Richard Marinucci

Fire departments exist for the purpose of responding to emergencies.

They are expected to arrive safely with the right amount of resources to take care of the problem. Even one slip up can cause an organization unnecessary challenges, so departments must be prepared to ensure reliability to the greatest extent possible. This would apply particularly to fire apparatus, as emergency breakdowns and extensive out-of-service time diminish reliability.

In many ways, modern apparatus have become simple to operate. Almost anyone with minimal instruction can get in a cab, push a few buttons, and be off. Once on the scene, a pump operator can push a few more buttons to engage the pump and have water flowing. Advances in technology can provide a false sense of security and lead to issues if those responsible don’t prepare. Everyone must consider this preparation a responsibility. Reliability is the responsibility of the entire organization, not just the fire engine drivers (drivers, pump operators, or whatever terminology you use), fleet managers, and mechanics.

Although apparatus may be simpler to operate in many ways, this in no way implies that the entire vehicle is not made up of a very complex set of components. While today’s apparatus arguably are very reliable, it is always possible that one of the components may fail. Because of the components’ complexity, departments need an expert in this area for repairs. The days of a backyard mechanic looking at a part and making a repair are gone. Special knowledge and tools are required.

Keeping Apparatus in Service

There are many things an organization can do to improve reliability and keep the vehicles in service. This requires a comprehensive approach to maintenance of all components and their interdependency. Of most importance is preventive maintenance. There is the old saying that “you can pay me now or pay me later.” Not only is the “pay me later” part more expensive, it is most often more time-consuming, increasing out-of-service time. Also realize that it does not take a significant malfunction to force an apparatus out of service. Any failure of a vital component will make the vehicle unusable.

Organizations serious about their approach to improving reliability and performance begin with the initial purchase of any piece of apparatus. The purpose of this brief article is not to get into great detail on specification writing. But, one piece of advice would be to make sure that whoever is assigned the task of writing specs has the talent, the capability, and the experience. This might involve hiring a consultant with credentials commensurate with the task at hand. Often organizations without the necessary expertise take on this important task without the prerequisite knowledge. Starting off with the right apparatus, including specifying components that will minimize breakdowns and considering methods that assist with ease of maintenance, will get departments on the right path. Individuals with the experience to help an organization set the stage that will lead to reliability.

Component Training

New apparatus delivery is an exciting time for most departments, as it should be. But, the bells and whistles and nice shine of the vehicle should not detract from the important task of learning as much as possible about the vehicle’s components and their required maintenance. While it is important to obtain all the owner’s manuals that coincide with the various components of the apparatus, bear i

Richard Marinucci

Fire departments exist for the purpose of responding to emergencies.

They are expected to arrive safely with the right amount of resources to take care of the problem. Even one slip up can cause an organization unnecessary challenges, so departments must be prepared to ensure reliability to the greatest extent possible. This would apply particularly to fire apparatus, as emergency breakdowns and extensive out-of-service time diminish reliability.

In many ways, modern apparatus have become simple to operate. Almost anyone with minimal instruction can get in a cab, push a few buttons, and be off. Once on the scene, a pump operator can push a few more buttons to engage the pump and have water flowing. Advances in technology can provide a false sense of security and lead to issues if those responsible don’t prepare. Everyone must consider this preparation a responsibility. Reliability is the responsibility of the entire organization, not just the fire engine drivers (drivers, pump operators, or whatever terminology you use), fleet managers, and mechanics.

Although apparatus may be simpler to operate in many ways, this in no way implies that the entire vehicle is not made up of a very complex set of components. While today’s apparatus arguably are very reliable, it is always possible that one of the components may fail. Because of the components’ complexity, departments need an expert in this area for repairs. The days of a backyard mechanic looking at a part and making a repair are gone. Special knowledge and tools are required.

Keeping Apparatus in Service

There are many things an organization can do to improve reliability and keep the vehicles in service. This requires a comprehensive approach to maintenance of all components and their interdependency. Of most importance is preventive maintenance. There is the old saying that “you can pay me now or pay me later.” Not only is the “pay me later” part more expensive, it is most often more time-consuming, increasing out-of-service time. Also realize that it does not take a significant malfunction to force an apparatus out of service. Any failure of a vital component will make the vehicle unusable.

Organizations serious about their approach to improving reliability and performance begin with the initial purchase of any piece of apparatus. The purpose of this brief article is not to get into great detail on specification writing. But, one piece of advice would be to make sure that whoever is assigned the task of writing specs has the talent, the capability, and the experience. This might involve hiring a consultant with credentials commensurate with the task at hand. Often organizations without the necessary expertise take on this important task without the prerequisite knowledge. Starting off with the right apparatus, including specifying components that will minimize breakdowns and considering methods that assist with ease of maintenance, will get departments on the right path. Individuals with the experience to help an organization set the stage that will lead to reliability.

Component Training

New apparatus delivery is an exciting time for most departments, as it should be. But, the bells and whistles and nice shine of the vehicle should not detract from the important task of learning as much as possible about the vehicle’s components and their required maintenance. While it is important to obtain all the owner’s manuals that coincide with the various components of the apparatus, bear i

By Alan M. Petrillo

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are finding their way into fire department equipment inventories, typically being used as reconnaissance and size-up assets at fire scenes, as well as to take advantage of thermal imagery to identify hot zones with a fire.

