FIRE ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENTS
EDITORIAL 6
VOLUNTEERS CORNER 8
Fire apparatus safety in NFPA 1500
TRAINING NOTEBOOK 10
News media at the scene
DISPATCHES 16
FEMA won’t reorganize yet Volunteers on fire program attacks Putting a cap on furnace CO Change to ground ladder standard Fire hose pressure markings Honoring fallen firefighters
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 14
READER SERVICE CARD 21
APPARATUS DELIVERIES 58
EQUIPMENT DIGEST 59
TRAINING AIDS 65
COMPANY NEWS 66
MANUFACTURERS’ LITERATURE 67
NAMES IN THE NEWS 71
COMING EVENTS 72
CLASSIFIEDS 73
FEATURES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
UNDERSTANDING CHEMICAL TOXICITY 18
There are plenty of gaps in the data on how chemicals affect the human body. Knowing how little we know will help you protect yourself.
BY JOHN E. BOWEN
ETHYLENE 53
A small spill of ethylene presents big hazards to responders—explosive potential, and frostbite, too. BY FRANK L. FIRE
COMMUNICATIONS
THE CROWDED AIRWAVES OF CALIFORNIA 29
In just four years, communications in San Mateo County has gone “from the Flintstones to the Jetsons’’ because chiefs there were willing to share radio channels. BY RICHARD B. BRIDGES
RADIO I.Q. 35
There’s more than one way to get more coverage in radio communications—and some ways are less expensive than others.
BY EDWIN J. SPAHN
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
SILK PURSES FROM SOWS’ EARS 42
The beauty of a restored building may mask the dangers that hidden void spaces and collapse potentials hold for firefighters.
BY FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN
