David Cain

Fire apparatus and equipment have come a long way during the past 100 years. Yet a majority of maintenance inspections are done the same way today as they were at the turn of the past century: on pen-and-paper log sheets.

With so much equipment to look after, logging everything by hand can be time- and labor-intensive and prone to mistakes. There's a lot to keep track of: daily and weekly preshift truck checks, inventory checks, personal protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus bottles, hose and pump schedules, preventive maintenance and annual tests, advanced life support and basic life support equipment, drug checks, station supplies, and more. Combine that with all the other responsibilities departments have-running calls, training, maintaining certifications, and so on-and it's easy to see why streamlining and automating inspections just never seem to be top priorities.

PSTrax automates a fire department's inspections into a cloud-based digital logbook that can be accessed from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. So, all crews have to do is log in, see which checks are due, and get to work-without having to search for the right log sheet or checklist. (Photo courtesy of PSTrax.)

Although missing a check every now and then may not be the end of the world, major issues can arise if they go unchecked for too long. Every year, people and property are needlessly put in harm's way when crucial inspections get missed. "In the case of the firefighter, proper maintenance can be the difference between life and death," says Bob Norton, of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company, Higganum, Connecticut. "Maintenance is the most lackluster part of the fire service. But outside of training, it may be the most important. Tools are only good if they perform when you need them to. That goes for everything from the gas in a generator to the brakes on a truck."

Such was the case with the Boston (MA) Fire Department tragedy. In 2009, Lieutenant Kevin Kelley was killed when the fire truck he was riding in crashed into an apartment building. Investigators determined the cause of the accident to be a faulty brake system, which raised serious questions about the adequacy of fire truck maintenance.

Preventing tragedies like the one that occurred in Boston is the reason PSTrax was built. It is designed to make maintenance checks more efficient to combat the hundreds of accidents (or near accidents) that occur each year resulting from poor maintenance inspections.

Automating Inspections

PSTrax automates a fire department's inspections into a cloud-based digital logbook that can be accessed from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. So, all crews have to do is log in, see which checks are due, and get to work-without having to search for the right log sheet or checklist. It's built to each department's specs-its crew, equipment, and maintenance schedules. Each station-specific task, whether it's a truck check that needs to be done at the beginning of each shift or an aerial load test due every five years, is scheduled, tracked, and documented automatically.

Other features of PSTrax include:

• Reduced redundancies. The system updates in real time whenever crews perform inspections, across all users. If a crew takes a call in the middle of its checks, PSTrax will pick up right where it left off when it gets back. This eliminates double work and ensures that crews can use their time most efficiently.
• Instant communication. Anyone can post alerts about out-of-service or malfunctioning equipment to the rest of the station

Alan M. Petrillo

Boston, Massachusetts, has always presented challenging terrain for Boston (MA) Fire Department vehicles, with tight turns and hilly historic streets. So when the department's apparatus committee sat down to spec a new ladder truck, size and maneuverability were key considerations.

Peter Cakridas, the department's director of transportation, says, "Our biggest concern was that aerials were getting bigger and bigger, but the guys in the field were having difficulty maneuvering the pieces in the streets. We needed to do something different with our new aerials."

The Boston (MA) Fire Department's Ladder 17, a KME-built 109-foot AerialCat, operates at the scene of a church fire using its Akron 1,500-gpm monitor. [Photo courtesy of the Boston (MA) Fire Department.]

Maneuverability

The apparatus committee reached out to a number of manufacturers. Ultimately, the department decided to purchase three 109-foot AerialCat rear-mount ladders from KME, Cakridas points out. "One of the big selling points on the KME AerialCat was its 208-inch wheelbase," he says. "We were running ladders on a 220-inch wheelbase and some of the manufacturers wanted us to increase to 230 inches."

Jack spread was another issue for the apparatus committee, he notes, because of having to set up in some of Boston's notoriously narrow streets. "The full outrigger spread is 14 feet, but when the ladder is short jacked, the footprint will be eight inches narrower than our current ladders," Cakridas says. "If we get the fire side jacks fully out, we can get a 180 degree rotation of the stick. The aerial will not allow itself to be operated in an unsafe position. But, being able to short jack the truck means we can set up in places that we couldn't have before."

In addition, the outriggers don't have decorative stainless steel or diamond plate covers that don't stand up to harsh Boston street conditions, Cakridas notes. The Boston specs call for 3⁄8-inch steel plates to be welded directly to the vertical stabilizer and then painted with red "linex," a coating that doesn't scratch or chip and often is found in the beds of pickup trucks.

The KME 109-foot AerialCat ladders built for the Boston (MA) Fire Department have 14-foot jack spreads. But when short jacked, the vehicles' jack footprints are eight inches narrower than that of the department's other aerial ladders. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Fire Department.)

Jeff Mazza, owner of Bulldog Fire Apparatus, which sold the AerialCats to the Boston Fire Department, says the apparatus committee came up with an unusual solution to improving the turning radius on the ladders by redesigning the rear end. "When they were in our factory doing a preinspection on pumpers, they started looking at the aerials on our assembly line," Mazza says. "They came up with the idea of eliminating the 90-degree corners at the rear of the aerial and replacing them with 45-degree corners. That allows for increased maneuverability and decreased tail strikes on tight turns."

New Approach to Ladders

Mazza says the 109-foot AerialCats have ladders constructed with 10

Founder, Performance Advantage Company

1. How is the PAC Classroom going?

As you know, we mount all types of equipment. And, we have to come up with bracketry to mount all different types of equipment. Sometimes that's hard to envision. When you put out a catalog, all it does is show pictures of what products are doing rather than necessarily how they do it. So by having all of our products on display in a way that we can take a camera and show visitors anywhere in the world how the things operate, it seemed to us that it was a great opportunity to take advantage of technology. So, this opportunity to use GoToMeeting to actually bring people into our display is a marvelous tool. We can talk to our dealers in Australia. We talked to some customers in Greece the other day. It doesn't matter where in the world they are-they could be in the next community. But in any event, we can give them an opportunity to see exactly how our products work right before their faces.

2. Can you tell us about the Scott display in the Greater Lancaster Museum of Fire Fighting?

Scott Aviation was born here in Lancaster, New York. Earl Scott lived here; his family lived here. This whole community knew of Scott and a whole lot of them worked at Scott for years. They had products for aviation as well as products for the fire service. What they learned in high-altitude breathing equipment allowed them to develop the regulators that were used in the Scott [SCBA]. So, it started here. The family is here. It's a wonderful community display because it brings so many people here who worked at Scott or know of Scott.

3. Why is proper tool mounting so critical for today's fire apparatus?

We are carrying more and more tools that are susceptible to damage. And, it's very important that they be mounted in a way that they're going to be there when you need them. It's also important that you be able to check your apparatus before you leave the scene of a fire and make sure you have all the tools that you took to the fire. Besides that, more and more equipment is very expensive. So, it's terribly important that it be mounted carefully and well. It takes a lot of thought, but it's worthwhile. In many instances, you're not changing an engine, a pump, wheels, and axles. Those things have been part of fire apparatus for years. But you are changing the way you carry the tools you need at a fire. Look at the hydraulic tools that have come on the scene, or the generators, or all of the different axes and pry bars. They have to be carefully mounted. And, it is critical that you allow the space on a new rig for that equipment, that equipment be mounted properly, and that you get your weight distributions and everything else in balance.

4. What do you think is the biggest mistake fire departments make when mounting tools?

I think the biggest mistake is they don't take enough time before they come up with a new apparatus specification to determine where they want to mount this equipment. I think an example of doing it well is Ottawa, Canada. They did a marvelous job on their specifications because they took compartment by compartment and decided what they wanted, where they wanted it mounted, and how they wanted it mounted. That might sound like a lot of nonsense, but they wound up with a specification that when you read it or any bidder read it, they knew what was wanted. And when it came time to build that truck, the builder knew exactly what the committee wanted. So, I think the biggest mistake is that they don't take enough time to really design the truck around the equipment they are going to carry.

5. What keeps you up at night?

Well, sometimes, what we have to do is take advantage of technology. By that, I mean when we first started making brackets, it was very important to recognize that with some of the old brass cast brackets, when you moun

Richard Marinucci

Conferences and trade shows are invaluable to professions in that they provide unique opportunities to better the profession regardless of which one it is.

The fire service is no different, and all departments and individuals can benefit by actively participating. Attendance must be considered a vital component of professional development for those who strive to attain the highest level of performance. Yet, there remains a stigma of sorts in many communities that these conventions are nothing more than junkets taken on the public dole and offer nothing but a good time for those who attend. This perception has to be addressed; individually and collectively, the fire service must continually promote the value of attendance to those who ultimately control the budget.

Economy's Effect

There is no doubt that the nation's economic conditions of the past few years have made participation difficult for many. For example, in my community a decision was made that there would be no out-of-state travel for any reason. This was a political decision to let the public know that we-as an entire governmental entity, not just the fire service-were taking action to control costs. In spite of the fact that I could anecdotally cite many cost-saving examples from information obtained at certain venues that more than paid for attendance, the perception trumped the logic. This is a reality, and departments must consider a strategy to address this. Even with a sound strategy, there will be cases where the political policy will stand regardless of various arguments.

Perception Change

Fire service leadership must work on changing the perception that conferences and trade shows are luxuries and nonessential components of a high-performing, professional organization. A big part of this is understanding the specific value of every opportunity and being able to explain it in simple, nonemotional terms that make sense to the average person. This is not easy in many cases because the perceptions are deeply embedded and it is easy to say no and cite the political reasoning. It takes work to get approvals, and relationships are key so that you have the opportunity to offer your reasons.

I recently attended the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Symposium in Orlando, Florida. It was the first time I attended, and I left wondering how much money I had wasted over the years by not having members of my organization attend this conference. Many experts in the apparatus profession were assembled-those who truly understand the industry. I am so humbled by the lack of knowledge I have about the specifics of apparatus and how much others know about the subject. It would not be hard to find ways to save on future apparatus purchases and subsequent maintenance costs by spending time at this symposium. I am sure with very little effort I could identify items that would more than cover the expense of the trip.

Here is a specific example. I was talking to Mike Wilbur, a retired lieutenant from the FDNY and an expert in fire apparatus issues. He asked me a very simple question: Would I consider building a structure that costs approximately $750,000 without hiring an architect? I said no. My reason is that I don't build things like that very often so I don't know the intricacies involved. He then asked me why I would spend that much money to buy a ladder truck without help. It was a very good point that I will certainly use in the future. I think that tip alone made the trip worthwhile. If you don't regularly and routinely purchase apparatus, you are at a disadvantage and likely will spend more than needed or end up with apparatus that is not as reliable as it needs to be. The chances of making a mistake because of inexperience are great.

Determine Value

The practicality of attending all the conferences that exist i