By Chris Mc Loone

There are times when organizations analyze where they are and their current status and realize that change is necessary. Dwelling on how the entity arrived at its current location is less important than making the necessary changes and moving forward. A similar situation is playing out now at the Boston (MA) Fire Department (BFD) regarding its fire apparatus fleet.

BFD Lieutenant Jim O’Brien has been tasked with turning around not only the fleet but also the department’s fleet operations. The two go hand in hand. To meet the fire department’s operational needs, the apparatus must be mission-capable. But, to ensure each rig is mission-capable means having a fleet maintenance operation that can meet the needs of the apparatus. The combination of an aging fleet and a fleet maintenance division in need of standardization created a situation that required swift action to correct.

State of the Fleet

According to O’Brien, the BFD’s fleet is in transition. “The fleet has been degraded by age,” he says. “The average age is 17 years on a fire truck right now, excluding a group of apparatus that have been very problematic that we are removing from the fleet as we get replacements. So, the age of the fleet is a challenge. The state of the fleet is barely adequate, but we’re making major progress. These things take time.”

O’Brien adds that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and BFD Commissioner Joseph Finn have made the department’s fleet a priority and are moving very quickly to increase the fleet’s capability. “That means buying new fire trucks and fixing the fleet maintenance operations,” says O’Brien. “We’re really going at full speed. But, it takes time to get money, to get contracts, and to build these systems in the shop. So, the state of the fleet is improving.”

Fleet Maintenance Overview

O’Brien has been in charge of the department’s fleet for nine months. Finn had identified a need to reassess the department’s total fleet operations. “This was the result of an internal assessment of fleet conditions and then an independent consultant’s assessment of fleet maintenance operations,” states O’Brien. One of the reasons O’Brien is involved now is because of his work on driver training. “One of the reasons I was involved is because after the Kevin Kelly incident of January 9, 2009, there was a very clear need for improved training in our environment,” he says. “The department needed to do a better job training the drivers. I volunteered to develop a driver training program. We developed it to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications. We were very successful. We had the implementation plan, and we started rolling along and we were executing. We were achieving our goals and getting great feedback.”

1 For the Boston Fire Department’s new ladder trucks, it was critical that personnel could get down streets, set the aerials up in a timely manner, and get to the roof and windows of buildings of a certain type that are representative of Boston. (Photos by Bill Noonan.)

O’Brien states that it is very important to Finn and Walsh that the department have an organization that is run by professional mechanics and fleet managers. “So, that is ou

By Jim Salmi

Aerial platform trucks provide the department with an extremely powerful tool for rescue, ventilation, and extinguishing fires.

All Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) member companies are concerned with firefighter safety, and those that produce products that lift people into the air are particularly sensitive to promoting safe practices. This article will discuss the issue of platform safety, focusing on the aerial device itself and its operational characteristics.

Emergency Vehicle Standards

Because of their tremendous capabilities and working heights, elevating platform devices are highly engineered products that must be strong but lightweight. As a result, the vehicles on which the aerial platform devices are installed are complex and require skill and training to use them effectively. The key parameters regarding structural safety factors, truck stability, and many more key requirements are covered in detail in the 2016 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. The latest edition includes several changes that affect aerial platform design. The FAMA Apparatus Safety Guide is also an excellent source of information regarding aerial apparatus safety.

Preparation and Training

As a young engineer, I was involved in the design of tower cranes and marveled at the operators’ ability to lift heavy construction materials at great heights and precisely place the material to the workers above. The operators appeared to be experienced and well-trained, understood the equipment, and had tremendous skills. Much like the tower crane operator, the aerial platform operator should have this level of understanding, training, and skills.

Because of the versatility and capability of platform aerials, it is critical that you read and understand the operator’s manual. You should complete a comprehensive study of the manual and have a thorough knowledge of operating instructions, control systems, load capacities, safety precautions, and limitations. It is important to understand the capabilities of your unit, because vehicle capabilities change as technology develops and also change from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The experienced operator should avoid complacency and always keep focus on the task at hand. If you are new to the truck, make sure you find the original manual information to review and work with an experienced trainer to understand the device.

Platform operations

Fireground scenarios naturally create a stressful environment; use your training and practice time to become confident in your abilities at the scene. Give your undivided attention to the aerial during operations; if distracted, stop operations.

In recent years, the technologies used in platform control systems have advanced considerably. These advancements can improve both the controllability and the safety of a platform. For example, it is very common to have joysticks that have ramping characteristics that smooth out abrupt starts and stops. However, the ramping feature may be different from truck to truck, and older units will likely not have the feature at all. It is important to understand the control system of the specific truck.

Another example of technological enhancement is controlling platform speeds based on aerial position. An extended platform rotating at high elevation angles moves at a relatively low speed. However, with the extended ladder rotated at low angles at the same speed, the platform will move with high speeds relative to the ground. This can be as high as 10 feet per second. At these speeds, use extr

By Jim Salmi

Aerial platform trucks provide the department with an extremely powerful tool for rescue, ventilation, and extinguishing fires.

All Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) member companies are concerned with firefighter safety, and those that produce products that lift people into the air are particularly sensitive to promoting safe practices. This article will discuss the issue of platform safety, focusing on the aerial device itself and its operational characteristics.

Emergency Vehicle Standards

Because of their tremendous capabilities and working heights, elevating platform devices are highly engineered products that must be strong but lightweight. As a result, the vehicles on which the aerial platform devices are installed are complex and require skill and training to use them effectively. The key parameters regarding structural safety factors, truck stability, and many more key requirements are covered in detail in the 2016 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. The latest edition includes several changes that affect aerial platform design. The FAMA Apparatus Safety Guide is also an excellent source of information regarding aerial apparatus safety.

Preparation and Training

As a young engineer, I was involved in the design of tower cranes and marveled at the operators’ ability to lift heavy construction materials at great heights and precisely place the material to the workers above. The operators appeared to be experienced and well-trained, understood the equipment, and had tremendous skills. Much like the tower crane operator, the aerial platform operator should have this level of understanding, training, and skills.

Because of the versatility and capability of platform aerials, it is critical that you read and understand the operator’s manual. You should complete a comprehensive study of the manual and have a thorough knowledge of operating instructions, control systems, load capacities, safety precautions, and limitations. It is important to understand the capabilities of your unit, because vehicle capabilities change as technology develops and also change from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The experienced operator should avoid complacency and always keep focus on the task at hand. If you are new to the truck, make sure you find the original manual information to review and work with an experienced trainer to understand the device.

Platform operations

Fireground scenarios naturally create a stressful environment; use your training and practice time to become confident in your abilities at the scene. Give your undivided attention to the aerial during operations; if distracted, stop operations.

In recent years, the technologies used in platform control systems have advanced considerably. These advancements can improve both the controllability and the safety of a platform. For example, it is very common to have joysticks that have ramping characteristics that smooth out abrupt starts and stops. However, the ramping feature may be different from truck to truck, and older units will likely not have the feature at all. It is important to understand the control system of the specific truck.

Another example of technological enhancement is controlling platform speeds based on aerial position. An extended platform rotating at high elevation angles moves at a relatively low speed. However, with the extended ladder rotated at low angles at the same speed, the platform will move with high speeds relative to the ground. This can be as high as 10 feet per second. At these speeds, use extr

By Jim Salmi

Aerial platform trucks provide the department with an extremely powerful tool for rescue, ventilation, and extinguishing fires.

All Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) member companies are concerned with firefighter safety, and those that produce products that lift people into the air are particularly sensitive to promoting safe practices. This article will discuss the issue of platform safety, focusing on the aerial device itself and its operational characteristics.

Emergency Vehicle Standards

Because of their tremendous capabilities and working heights, elevating platform devices are highly engineered products that must be strong but lightweight. As a result, the vehicles on which the aerial platform devices are installed are complex and require skill and training to use them effectively. The key parameters regarding structural safety factors, truck stability, and many more key requirements are covered in detail in the 2016 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. The latest edition includes several changes that affect aerial platform design. The FAMA Apparatus Safety Guide is also an excellent source of information regarding aerial apparatus safety.

Preparation and Training

As a young engineer, I was involved in the design of tower cranes and marveled at the operators’ ability to lift heavy construction materials at great heights and precisely place the material to the workers above. The operators appeared to be experienced and well-trained, understood the equipment, and had tremendous skills. Much like the tower crane operator, the aerial platform operator should have this level of understanding, training, and skills.

Because of the versatility and capability of platform aerials, it is critical that you read and understand the operator’s manual. You should complete a comprehensive study of the manual and have a thorough knowledge of operating instructions, control systems, load capacities, safety precautions, and limitations. It is important to understand the capabilities of your unit, because vehicle capabilities change as technology develops and also change from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The experienced operator should avoid complacency and always keep focus on the task at hand. If you are new to the truck, make sure you find the original manual information to review and work with an experienced trainer to understand the device.

Platform operations

Fireground scenarios naturally create a stressful environment; use your training and practice time to become confident in your abilities at the scene. Give your undivided attention to the aerial during operations; if distracted, stop operations.

In recent years, the technologies used in platform control systems have advanced considerably. These advancements can improve both the controllability and the safety of a platform. For example, it is very common to have joysticks that have ramping characteristics that smooth out abrupt starts and stops. However, the ramping feature may be different from truck to truck, and older units will likely not have the feature at all. It is important to understand the control system of the specific truck.

Another example of technological enhancement is controlling platform speeds based on aerial position. An extended platform rotating at high elevation angles moves at a relatively low speed. However, with the extended ladder rotated at low angles at the same speed, the platform will move with high speeds relative to the ground. This can be as high as 10 feet per second. At these speeds, use extr