Ingenuity Keeps Tools in Their Place
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The Western Salisbury, Pa., Fire Department has always made good use of talent found within the department. This article is an example of how this talent was put to good use. The Western Salisbury Fire Department is one of three located within Salisbury Township, a municipality bordering the City of Allentown, Pa.
As part of a 10-year plan to update fire apparatus within the township, our department took delivery of a 1000-gpm pumper in January 1976. Our chief engineer, Steve Radokovitch, then accepted the task of designing and constructing various devices to be used to store equipment in the compartments. During the designing stage, Radokovitch had two objectives to guide him. First, the equipment had to be protected while the engine was en route to an alarm and second, there had to be easy access to the equipment on the fire scene.
Radokovitch’s first phase of the project was the completion of the compartment used for adapters, nozzles and various other items. This compartment, as well as all other compartments on the apparatus, had oak flooring precoated with polyurethane. The oak was used to protect the metal compartment floors.
Oak supports for playpipes
All the equipment is well organized and easily accessible. The 2 ½-inch playpipes and the hose jacket rest securely on oak supports. The adapters, 1 ½ -inch nozzles and gated wyes rest on oak doughnuts that were shaped to the size of the opening of the accessories placed over them. The doughnuts and holders are securely fastened to the oak flooring with 1 ¼ -inch brass screws.
The second area of concern was placement of spare air cylinders used with our breathing apparatus. Radokovitch constructed two racks and each holds three bottles. They rest in the rack in an upright position. The racks are made of oak coated with a polyurethane finish and are held together with a combination of white glue and 1 1/4-inch brass screws. Oak supports run across the racks, separating the cylinders and maintaining a secure resting place during truck movement.
What makes these racks unique is that Radokovitch has placed them on door slides. When bottles are needed, the rack can be slid out of the compartment and bottles easily lifted out of the rack. To prevent the rack from sliding when not in use, a replacement door latch was placed on the end of the rack. The latch can easily be unlocked when the rack is to be pulled out.
All available space used
When one looks throughout the compartments of this apparatus, it becomes apparent that the designer made use of all available space. In the rear compartments are indentations to allow wiring and tailgates to be placed. Seeing this space as an excellent area for storage of small items, Radokovitch constructed an aluminum bracket to be used to stow adapter cords. This bracket allows the cords ta hang vertically within the space. The bracket is grooved to allow the adapters to be slid off the rack, yet the adapters will not fall off the holder during truck movement because the edges are bent upwards.
Next to this holder is an aluminum device to hold a Pry-Axe in place. This holder is secured to the compartment wall and allows the tool to remain in a vertical position when not in use. It is prevented from falling by an aluminum slide that fits across the handle of the tool as it rests in the holder. This slide is slotted on two sides and the slots fit around two pieces of aluminum secured on the side of the holder. These slots slide around the aluminum side pieces and hold the tool in place within the holder. The slide is bent upward to allow the user to easily grasp it and pull it off the holder to remove the tool.
Many fire departments merely place their booster line nozzle in the reel well or purchase commercial holders and clamps. Deciding neither of the preceding methods was desirable, Radokovitch made a nozzle holder from scrap aluminum. Grooved areas allow the nozzle to fit snugly in the holder. The weight of the nozzle along with the accurate matching of nozzle dimensions with the holder prevents the nozzle from moving while the apparatus is in motion.
Devices put on other apparatus
The preceding devices are but a few examples of the work that has been done by our chief engineer on this particular piece of equipment. In addition, Radokovitch has placed similar devices on our 1965 pumper and 1972 attack truck. A tribute to Radokovitch’s work is the fact that the only design not his creation is the one used for the construction of breathing appar the cabs of the two engines. This design was taken from the one in use by the New York Fire Department.
It is impossible to estimate the savings that were achieved by Radokovitch’s labor in the design and construction of the devices. It is important that I also mention that most of the materials used in this project was donated. The aluminum was provided by a man who operates a company specializing in aluminum fabrication and the oak was provided by a local lumber yard. Pieces of aluminum were also obtained in a local scrapyard.
It is important to be aware of the talent available in your department. However, do not forget local businesses and their value as resources for materials that are needed for department projects.
