Chris Mc Loone

At the 2013 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association's (FAMA) Technical Committee held one of its two meetings for 2013. The agenda included industry and FAMA updates, as well as naming the 2012 Chairman's Award winner.

FAMA Updates

FAMA President Harold Boer started the meeting by introducing two guests from the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Dennis Spice and Gavin Horn. Boer explained that the ISFI is looking to help FAMA through research on different projects and encouraged FAMA members to meet with them during the meeting.

Boer continued with an update from the association's spring meeting. He reported that there were great presentations on both statistics and surveying that gave FAMA a good idea of what its members' customers are asking for and how customers are getting information from manufacturers.

Another statistic Boer shared was that through 2012, the market has remained relatively flat. Based on this, he issued a challenge to the group. "When you are reviewing and proposing NFPA revisions and new proposals, take a look and decide if the cost/benefit ratio is justified," he said. "Is there a problem? Is the proposed solution going to solve it? Is it worth the cost to do it?" He cited that there have been good examples of identifying problems and coming up with solutions. One problem was hose falling off trucks. "It was a definite problem," he said. "We came up with a solution for it. It solved the problem and it was relatively inexpensive to do it. That was a very good solution." He concluded, "Let's be careful when we propose these new standards not to add significant cost to the trucks and see our market go down further. If there's a problem, let's address it. If it's not, let's have a recommended guideline."

FAMA Initiatives for the Year

Roger Lackore, co-chair of the Technical Committee, presented FAMA initiatives for the current year, including the following:
• Reorganizing the white papers and resource sections of the FAMA Web site.
• NFPA 1901/1906 participation.
• Fire Department Safety Officer Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Symposium.
• Developing a Fire Apparatus Safety Manual.
• Publishing a quarterly e-newsletter.

A Fire Apparatus Safety Manual is a glove-compartment-sized manual that would cover all the safety issues around using an apparatus. Lackore called for participants to join the ad hoc committee to develop the manual. Plans call for this committee's first meeting to be on July 25, 2013. The manual will be published through FAMA, and fire apparatus manufacturers can buy the books in bulk and send them with every apparatus.

Lackore also commented on FAMA's involvement with the FDSOA's Apparatus Symposium. The Apparatus Symposium turned a profit this year, and the FDSOA remains committed to continuing with the Symposium. "Our part of it is to try to provide presenters for those equipment- and apparatus-related topics," said Lackore. "We're providing recommendations. The FDSOA still has the final say on whether or not it likes the presenters. For each presentation this year, rather than just saying 'here's a topic,' the committee sat down and created a detailed outline for each presentation and learning objectives." He said that the committee determined the audience-spec writers or mechanics and service people, for example-and chose presentations to balance that out.

NFPA Process Update

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has recently transitioned to a new system for standards revision participation. Ryan Depew, the NFPA's staff liaison to the technical committee on fire apparatus, provided a brief rundown on some of the new aspects of the system, encouraging attendees to participate

Chris Mc Loone

I recently joined the thousands of other Pierce Manufacturing customers who travel to the company's Appleton, Wisconsin, facility for a tour of its headquarters. While I was there, Bobby Williams, Pierce's vice president, sales and marketing, sat down with me and answered a few questions about Pierce and the fire service.

CM: How are things shaping up for Pierce and its 100th anniversary celebration?

BW: There is a lot going on, and it's pretty exciting all the things we're doing. What I like the most about it is that we are focusing on the people and the stories about Pierce. The marketing team has done a really great job of taking time to talk to folks who have been here, and we have wonderful stories about sons and fathers and grandfathers who have worked here through the years and have heard some of the rich history of what they've been involved with. For me, that's the most exciting thing-to hear the stories and to really learn the legacy of Pierce.

CM: What's next for Pierce?

BW: Really, we're still excited about the Dash CF and see a lot of good things continuing to happen. We were out in the field this past week at what we call a "Road Rally" where we take the product out and show customers at their locations and really had a phenomenal turnout and a real excitement about what that does for the fire service. We know that we strive to be a leader in innovation of products for the fire service. We try not to innovate just for the sake of saying we have something new on the board. But, we really look at and listen to the customers to say, "What is it that you need? Where are we missing the mark? Where do we need to challenge ourselves to change and adjust?" And so, moving forward, we have some exciting things on the board that will be coming forth to the marketplace.

CM: What do you think is the most important innovation in the fire service during the past five years?

BW: To me, the most important innovation is really a paradigm shift in how fire departments look at themselves. They are required to do more with what they have. And, I'm hearing a lot about how they look at themselves and their constituents in the neighborhoods and in the communities they serve. They are finding ways to reach out and engage their constituents and rethink how they approach them. So for me, I see more departments naming their top executive as CEO as opposed to fire chief and changing how they think about themselves.

CM: What do you think the biggest issue is facing the fire service today, and how should the fire service address it?

BW: I really believe it's doing more with less. Budgets have been cut. Tax revenues are down. They are stretching out vehicle purchases. So many of them are struggling to get gloves, turnout gear, and all the equipment they need. So, it's trying to find innovative ways to do more with less. And, it's quite challenging. I've seen a number of creative ways departments try to relook at how they are buying apparatus-whether it's a buy-back program, or stretching out how they use apparatus, or how they approach front-line apparatus as smaller quick-attack vehicles, things like that. Departments are really looking at all different aspects of their operations to see how they can stretch those resources that they do have.

CM: What keeps you up at night?

