning piece missing in this video, as we see capable and aggressive firefighters stretching operable hose off of an operable pumper. But before we cast the first stone, make sure that we know if these guys even have their own set of PPE (not shared as is the case in many places; seriously); are the only ones we can depend on to be there during the day when driving through at 1pm and needing the fire department; and that you (have) wear each and every piece of PPE that you are issued at vehicle fires or other emergency. Until then, hooray for PPE compliance and our dedicated volunteers!
Bill Carey, Online News/Blog Manager:
It is what it is, as the saying goes. Had no one videotaped the