LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
One family’s gratitude
An open letter to the volunteers of the Hauppauge Fire Department:
I wanted to write and express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Hauppauge Fire Department for responding to my residence (11 Bluff) on Mother’s Day night. The speed of your response is the main reason my house stands today. Your professionalism, understanding, concern, and courtesy made this difficult time in our lives a little more bearable knowing we were in good hands.
The structural damage from the fire was minimal compared with what it could have been. Twenty-four feet of the ridge beam and 28 roof rafters were replaced. After the fire, insurance adjusters, structural engineers, building contractors, architects, and the like inspected the premises and were amazed by the expertise of the fire department. What needed to come down came down— nothing more! Water damage was nonexistent, other than nigs in the immediate area. Before walls and ceilings came down, tarps were placed over my belongings. Wallboard, insulation, charred wood, and ash were all carried out and placed in a neat pile in my driveway, leaving me only a minor cleanup the next day. Your work was incredible and my family will never be able to thank you enough.
The painters just finished. Next the rugs, and then out of the trailer and into the house where well be able to breathe again.
My wife Lucille and I have always marveled about people who give and give and give and ask nothing in return, and who even are sometimes maligned for their good doings. All I can say is the Hauppauge Fire Department has my utmost respect and appreciation.
Ray Towns
Hauppauge, New York
Thank you and the rest of the fire department for saving my house from burning down. I think you did a great job. Our house is doing great. In a few more weeks we will be back in our house. None of my stuff was damaged except for the rug and the furniture.
P.S. When can I join? I am nine.
Joe Towns
Hauppauge, New York
Wood preservation hazards
“The siding on the Wilson’s 18th-century home is preserved by a tried and true formula: one part used motor oil to two parts kerosene. Applied at intervals over die years, it does an admirable job of withstanding the elements.”
An article in Early American Life with the above photo caption was recently shown to me by my wife, who questioned the advisability of the “protective” treatment used on this house. Frankly I could not believe what I read, and furthermore, I could not believe that a reputable magazine devoted to, among other things, historic preservation, would print such information.
I wonder how many other historic places have used such a foolhardy approach to wood preservation. God help the firefighter and occupants of such a place should a fire occur. For the fire investigator: How would you like to do an origin and cause on this one?
How can preservationists, or others, throw good sense and caution to the wind and do such a thing? How can local authorities permit this to take place?
Lyle Neigh
Firefighter/Investigator
Ithaca, New York
Toluene and Saranex
Recently, Fire Engineering received several queries regarding my August ’89 article that included Saranex as one of the impervious materials to be used in contact with toluene. My original reference, Emergency Action Guide from the Association of American Railroads, does recommend the use of Saranex. A more recently published resource, Quick Selection Guide to Chemical Protective Clothing by Forsberg and Mansdorf (Van Nostrand Reinhold 1989), suggests that Saranex is not recommended for use when contact will be “greater than one hour.” This is at odds with a reader who said that toluene would penetrate Saranex in five minutes. Thickness is a main determinant in a material’s resistance to penetration.
Toluene is not an extremely hazardous material in contact with human skin, but protection is suggested in situations where significant amounts of liquid will be contacted. A user of a totally encapsulating suit has the right to expect total protection. In light of the warning that Saranex is not recommended for more than an hour of contact with toluene, the suggestion that it will protect the wearer is withdrawn. Whenever possible, the most conservative tested values and manufacturer recommendations should be applied in situations involving haz mats.
As always, your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Keep those communications open!
Frank Fire
Contributing Editor
Fire Engineering
Fire Engineering goes on the road
On August 16-26 of this year there was a training exchange between the state of Alabama and Guatemala, Central America. This exchange was coordinated by the Partners of the Americas Program. Chief Sides of Montevallo, Alabama, and I arrived safely in Guatemala City; however, our box of training manuals and other training aids did not. As a matter of fact, our training aids did not arrive at all.
There we were: The Guatemalan training officers had us scheduled to instruct 40 hours of fire service training of various subjects and we were equipped with a “Speedy .Spanish” dictionary and the August issue of Fire Engineering. (Before leaving the fire station, I put your magazine in my briefcase to read on the plane.) I had no idea one magazine would prove to be so valuable.
For the next 10 days the August issue of Fire Engineering was devoured by more than 300 Guatemalan firefighters. Specifically, we used Paul McFadden’s “Volunteers Corner” (“Response Injuries in the Volunteer Service”); Michael Kelly’s “Training Notebook” (“Fire Command Curriculum Sharpens ICS Focus”), which proved to be a virtual lesson plan in itself; and Ray Downey’s “The Rescue Company” (“Buried Victims”). I realize that instructing a 40hour fire training program from one magazine sounds impossible, but it happened.
The entire training experience was a tremendous success. Personally, reflecting on the experience now, I’m glad it happened the way it did because the situation forced me to recall things I thought were long forgotten. It also made me aware of the quality of the fire service publications we enjoy in this country but sometimes take for granted.
Thanks Fire Engineering! You pulled me out of a tight spot. I hope I can return the favor one day.
