LETTERS
Did You Notice?
Arlington, Texas
The October 1982 issue has a very discriptive picture on the cover. Unfortunately, it shows our shortcomings as well as our positive action.
The dedicated fire fighters are making an aggressive attack on the fire but why do we still allow fire fighters to enter buildings without wearing SCBA’s?
With the knowledge available to us, we know the long term effect of smoke inhalation on our fire fighters as well as the immediate loss of life. A fire fighter should never enter a building without a SCBA, even to search for a reported fire, let alone a known fire as shown.
The important point is, how many departments will notice this and take the necessary corrective action? I hope everyone does.
Bill M. Strickland
Chief
Sprinklers for Mobile Homes
Thibodaux, La.
I have just read Dick Sylvia’s editorial entitled “A Code That Brings Results” (Sept. 1982), which refers to the subject of mobile homes.
For many years, both as a member of the Thibodaux Fire Department (I am now a retired director of training) and as president of my general insurance agency, I have observed trailer after trailer destroyed by fire and at the same time so many of these fires resulting in a loss of life.
It is amazing to me that the department of housing and urban development is taking so long to correct a serious national problem that can be basically corrected with the single statement “All mobile homes while being constructed shall be equipped with a complete sprinkler system.” The system would be interconnected with the domestic water pipes in the trailer.
It would be my presumption that the installation of the necessary piping and sprinkler heads would probably cost only $200 or $300 for installation while the trailer is under construction, and there is no doubt in my mind that an installation of this type would result in saving a minimum of 95 percent of trailers so equipped that would be involved in a fire.
I do not mean that the sprinkler system should be installed in lieu of smoke detectors. In fact, both should be installed.
I wonder how long it will be before the proper authorities “wake up” and do something about it.
Clarence J. Riviere
Riviere Insurance Agency, Inc.
Winter Fire Fighting
Hopkinton, N.H.
Mother Nature was not at her best on that January night (“Two Fire Fighters Killed Trying to Ventilate Roof,” Fire Engineering, Sept. 1982) and those of us from the cold regions know the rigors of fire fighting in winter weather.
With regard to the structures (that collapsed), the author believes that new revelations concerning building construction and renovations were discovered. Any well-trained officer should know that common substandard conditions are present in virtually all commercial and residential occcupancies. Therefore, fire officers must be alert for these defects and should consider them present until proven otherwise.
It is not my intent to point the finger at anyone operating during this tragic incident, only to stimulate constructive thought toward implementing a universal, mandatory training and education criteria for all ranks within the fire service to include both career and volunteer personnel.
Paul J. Smith, Jr.
Aerial Ladder Concerns
So. Burlington, Vt.
The June 1, 1982, issue of the Hartford Courant contains a feature article on aerial ladders.
My interest in the article stems from the fact that I was on an aerial ladder that collapsed in February of this year. Two of us were injured.
Up until the time of the accident, our department and others were not aware of nondestructive magnetic flux testing of ladders and that NFPA recommends testing once a year. To the best of my knowledge our ladder had not been tested since 1948. Five ladders were tested in this area after our fall. One aerial passed, three had to be welded, and the fifth is out of service.
This points out the need for all fire departments to set up a regular testing program. Also, there should be some research into the design of aerial ladders.
George J. Brady