A number of fire departments around the country have either received or applied for a certificate of authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate UAVs.

Drones also are being popularized in the civilian world and are showing up at fire scenes, operated by civilians often flouting FAA regulations concerning areas of operation and maximum altitude and sometimes interfering with firefighting operations, causing headaches for incident commanders (ICs) and wildland fire bosses. The FAA has promised regulations soon that would set limits on drone use, well beyond those currently in place in the United States.

UAVs for the Fire Service

While civilians have a huge number of UAV models and brands to choose from for hobby use, fire departments generally look at UAVs in terms of performance, robustness, payload capability, and speed of deployment, among other attributes.

Peter Darley, executive vice president and chief operating officer of W.S. Darley & Co., says the company brought the Stinger, its first UAV, to market in 2011 but now partners with Physical Sciences Inc. on the InstantEye Mark 2 Gen3 system. “Last year, at a plant explosion, the Louisville (KY) Fire Department used a Darley InstantEye to do three-dimensional mapping of the plant for a fire investigator’s report, taking photos and live video of the scene,” Darley says. “We also are seeing the unit being used in search and rescue, in flooding situations where it can identify people trapped on roofs or in occupied vehicles, and in hazardous materials situations like train derailments.”

1 A Louisville (KY) Fire Department firefighter prepares to launch a Darley InstantEye drone during a recent test of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. (Photo courtesy of W.S. Darley & Co.)

Mike Mocerino, robotics business development manager for W.S. Darley & Co., points out that there is a big difference between the drones used by hobbyists and what fire departments need. “There’s a huge difference because those developed for fire departments are professional systems that are ruggedized, use encrypted communications, and carry specialized payloads since they are built with the end users in mind,” Mocerino points out. “There’s also a sophistication to the flight controls you don’t find in hobbyist drones.”

Mocerino says the InstantEye Mark3 tips the scales at two pounds, including its video cameras and batteries. “Our system has three cameras on it, so you can go over a scene and have every vantage point covered,” he says. “You can add a 4x zoomable camera or a thermal imaging camera (TIC) if desired, which brings the unit up to its maximum of five cameras.”

He notes that W.S. Darley & Co. is adding other payload options to the InstantEye system. “We’re hoping to have digital video shortly instead of analog and are looking to the future where the system can be a node in a communications network for audio, video, and data from one point to another,” Mocerino s

By Alan M. Petrillo

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are finding their way into fire department equipment inventories, typically being used as reconnaissance and size-up assets at fire scenes, as well as to take advantage of thermal imagery to identify hot zones with a fire.

A number of fire departments around the country have either received or applied for a certificate of authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate UAVs.

Drones also are being popularized in the civilian world and are showing up at fire scenes, operated by civilians often flouting FAA regulations concerning areas of operation and maximum altitude and sometimes interfering with firefighting operations, causing headaches for incident commanders (ICs) and wildland fire bosses. The FAA has promised regulations soon that would set limits on drone use, well beyond those currently in place in the United States.

UAVs for the Fire Service

While civilians have a huge number of UAV models and brands to choose from for hobby use, fire departments generally look at UAVs in terms of performance, robustness, payload capability, and speed of deployment, among other attributes.

Peter Darley, executive vice president and chief operating officer of W.S. Darley & Co., says the company brought the Stinger, its first UAV, to market in 2011 but now partners with Physical Sciences Inc. on the InstantEye Mark 2 Gen3 system. “Last year, at a plant explosion, the Louisville (KY) Fire Department used a Darley InstantEye to do three-dimensional mapping of the plant for a fire investigator’s report, taking photos and live video of the scene,” Darley says. “We also are seeing the unit being used in search and rescue, in flooding situations where it can identify people trapped on roofs or in occupied vehicles, and in hazardous materials situations like train derailments.”

1 A Louisville (KY) Fire Department firefighter prepares to launch a Darley InstantEye drone during a recent test of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. (Photo courtesy of W.S. Darley & Co.)

Mike Mocerino, robotics business development manager for W.S. Darley & Co., points out that there is a big difference between the drones used by hobbyists and what fire departments need. “There’s a huge difference because those developed for fire departments are professional systems that are ruggedized, use encrypted communications, and carry specialized payloads since they are built with the end users in mind,” Mocerino points out. “There’s also a sophistication to the flight controls you don’t find in hobbyist drones.”

Mocerino says the InstantEye Mark3 tips the scales at two pounds, including its video cameras and batteries. “Our system has three cameras on it, so you can go over a scene and have every vantage point covered,” he says. “You can add a 4x zoomable camera or a thermal imaging camera (TIC) if desired, which brings the unit up to its maximum of five cameras.”

He notes that W.S. Darley & Co. is adding other payload options to the InstantEye system. “We’re hoping to have digital video shortly instead of analog and are looking to the future where the system can be a node in a communications network for audio, video, and data from one point to another,” Mocerino s