The Round Table
departments
“Life safety is the most critical issue in fire protection today.” This according to the NFPCA which themed its 4th Annual Conference in October to that issue. Conferees challenged then in a summary session to “Improve Life Safety Throughout the Nation.”
This challenge has always existed, of course, but within the last four years, what has your fire department specifically done to improve life safety in the areas of human behavior (fire prevention), pushing for automatic detection and suppression (laws and codes), EMS, and protecting the fire fighter—in any way?
Clinton L. Hughes, Chief, Wethersfield, Conn.: The Wethersfield Fire Department has been providing fire protection and prevention to the Town of Wethersfield for 175 years. Since its earliest existence, the department has been updating its standards constantly to meet those of the national level. This department was the first to write a course on vehicle extrication, one that has been widely accepted throughout the nation.
In 1973, this department took upon itself to pass a municipal code in the Town of Wethersfield requiring that all new buildings or additions to existing buildings must be equipped with automatic sprinkler systems. In 1976, after long, tedious debating, this department was able to pass another ordinance requiring smoke detection systems in new residential dwellings. Soon after these laws were implemented, surrounding towns did a study of the legality of these laws and are now in the process of implementing the same laws in their own towns.
In 1977, after a report issued by the NFPA on the safety of canvas fire gear as compared to Nomex equipment, this department again made a step forward by purchasing complete Nomex gear and Cairns helmets.
In 1977, a fire prevention bureau was established to assist the fire marshal in the areas of home inspection and fire prevention. This bureau is responsible for making the public (both adults and school-aged children) aware of fire prevention, and this is accomplished through advertisements in the news media, demonstrations, speeches, and through displays set up in the town hall. With the space-age design of the new lightweight Scott Air Pak, this department is currently in the process of replacing the old style Scott Paks with the much improved version. As of this time, we are the only department in the state to implement use of the new Scott Air Pak.
Along with modern technology comes new and different hazards. This department continues to study these additional hazards and tries to implement laws and equip its personnel to deal with these hazards and to protect the safety and well being of both the volunteer firemen and citizens of the Town of Wethersfield.
Russell Yarbrough, Chief, Jacksonville, Fla.: The .Jacksonville Fire Division has, during the last four years, instituted and adopted many innovative ideas and procedures to further the goal of life safety.
As I wish to concentrate on what I feel is the primary concept that has met these aims, I will briefly mention the other areas in which 1 feel we have initiated changes for the better. The division has expanded our inspection and public education programs in the field of fire safety, we are moving to the adoption of positive pressure air masks, regulations have been issued requiring full bunker gear to be worn at all incidents, personnel are fully equipped with Nomex apparel and an active safety committee constantly guides our efforts to improve personnel safety.
The above are but a few of the moves made by the Jacksonville Fire Division to improve life safety. I feel the primary factor during the last four years came about through the wisdom and foresight of several individuals within the division. Through their efforts a chemical hazard team was formed. Led by a most capable and aggressive captain, this unit was molded into a group, which after over 2,000 hours of training, is able to confront and overcome most situations with which it may be involved. In addition, this unit, serving as a training nucleus, has presented a four phase training program to all members of the division. By increasing the individual fire fighters knowledge and awareness of the dangers and hazards he is likely to meet in this advanced technological age he is thus better prepared to combat such problems. With the knowledge, expertise and experience to meet these objectives, the Jacksonville fire fighter not only has improved his options for increased life safety, but has immeasurably improved the life safety factor for all citizens of this area.
John Degnin, Jr., Chief, Salem, Ore.: Salem, Oregon is a city of 85,000 people surrounded by surburban and rural population of 40,000 people. Additionally, Salem is Oregon’s capital. The Salem Fire Department utilizes 129 paid fire fighters on eight engine Companies and two truck companies and one rescue company based in seven fire stations to answer 3554 alarms in 1977. The department responds to alarms both within the city and within a rural fire protection district to the south and west.
Although Salem’s fire personnel have been active for years, both on and off duty in fire and life safety programs, the department is now moving toward an even greater emphasis on prevention activities. In the area of human behavior, Salem’s suppression personnel utilizes 16 lesson plans to teach the public about fire and life safety. During 1977, the fire department gave 147 presentations to 5,819 students in 21 elementary schools, 9 secondary schools, and the state schools for the blind and for the deaf. Ari additional 68 presentations were made to 17,441 adults.
Among the programs covered were fire survival and Hartford’s junior fire marshal program for primary grade students; escape drill in the home, fire hazards in the home, artificial ventilation, and child care safety for intermediate grade students; and flammable liquids hazards, electrical hazards, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation for secondary grade students. The same subjects plus evacuation procedures in commercial occupancies, extinguisher use, and home fire surveys are utilized with adults. The department personnel annually operates a recreational vehicle safety check, a Fire Service Recognition Day open house and Fire Prevention Week fire fighting demonstration.
Whenever possible, the normal public interest in the fire fighter and his equipment is encouraged and tied into fire safety and prevention. For instance, a fire fighter demonstrating self-contained breathing apparatus can easily talk about the hazards of smoke and how to avoid it through the use of smoke detectors and low crawl. The lesson plans and a Salem School District teacher guide are available from the City of Salem Printing Shop for $5.00. The department also offers blood pressure testing and classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in the past year over 4,820 citizens have attended class in CPR presented by the Salem Fire Department and other agencies in the metropolitan area of Salem.
Salem’s eight-man fire prevention bureau enforces the uniform building code and uniform fire code as required by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The bureau recently began a campaign to require minimum exitway protection in residential buildings with more than three apartments. As alternatives, the bureau is accepting approved sprinkler or supervised early warning detection systems. Private early warning devices are the subject of public education campaigns in the media as well as the aforementioned fire and life safety education programs. A full-time fire investigator is called to any fire causing loss of life or more than $1,000 worth of property loss. The investigator’s success in working with the Salem Police Department to arrest and convict arson suspects has served as a deterrent reducing the malicious fires or false alarms that endanger the public and the fire fighter.
EMS in Salem consists of a private ambulance company operating under city charter. Salem Fire Department supplements the company with an emergency medical technician on every engine company and an EMT rescue company equipped with heavy rescue equipment.
Fire fighter’s protection and safety is of the utmost importance to the city and the department. All replacement turnouts are made of Nomex; treated leather gloves with wrist protection and Federal helmets are issued. Chemical entry suits are available and the self-contained breathing apparatus is being changed to the positive pressure demand in accordance with OSHA regulations. The department continues to look for protective methods, procedures, and equipment that can help reduce deaths and injuries.
The Salem Fire Department is very concerned with life safety. The fire fighter’s historically have donated time to annual promotions, open houses, recreational vehicle checks, and school programs; now the department is scheduling fire protection and life saving programs as part of its daily activities. We feel that fire education, fire prevention and life safety are major parts of a fire department’s concern.