BW: For me, it's being a good steward of what we've done here at Pierce and its legacy. We've been in business for 100 years, which is pretty exciting. Not a lot of companies can say that they have that rich history. So, it's taking care of all the people who have gone before us and established that foundation for us. And then, how I help continue and lead the organization into the next 100 years so that s

By Robert Tutterow

In last month's column I discussed the 2013 Kill the Flashover (KTF) project conducted at the South Carolina Fire Academy. KTF, led by Chief Joe Starnes, looks at fire behavior through air track management. If we understand air track management, we can influence fire behavior in ways that make for much more effective and safer fire attack. The results of KTF go hand in glove with recent findings in a series of live fire burns by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in Spartanburg, South Carolina. To highlight the findings, a well-respected fire chief asked one of the UL researchers if there is ever a situation when firefighters should go on a roof and open it for vertical ventilation. After a long pause, the answer was no. KTF confirmed this answer through its air track management study.

This month, I will review how the 2013 F.I.E.R.O. Biennial Fire Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Symposium complemented the findings of KTF. After observing KTF, Alan Bruancini, retired chief of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department, said these recent findings will be difficult for the United States fire service to accept. His comment about the fire service's predictable reluctance to embrace a deeper understanding of fire behavior was underscored at the PPE Symposium on several fronts.

Tradition

First, fire service attorney Jim Juneau gave an eye-opening presentation about how firefighters, company officers, and chief officers can be held accountable for their actions. Our actions are often grounded on indefensible traditions. Let me get your attention again: Juneau told the audience that leather helmets are not the best head protection. In fact, the European-style helmet is the optimal design available today. Many in the audience were quick to point out that leather helmets are National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant. Juneau replied, "I can jump over that chair. An Olympic high jumper can also jump over that chair. Does that make us equal?"

The crusty old leather helmet, with its totally useless flip-down Bourke eye-shields, is symbolic of our defiance to scientific conclusions. Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but the earth ain't flat. If the National Football League can take huge steps to improve the safety of its players, the fire service had better take heed. If we don't, someone else will do it for us.

The PPE Symposium was also the venue that Rich Duffy, retired assistant to the general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and veteran PPE expert, used to show photos of a new thermal imaging camera (TIC). The mini imager mounts on the SCBA face lens and reportedly produces an image quality so vivid that firefighters can identify the position of hose couplings on an attack line to lead them out of a structure if necessary. Speaking of the TIC, it is clearly the most underused tool in the fire service tool chest. TICs are absolutely critical in understanding air track management. Think of them as diagnostic tools.

Future Fire Service?

Imagine an American fire service learning from the European fire service. For decades, we've always dismissed the Europeans' approach by saying their building construction is different-and it is. However, fire behavior is the same across the planet. Imagine a fire service that rarely performs vertical ventilation; uses smaller hoselines; uses less water; uses foam or a wetting agent on every attack; "closes up" rather than "opens up" burning structures; equips every firefighter with a TIC mounted on his face mask or helmet; wears European- style helmets; often uses positive-pressure attack; and ensures every firefighter has a scientific baseline of knowledge about fire behavior-i.e. air track management. The idea could transform our training, our PPE, and our apparatus and change the makeup of our firefighting toolbox.

These are inte

By Richard Marinucci

Today's fire service offers more personal protective equipment (PPE) than ever before. This should not be a revelation to anyone in this business. Besides having more options, the standard protective equipment has continued to improve to offer a higher level of safety while still allowing firefighters to do the job. For example, turnout gear is lighter and more resistant to heat and has a better moisture barrier. Having the right tools is only part of the equation. Firefighters must accept the responsibility to not only use the equipment but use it properly.

Required and Enforced

I recently was in the locker room of a professional football team and I noticed a large poster that demonstrated the proper way to wear the uniform and pads. I wondered why this was necessary since all of the players have been in football most of their lives. I realized that the players need a reminder and probably will look for a shortcut if they think it gives them an advantage. As such, the league does its best to educate the players so that they get the maximum protection. Of course, the requirement to wear the equipment properly is mandated and the players are subject to fines if they deviate from the standard. Players in the National Football League (NFL) have the best safety equipment available yet will not necessarily embrace all of it unless forced to do so. Although education is a part of the strategy, enforcement is necessary. This seems like a good plan to follow with firefighters to make sure they are operating as safely as possible.

Departments must continually educate personnel on the value and use of safety equipment. Education may not be the only word to use-it could be nagging! Regardless, the purpose is to minimize the chance that complacency becomes the root cause of a preventable injury. Firefighters must continually be reminded to use their chin straps, cover exposed skin, wear their hoods, and have their gloves on. Why is it the responsibility of the leadership to do this when the firefighters should see the obvious advantage to their well-being? It is for the same reason the NFL feels it is important to continually remind its players to use their equipment.

But, continual reminders can only go so far. There must be consequences when all else fails. Football players are to wear the equipment as prescribed by the league. If not, they are subject to penalties that can hurt their team's chances of winning and they can be fined, which hurts their pocketbooks. If an organization is really serious about an issue, it must be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that its wishes are met.

Changing Mindsets

There are other things to consider. In previous occupations, I can recall workers disabling safety equipment-items designed to keep them from being injured. Occasionally someone would get hurt. Of course, it was never the worker's fault! Now, I am not here to accuse anyone else in the fire service of blatantly disregarding safe working practices. But, I can say that maybe in my younger days, along with some of my coworkers, we may have taken shortcuts. Because of my age, I can be reasonably sure that the statute of limitations has passed. Looking at this experience, I know shortcuts could only be taken if the culture of the organization allowed it to happen. I believe that to be the case and know that it takes great effort to undo this line of thinking. It is worth the effort for the leadership of an organization to change the mindset of its members so that this is not acceptable.

Always a Chance for Injury

Even if all the PPE is worn correctly and all safety devices are used, there is still a chance for an injury. This can be minimized if the equipment is used as intended and operators are properly trained. This can become more challenging to departments as they now have many more options when choosing