Staff
THOMAS F. BRENNAN Editor JACKIE COX Associate Editor LINDA McCAULEY Managing Editor SHERI THOMAS
FE Volume 137 Issue 4
The Latest
Sometimes, There Are No Lessons
The tragedy in Buffalo, NY, has not only touched us all in the fire service, but also served to shock us, once again, to our reality. A response to a routine "odor of gas" became another chapter in the annals of fire disasters—disasters that we so regrettably record on too regular a basis. The futility of the scenario saddens us even more. Training, experience, leadership, dedication and a host of all the readily identifiable qualities that add up to a safe and efficient incident operation were not able to affect the tragic outcome one bit.
Haz-Mat Good Samaritan Legislation
When a hazardous materials incident occurs, the officer in charge usually needs the assistance of an expert to provide advice on handling the incident. Generally, one of the first calls made is to CHEMTREC, the Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, sponsored by the Chemical Manufacturers Association.
COMING EVENTS
April 29-May 4, 35th Annual International Assn, of Arson Investigators Conference. Contact Barbara Andrews, City of Largo Fire Dept., P.O. Box 296, Largo, FL 33540. May 3-4, 54th Annual Training and Safety Conference. Contact Gordon Black, 1025 Golden St. Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301.
More FE Volume 137 Issue 4
Industrial Fire Brigades
A commonly overlooked piece in the fire service puzzle by both public and private sectors is the industrial fire brigade. Fire departments typically look at an industrial complex as a target hazard and a pre-plan project, ignoring the help—or hinderance—of the brigade.
North Sea firefighter
Fires and explosions pose the greatest danger to lives and equipment on offshore oil rigs and platforms where conventional firefighting equipment is ineffective. Able to deliver 13,600 tons per hour of water at a range of 650 feet, the emergency support vessel IOLAIR (Gaelic for eagle) is capable of fighting the intense wellhead fires onNorth Sea petroleum platforms.
High-rise cart
While not altogether a new idea, the Winter Haven, FL, Fire Department modified the high-rise cart concept to increase the department's efficiency during incidents. The Winter Haven Elevated Emergency Load (WHEEL) cart carries hacksaws, bolt cutters, rope, hose, nozzles, and other equipment normally brought into a building by firefighters—who can better expand their energy fighting the fire.
Letters to the Editor
As a firefighter involved with toxic chemicals, I feel I must comment on your picture (page 18) in the December issue. The firefighters pictured may have been the four who were treated for stomach and respiratory problems.
SCHOOLS
Arkansas Fire Training Academy, Fire School, May 5-6, Industrial Fire Brigade, May 7-11; EMT-Refresher, May 14-18. Contact Paul Benton, Arkansas Fire Academy, P.O. Box 3048, E. Camden, AR 71701. Colorado Training Institute, Commercial Vehicle/Cargo Tank Compliance/Inspection, May 7-11; Hazardous Material Awareness, May 15-17.
The Life Safety Code: Concepts, Trends, Developments
We have already built over 80% of the buildings that will be in use in the United States by the year 2000. Many of these existing structures were constructed under ancient or non-existent building codes, have been altered many times, have changed occupanices, and usually have far more fire safety and construction deficiencies than newer buildings.
All-Service Emergency Teams— A Must in Industrial Protection
By 10 a.m. the chemical tanker had unhooked and backed out of the fenced-in dock area. Eight-thousand five-hundred gallons of fresh product had been unloaded into the bunkered tanks. At 10:30 a.m., a flow valve was activated and a trestle line servicing a batch process operation located in a building several hundred yards away began to move the product into the process tanks.
NEWS
National Fire Hose offers concise index cards to keep up-to-date records on your department's fire hose. These 4-inch by 6-inch cards are designed to fit a standard filing box and provide the space to record in-depth information concerning testing, repairs, couplings, etc.