Gary W. Waters
Eire Chief
Pelham Eire Department
Pelham, Alabama
Auto extrication techniques save four lives
This past winter, Fire Engineering published two articles featuring auto extrication techniques with the use of hydraulic rescue tools. [Parts 2 and 3 of the vehicle extrication series written by Walter Alrutz. See Fire Engineering, Nov. ’88, Dec. ’88, and Jan. ’89. | The focus of the first article was twofold: removing a windshield with the use of shears and spreaders and performing a “dashboard push” with the use of shears and rams. The second article provided specs to fabricate a steel-angle step plate that was placed on the rocker panel and used the “B” post for support. This plate is to be used in the “dashboard push” to secure the ram’s base.
These techniques were immediately practiced with great success. Firefighter Tom Troncillito fabricated a rocker panel plate as per your specs, and this also was practiced, approved, and put into service immediately.
Since the implementation of these techniques and fabrication of the rocker panel plate, the Marlboro Hose Co. #1 has used these procedures along with our full compliment of hydraulic rescue tools to extricate four victims in four separate vehicles. There is no doubt in my mind that these people survived as a direct result of your publication.
Keep up the good work. 1 know of at least four people who may owe their lives to Fire Engineering!
Kevin J. Casey
1st Assistant Chief
Marlboro, New York Fire District
College degrees: read the fine print
I read with great interest E. Lee Silvi, Jr.’s article on firefighters obtaining college degrees (August 1989). His comment telling you not to get caught up in a college’s fancy promises, catalogs, and diplomas can also apply to so-called accredited institutions.
I would like to warn fellow firefighters about a problem I encountered in trying to obtain a fire science degree in the Open Learning Fire Service Program. I agree with Mr. Silvi’s evaluation that this program is an excellent independent study program and a good way to fulfill the second two years of your bachelor’s degree. My problem came about after completing what my participating college’s representative told me, unofficially, I had to complete in order to get a degree from the institution. My mistake was in not requiring an official evaluation from the institution before starting the program. When I did get an official evaluation after applying for a degree, I was informed that I was short some credits in the liberal arts core curriculum.
The program director that made the original unofficial evaluation has since retired and there was no record of his original evaluation in my file. At no point in my 4 1/2 years of taking courses did anyone make me aware of these core requirements. This is why having an official evaluation done before starting is so important—to know exactly what is required before making a commitment to such a rigorous program and to avoid not having anything official in writing in the records.
Another problem with this type of program is probably inherent in any correspondence-type program. It is very easy for the institutions to ignore you if anything does go wrong. It is my feeling that they show less desire to be accountable for their employees’ actions when they don’t have to face you. It is very easy for them not to return phone calls, or when they find out who is calling to say they are in a meeting or just stepped out.
Don’t let a university representative sell you on the merits of a program and then not get what is officially required of you in order to get a degree. The runaround that a person is subjected to can ruin a positive learning experience.
Donald T. Strong
Fire Marshal
Moscow, Idaho Fire Department
Stress professionalism
Our department is a volunteer department with paid paramedics and administrative staff. In regard to the article “Too Little Too Late” (“Volunteers Corner,” June 1989), Captain Weed would soon be Lt. Weed if he made many mistakes such as he made on this fire. Any good company officer should be able to estimate the amount of hose required to do the job before calling for a quick attack preconnect. Most preconnects are 150 feet or 200 feet, apartment bundles or hotel bundles are 150 feet, and small packs 200 feet. One apartment bundle and one mall pack should each have a gated-wye connected to the line.
All our preconnected lines are loaded in dump loads with 100 feet above the nozzle and 50 feet below the nozzle. The firefighter takes the nozzle and all hose above it in a shoulder load and the other 50 feet rolls out on the ground so one firefighter can stretch 150 feet of any preconnected hose (1 1/21 3/4-, or 2 1/2-inch). The next firefighter then shoulder loads an apartment bundle widi gated-wye and extends the first line with this extra 150 feet. Now there are 300 feet of hose layed by two firefighters in a matter of seconds. This has been our standard operating procedure for about 15 to 20 years now, except we now use 1 3/4-inch in place of 1 1/2-inch.
This method is not unique to our department, as most volunteer departments in Kitsap County use this method of attack. Most departments also use a “standardized hosebed.” We also have a countywide recruit training program that teaches all recruits from all the volunteer departments all the same basics for firefighters and includes a live house burn at the end of the second weekend. After learning all the fundamentals over a two-week period, it is then up to the individual department to teach these “rookies” the Firefighter I skills. The Washington State Firefighter I skills encompass most “skills” up to a standard Firefighter Level III.
Your article did cover some unique approaches to what some departments may see as a problem, but we have been using this method for so long that we thought it was common practice with most departments. If I had been in Captain Weed’s position, my commands would probably have been: “Take a 2 1/2inch preconnect to the backyard and wye-off. Extend with 150 feet of 1 3/4inch bundle to the back door. Mask up and wait for ventilation before entry.” With a six-man crew (officer, apparatus operator, and four firefighters) we would have used two men on the hoseline, two on ventilation, the AO, and officer, who would become Command. Next engine in, along with arriving POVs, would take a backup line to the rear and also protect exposures. This should be standard procedure in most p’rogressive departments, whether volunteer or paid.
Edward Henneman
Captain, Training Division
Fire District 15
Bremerton, Washington
