By Carl J. Haddon

Spring is right around the corner; it’s time to train; and your training officers want to bring “something new” into their programs. Have you ever given thought to contacting equipment manufacturers to help with this “something new”?

Many of us typically only contact manufacturers after we complete budget and needs assessments and we’ve appointed our purchasing committees-in whatever form or fashion that happens for your department. Next we call manufacturers or dealers for demos of the stuff we are interested in, right? What if we turned that equation upside down and backward? Why not turn conventional demos into training opportunities as part of your normal training schedules?

Changing the Normal Course

Equipment manufacturers and dealers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year trying to develop two major areas of their respective businesses: establishing market presence and making new business contacts. They work toward these goals with tools that include everything from trade shows to print and Web advertising to demos and cold calls. All of these things are done in an attempt to garner interest in their products, with hopes of generating sales. What better opportunity to achieve these goals than to have their equipment or products being used in hands-on applications during actual firefighter/first responder training?

I have been a fire service/technical rescue instructor for many years, and I’m still blessed to be able to travel the world each year teaching brave souls who are dedicated to honing their craft. As an instructor, I am always on the lookout for state-of-the art-as well as tried-and-true-products and equipment that will help my students do a better job for those they serve while maintaining their personal safety and the safety of their crews. With this in mind, I routinely welcome reputable dealers and manufacturers who are willing to bring their goods out to our training events and allow fire-rescue personnel to put these products through our hard core training evolutions.

There is a lot to be said for a professional dealer or manufacturer’s rep who will bring equipment out to training, offer students a safety and instructional briefing on whatever they’ve brought out, and then stand back and let the students and their instructor work through a hands-on training program. These products and equipment need no selling or salespeople because they sell themselves. On the flip side of this equation, I have to caution the reader about those “others” who will want to steer, guide, or control your training for their benefit. Training and selling don’t mix. Selling-if there is to be any-can only happen once the prescribed department’s training has concluded.

Incorporating “new” (which can be defined in a number of different ways) equipment into some of your training events can allow you to see how your existing equipment measures up and perhaps put new equipment on your department’s wish list for future purchases. A classic example of this happened during a recent training trip to Louisiana, where I was doing a forcible entry scenario. One of the departments brought out its rotary saw for use. This saw was in good shape; however, it was an older (quite older), heavier saw, which members found tough to use because of the weight and lack of suspension features. The firefighters from that department were introduced to a line of newer rotary saws that were lighter and ergonomically friendlier than their existing saw. They found the new saws could be safely used by a greater number of members. As a result of seeing the benefits to the department and its community after having used these new saws during a controlled training operation, the commissioners put the new s

By Bill Adams

In “The New Normal” (Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, October 2012), Paul C. Darley, president and CEO of W.S. Darley & Company, expressed his views on the state of the fire apparatus industry, the municipal financial crisis, and the fire service becoming one of the most affected departments in some communities.

He said, “The days of fire departments being treated as sacred cows in their communities are coming to an end.” He was spot on. Except for those in the emergency services, the ultimate sacrifice of 343 firefighters on 9/11 is sadly becoming a forgotten memory of the past.

1 Engine 8, from St. Bernard Parrish, Louisiana, is one of three 2015 1,500-gpm pumpers. The department’s roster shows KMEs were also purchased in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Its pumpers have a standardized configuration. (Photo courtesy of KME.)

Except for the few wealthy and affluent fire departments, most make due with whatever limited resources taxpayers are willing to provide. Career departments understandably place monetary emphasis on retaining personnel and fulfilling contractual labor agreements. Budget constraints are forcing volunteers in suburban and nonaffluent areas to become financially astute. Fire departments in economically distressed political subdivisions and rural communities are, by necessity, becoming frugal, miserly, and miserable. When a decision must be made to adequately fund staffing for a career department or to purchase a replacement rig, the rig comes in second place. If the local fire company must decide whether to replace an obsolete rig or replace the broken furnace and repair the leaky roof on the firehouse, the new rig loses again.

When vote-sensitive politicians become vocal in fire department finances, a purchase as expensive as a fire truck becomes an easy and a tempting target. Politicos often unmercifully harangue an apparatus purchasing committee (APC) to write specifications wisely for an economical purchase. In most instances, the APC starts off with that intent. It’s usually lost after the first meeting. It doesn’t have to be.

The Marketplace

Several years back, I recall reading a post in an online forum from a UK firefighter asking why the American fire service builds so many customized rigs instead of standardized ones. Paraphrasing him, he was amazed by the way American apparatus are purchased and questioned why so many are built as one-of-a-kind. While acknowledging conditions vary in each community, he hit the nail on the head when commenting that the American fire service could save money if it left the 19th century behind and followed the example of Henry Ford, using an assembly line with standardized parts. He said the American fire service would benefit by getting less expensive vehicles. That statement might have merit.

