Bob Kalinowski

The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

(MCT)

Nov. 3—Luzerne County fire departments are getting $681,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighter Grant program, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced Wednesday.

The grants include:

* Plains Twp. will receive $46,000 to purchase a self-contained breathing apparatus compressor and fill system.

* Jenkins Twp. will receive $49,000 to install a source-capture diesel exhaust extraction system; Kunkle Fire Company in Dallas will receive $95,000 to install a source-capture diesel extraction system.

* Glen Lyon-Alden Volunteer Hose Company in Newport Twp. will receive $65,000 to install a source capture diesel exhaust extraction system.

* Pittston Twp. Volunteer Fire Department will receive $159,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses.

* Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 will receive $82,000 to purchase mobile and portable radios.

* Avoca Fire Department will receive $117,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses.

* Hughestown Hose Company No. 1 will receive $66,000 to install a source capture exhaust extraction system.

“We’re lucky to have such capable and dedicated first responders who are always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty,” Cartwright said.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

___

(c)2022 The Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at citizensvoice.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Riviera Beach city leaders announced Wednesday that the city will have a new fire station, WPTV.com reported.

The decision comes after city council made an agreement with Kaufman Lynn Construction, Inc. to design and construct Fire Station 87 in its existing location, the report said.

The new fire station will cost approximately $18.5 million and is expected to be constructed in 24 months, according to the report.

According to the city, the station will also serve as the city’s Emergency Operations Center during emergencies.

By Bill Adams

“Apparatus Purchasing: Drawings and Blueprints, Part 1” (September 2022) explained the value of blueprints and drawings in designing and building fire apparatus, especially when advancing an idea drawn on a bar napkin to a finished product.

Now let’s discuss the methodology and tools used in the process. There is no single accepted definition in the fire service for either blueprints or drawings, so consider them one and the same.

Fire apparatus articles are usually authored by marketing and salespeople from the corporate side of the apparatus industry and by current and past fire service members. When commentary includes sophisticated and technical data, some writers are in uncharted waters. There’s a possibility of regurgitating unfamiliar and misinterpreted data, thus inadvertently confusing or misleading readers. That scenario can exist when purchasers write apparatus specifications requiring blueprints with terms they may have misunderstood. Lukas Drayna, the lead engineer at CustomFIRE Apparatus in Osceola, WI, has provided some manufacturer’s engineering perspective to my commentary.

• Apparatus Purchasing archives
• Apparatus Purchasing: Detailed Specifications Are Needed—Sometimes
• Apparatus Purchasing Committee: Needs vs. Wants
• Apparatus Purchasing: Easy or Hard?
• Apparatus Purchasing: Revisiting Purchasing Specifications
• Apparatus Purchasing: Steps and Specs
• Apparatus Purchasing: Read Between the Spec’s Lines

Three fundamentals in the fire truck world are buying, selling, and manufacturing. Most purchasers want apparatus built their way. Some are oblivious to, or are uncaring of, the difficulty and cost. Manufacturers (OEMs) and salespeople (vendors) look at profitability—as they rightfully should.

Degreed engineers, designers, and draftsmen (engineer

Sutphen—Middlefield (OH) Fire Department pumper. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Hale SmartFOAM 2.1 single-agent foam system; Will-Burt Night Scan 2.1 light tower; Harrison 6-kW generator; coffin storage compartments; Whelen and FRC scene lights. Dealer: Ray Capezzuto, Herb Fire Equipment, Powell, OH.

PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >>