By Alan M. Petrillo

Fire apparatus manufacturers often are confronted with designing a variety of different configurations when they locate hydraulic rescue tools on rescues, pumpers, and even aerials. Some locations manufacturers have used include in an extended front bumper, dual installations on each side of the vehicle, single side mounts, transverse trays, in the rear compartment of a rig, and even putting some system elements on the top of a vehicle.

Ergonomics

Trapper Meadors, sales engineer for Precision Fire Apparatus, says that whether the hydraulic tool setup is in a walk-in rescue, walk-around, mini rescue, or pumper, ergonomics is the most important consideration along with space requirements. "We like to let the department firefighters come in and get their hands on the truck and their tools to see where they can best be placed," Meadors says. "Usually you want to see the heavy tools mounted down low and the lighter equipment up higher in a compartment. Very often, departments will choose to use slide-out trays to give easier access to their hydraulic tools."

Meadors notes that most departments are putting in simo pumps that can efficiently power two hydraulic tools at the same time but that others are choosing trimo pumps to handle three tools and quad pumps to allow the use of four tools simultaneously. "On some full-size rescues, we'll do a full complement off both the left and right sides of the vehicle," he adds. "On a mini rescue, we might locate the tools on a slide-out tray at the back of the vehicle."

Bill Proft, director of engineering for cab, chassis, and electrical platforms at Pierce Manufacturing Inc., echoes Meadors's philosophy about ergonomics being very important when locating hydraulic tools. "These tools aren't lightweight; even a 50-pound tool can be difficult to handle if lifted from shoulder or head height," Proft says. "Keeping tools down low on a utility tray is important so the tools are easy and comfortable to lift."

1 Precision Fire Apparatus configured this hydraulic rescue tool compartment for the Pleasant Hills (PA) Fire Department, featuring three color-coded hydraulic hose reels and three preconnected tools. (Photo courtesy of Precision Fire Apparatus.)

Location, Location, Location

Bob Sorensen, vice president of SVI Trucks, says he's seen the gamut of hydraulic tool installations on fire vehicles. "We've put them on the left and right sides, both sides, off the rear, and off the front of trucks," Sorensen says. "For instance, we recently built a rescue for the North Washington (CO) Fire Department, which runs a lot of interstate rescue work, and set the truck up with hydraulic tools-spreader, cutter, and ram-in compartments on both sides of the vehicle. Because they sometimes put the truck nearly perpendicular to the roadway to block the traffic flow, we installed two five-foot-long Whelen arrow sticks on each side of the body."

Sorensen says that SVI has set up rescues with hydraulic compartments on each side of the vehicle but sometimes only with a cutter on one side and a spreader on the other, with a ram in each compartment. "A configuration like that gives them the ability to work off both sides of the rescue without the cost of a duplicate set of tools," he says.

Sometimes, special circumstances dictate what has to be designed into a hydraulic rescue compartment, Sorensen points out. "In Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, they have a cold climate and run long calls in subzero temperatures," he

3LS Inc. Helmet Mount One (HM1) is a helmet mounting system that can mount nearly any small flashlight, bullet camera, or tool to a helmet. Its low profile reduces entanglement potential, and the HM1 is available in three colors: black, red, and silver. The HM1 fits items ranging from ¼ to 1½ inches in diameter. It also allows the user to remove the light from the helmet to use as a hand light. Firefighters can mount the lights above or below the helmet's brim or even to the front or back. The HM1 can be used in conjunction with a Streamlight® PolyTac® 90 to shine light where it is critical to see. Adjust it by rotating it up or down. Front mounting is suitable for extrication applications or starting an IV in low-light conditions. The HM1's two-inch-wide aluminum platform provides a solid contact point with a helmet. www.gutsforlife.com, 860-866-6396

Ziamatic Corp. (Zico) Ladder Access System, Extend Down, Model LAS-XT combines Zico's LAS ladder rack design with a new, patented cable-and-pulley system capable of raising and lowering ladders an additional 12 inches for quick, easy, and safe retrieval from high apparatus shelves. Mounting the LAS-XT to an apparatus high shelf allows for more compartment space in the side body underneath. Mounting to a standard shelf makes ladder retrieval even easier for shorter personnel. Two self-contained hydraulic actuators provide increased strength and reliability and create a more even, parallel operating motion. The rugged, cast aluminum system sustains a maximum load of 300 pounds and can accommodate additional accessories such as hard sleeves, pike poles, and folding ladders. It works with both new and existing apparatus. www.ziamatic.com, 800-711-FIRE

Kochek Company Storz Installation Tool speeds and simplifies hydrant conversion bushings installation when converting existing threaded fire hydrants to quick quarter-turn Storz connections. Requiring only basic tools like a ½-inch drive ratcheting socket, pliers, wrenches, and a drill, hydrant conversions can now be completed with precision in just minutes. The hydrant conversion process, a 10-minute field retrofit, involves replacing standard threaded fire hydrant connections with quarter-turn Storz connections. After conversion, fire departments can quickly and easily attach Storz equipment directly to the hydrant. www.kochek.com, 800-420-4673

Code 3®, Inc. Banshee™ Amplifier System offers a selection of tones, features, and options in one siren amp system: three low-frequency tones, multiple dual tones, and a true sounding electronic air horn. The Banshee can work with virtually any siren system already on the market and can be retrofitted to any emergency vehicle already on the road. When setting up the Banshee, dual tones can be configured in multiple combinations-for example, dual wail, dual yelp, wail, and Command Alert™. The air horn can also be selected to work with each primary tone without turning that tone off. Low-frequency tones can be generated in conjunction with the siren currently on a department's vehicle. Select from one of three settings: primary at ½ frequency, low-frequency

PIERCE MANUFACTURING placed a Pierce® mobile command vehicle into service with the city of Fremont, California. Built on a Pierce Velocity™ custom chassis, the apparatus addresses a wide range of emergency response needs of both the Fremont Fire and Police Departments. It was acquired through funding from an urban area security initiative (UASI) grant. The Pierce Velocity custom chassis features a DD13 450-hp engine, a 274-inch wheelbase, a Command Zone™ advanced electronics system, and an automatic leveling and stabilizing system. The two-door cab offers a 34.5-foot mobile command body with an 85.75-inch interior walkway height and three slide-out modules to increase workspace.

Interior highlights include six workstations, a comprehensive satellite data network, dual wireless modems, a radio dispatch system, and an IP-based telephone network. An A/V system is linked to 27 monitors located throughout the vehicle. The A/V system is managed by a matrix switcher, with five remote keypads that allow individual monitor display control from each keypad. To extend on-scene capabilities, the apparatus is equipped with complete galley and lavatory accommodations.

THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) AND THE UNITED KINGDOM'S FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (FPA) have announced a formalized relationship to use the NFPA's codes and standards in the FPA's property risk management education and certification program. The program will provide insurance risk engineers with technical knowledge needed to assess property risk from fire and natural hazards alongside key principles of loss potential estimation, business loss mitigation, and business continuity. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the two organizations will serve as the framework of cooperation between the FPA and the NFPA through which NFPA codes and standards will be a significant part of the program's curriculum. To help develop the program, the FPA will use the NFPA's Fire Code, and the NFPA will provide select technical review of training materials.

SMEAL FIRE APPARATUS CO. unveiled its new CORE rescue-pumper. The CORE incorporates the new Smeal S450 Chassis and the OMNI pump system. The S450 features a variety of options including a 450-hp Cummins ISL engine, 4,100-square-inch windshield for greater visibility, high mounted air intake to prevent water from entering the turbo, electrical V-Mux and Class 1 ES-Key Multiplex, a heavy-duty 72,000-Btu air conditioner, and raised roof options starting at eight inches that can be increased up to 24 inches in one-inch increments. The S450 also features an air bag system and exceeds NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, requirements for safety.

The OMNI pump system is a multipositional panel that can be placed virtually anywhere on the truck. Weighing less than five pounds, the panel is easy to remove and place in a location on the truck, keeping the pump operator in a safe location and enabling him to fully view the scene. The OMNI can control not only the pumps and valves but also the monitor, scene lights, truck-mounted cameras, generator, and air horn and check on water and foam levels.

HME AHRENS-FOX has announced that its newest sales and service dealership is Emergency Apparatus Design (EAD). The company is based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and will be covering the Southeastern Pennsylvania area. "With EAD having over 10 years of experience selling apparatus within our industry, we are very pleased they joined the HME family as our fourth dealership for the state of Pennsylvania," says Mitch Willoughby, HME sales di

Alan M. Petrillo

Benton County Fire District No. 4, in West Richland, Washington, had to replace two aging vehicles-a 1986 International 3,200-gallon water tender (tanker) and a 1985 Freightliner Type 3 engine-but wanted a single combination vehicle that could serve both functions as well as access hard-to-reach areas that the older vehicles could never navigate.

Paul Carlyle, Benton County captain and lead firefighter on the fire district's specifications committee, says a neighboring fire department at the federal Department of Energy's Fluor Hanford site, in Richland, had been operating a half dozen older Hawk Extreme wildland tankers built by Pierce Manufacturing and that his firefighters had worked with them on mutual aid. "Those were the first-generation units that Pierce made in 2004 and 2005, and we liked the way they performed," Carlyle says. "We liked their quick knockdown capabilities, the amount of water they carried, and the way they were able to get into places other vehicles couldn't."

1 Benton County (WA) Fire District No. 4 turned to Pierce Manufacturing for a 2013 Hawk Extreme wildland tanker to replace two older apparatus: a 1986 International tender (tanker) and a 1985 Freightliner Type 3 engine. (Photos courtesy of Pierce Manufacturing Inc.) Click picture to view video.

Carlyle says his committee drew up specs for what they wanted in a similar vehicle, put the specs out for bid, and ultimately awarded the contract for a Hawk Extreme to Pierce Manufacturing.

Reintroduction

Chad Trinkner, director of aerial, pumper, and fire suppression product management for Pierce Manufacturing, says the Benton County Hawk Extreme is the first unit that Pierce delivered after resuming production of the model. "We discontinued it in 2007 because Caterpillar stopped making the Cat C13 engine we used in the truck," Trinkner says. "We didn't have an engine to put in it, so we discontinued the model but brought it back in 2012 with a Cummins ISL9 450-horsepower diesel engine."

Benton County's Hawk Extreme is an all-wheel-drive vehicle that carries a 2,500-gallon water tank, a hydraulically driven Darley HH-500 single-stage 500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pump, a 60-gallon foam tank, a Husky 3 foam system, and a Hercules 120-cubic-feet-per-minute (cfm) compressed air foam system (CAFS). The tanker is outfitted with two 95-gpm front turret discharges that can rotate 180 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees above and 60 degrees below horizontal.

2 The Benton County Hawk Extreme built by Pierce is powered by a Cummins ISL9 450-hp diesel engine and an Allison Gen IV EVS 4500 six-speed automatic transmission and can operate in full time all-wheel drive to get the vehicle in nearly inaccessible places.

The Hawk Extreme also has two half-inch ground sweep nozzles, one at each outside corner of the vehicle below the bumper; three 10-inch dump valves, one on each side and one at the rear of the truck; and a Hannay electric hose reel carrying 200 feet of one-inch hose.