2 These two photos depict very basic rigs: a side-mount and a top-mount. Mike Watts, Toyne national sales manager, s Read more 661 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Feb 11, 2016 Apparatus Purchasing: Stock, Standard, or Demo? Part 1 By Bill Adams In “The New Normal” (Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, October 2012), Paul C. Darley, president and CEO of W.S. Darley & Company, expressed his views on the state of the fire apparatus industry, the municipal financial crisis, and the fire service becoming one of the most affected departments in some communities. He said, “The days of fire departments being treated as sacred cows in their communities are coming to an end.” He was spot on. Except for those in the emergency services, the ultimate sacrifice of 343 firefighters on 9/11 is sadly becoming a forgotten memory of the past. 1 Engine 8, from St. Bernard Parrish, Louisiana, is one of three 2015 1,500-gpm pumpers. The department’s roster shows KMEs were also purchased in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Its pumpers have a standardized configuration. (Photo courtesy of KME.) Except for the few wealthy and affluent fire departments, most make due with whatever limited resources taxpayers are willing to provide. Career departments understandably place monetary emphasis on retaining personnel and fulfilling contractual labor agreements. Budget constraints are forcing volunteers in suburban and nonaffluent areas to become financially astute. Fire departments in economically distressed political subdivisions and rural communities are, by necessity, becoming frugal, miserly, and miserable. When a decision must be made to adequately fund staffing for a career department or to purchase a replacement rig, the rig comes in second place. If the local fire company must decide whether to replace an obsolete rig or replace the broken furnace and repair the leaky roof on the firehouse, the new rig loses again. When vote-sensitive politicians become vocal in fire department finances, a purchase as expensive as a fire truck becomes an easy and a tempting target. Politicos often unmercifully harangue an apparatus purchasing committee (APC) to write specifications wisely for an economical purchase. In most instances, the APC starts off with that intent. It’s usually lost after the first meeting. It doesn’t have to be. The Marketplace Several years back, I recall reading a post in an online forum from a UK firefighter asking why the American fire service builds so many customized rigs instead of standardized ones. Paraphrasing him, he was amazed by the way American apparatus are purchased and questioned why so many are built as one-of-a-kind. While acknowledging conditions vary in each community, he hit the nail on the head when commenting that the American fire service could save money if it left the 19th century behind and followed the example of Henry Ford, using an assembly line with standardized parts. He said the American fire service would benefit by getting less expensive vehicles. That statement might have merit. 2 These two photos depict very basic rigs: a side-mount and a top-mount. Mike Watts, Toyne national sales manager, s Read more 683 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Feb 11, 2016 Apparatus Purchasing: Stock, Standard, or Demo? Part 1 By Bill Adams In “The New Normal” (Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, October 2012), Paul C. Darley, president and CEO of W.S. Darley & Company, expressed his views on the state of the fire apparatus industry, the municipal financial crisis, and the fire service becoming one of the most affected departments in some communities. He said, “The days of fire departments being treated as sacred cows in their communities are coming to an end.” He was spot on. Except for those in the emergency services, the ultimate sacrifice of 343 firefighters on 9/11 is sadly becoming a forgotten memory of the past. 1 Engine 8, from St. Bernard Parrish, Louisiana, is one of three 2015 1,500-gpm pumpers. The department’s roster shows KMEs were also purchased in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Its pumpers have a standardized configuration. (Photo courtesy of KME.) Except for the few wealthy and affluent fire departments, most make due with whatever limited resources taxpayers are willing to provide. Career departments understandably place monetary emphasis on retaining personnel and fulfilling contractual labor agreements. Budget constraints are forcing volunteers in suburban and nonaffluent areas to become financially astute. Fire departments in economically distressed political subdivisions and rural communities are, by necessity, becoming frugal, miserly, and miserable. When a decision must be made to adequately fund staffing for a career department or to purchase a replacement rig, the rig comes in second place. If the local fire company must decide whether to replace an obsolete rig or replace the broken furnace and repair the leaky roof on the firehouse, the new rig loses again. When vote-sensitive politicians become vocal in fire department finances, a purchase as expensive as a fire truck becomes an easy and a tempting target. Politicos often unmercifully harangue an apparatus purchasing committee (APC) to write specifications wisely for an economical purchase. In most instances, the APC starts off with that intent. It’s usually lost after the first meeting. It doesn’t have to be. The Marketplace Several years back, I recall reading a post in an online forum from a UK firefighter asking why the American fire service builds so many customized rigs instead of standardized ones. Paraphrasing him, he was amazed by the way American apparatus are purchased and questioned why so many are built as one-of-a-kind. While acknowledging conditions vary in each community, he hit the nail on the head when commenting that the American fire service could save money if it left the 19th century behind and followed the example of Henry Ford, using an assembly line with standardized parts. He said the American fire service would benefit by getting less expensive vehicles. That statement might have merit. 2 These two photos depict very basic rigs: a side-mount and a top-mount. Mike Watts, Toyne national sales manager, s Read more 450 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious4601460246034604460546064607460846094610NextLast Theme picker Section Quick Links   Fire Mechanics Documents EVT Discussion Forum Fire Mechanic Photo Gallery Training & Testing 2019 Scholarship Logo Wear Store Upcoming Events Theme picker Sponsors Fire Mechanics Section Board Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Chair Elliot Courage North Whatcom Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Vice Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Vice Chair Mike Smith  Pierce County Fire District #5 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Secretary Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Secretary Greg Bach South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #1 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #1 Doug Jones South Kitsap Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #2 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #2 Paul Spencer  Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #3 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #3 Jim Morris Mountain View Fire Department Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #4 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #4 Arnie Kuchta Clark County Fire District 6 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #6 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #6 Brett Annear Kitsap County Fire District 18 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #5 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #5 Jay Jacks Camano Island Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Legislative Representative Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Legislative Representative TBD TBD Read more 3514 0 Article rating: No rating Immediate Past Chair Posted: Oct 20, 2015 Immediate Past Chair Brian Fortner Graham Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating RSS Theme picker 2020 CAR SHOW Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM