Staff
Editor THOMAS F. BRENNAN Associate Editors JACKIE COX AUDREY PAVEY Art Director WILLIAM F. KNAB CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
FE Volume 138 Issue 2
The Latest
Who Are They Kidding!
In recent months, debate has increased concerning hazardous material response team protection. Committees have formed and recommendations are forthcoming. The fire and safety journals have printed comments from many areas of our country. We are trying to be responsible to the safety of our emergency response personnel operating in hazardous environments. But, in reality, will we be able to accomplish our goals? The emergency services think that they are charged with, in this case, the protection of life, property, and environment from assault because of a hazardous material container failure.
COURSES/COMING EVENTS
February-September 1985—NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY'S program of on-campus weekend training courses is available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Training Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Telephone: 1-800-638-9600. March 4-6,1985—SYMPOSIUM of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, concentrating on the examination of the techniques of quantitative fire hazards analysis.
Developing Apparatus Specifications
Fire companies or departments are continually upgrading equipment in order to provide improved service. However, fire apparatus are steadily increasing in cost while funds for their acquisition are becoming more difficult to obtain. In addition, the complaints on quality and lasting performance seem to be more prevalent.
More FE Volume 138 Issue 2
Onboard air system for chauffeurs
The idea for our onboard air system for engine and truck chauffeurs evolved during an evening training session. Discussion centered on breathing protection for operators of our pumpers and elevating platform.
EQUIPMENT DIGEST
Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA), Pittsburgh, PA, has introduced four models of dual-purpose breathing apparatus, a versatile system that works as both a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or as an air-line respirator. The models are: the dual-purpose Ultralite air mask with a 15minute rated cylinder; the dual-purpose Ultralite air mask with a 30-minute rated cylinder; the dual-purpose Custom 4500 air mask with a 30-minute rated cylinder; and the dual-purpose Custom 4500 air mask with a 60-minute rated cylinder.
APPARATUS IPINOVATIONS/DELIVERIES
The Festus Fire Department of Festus, MO, has purchased a Pierce Arrow pumper from Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. Equipped with a Waterous 1,500-gpm pump and a 1,000-gallon booster tank (warranty 10 years), the unit also features two 2 1/2-inch LH discharges, two 2 1/2--inch RH discharges, two 2 1/2-inch rear discharges, a deluge gun rear of reels ahead of the hosebed, a hose reel located over the pump, two 2 1/2-inch crosslays, transverse compartment in the front, rear step compartment, Dual square type lights, Code 3 XL-9000 55-inch light bar, spotlights, a Q2B siren, a Code 3 #3400 siren w/mike, and 3 ladders (10-foot, 35-foot 3-section, 14-foot roof).
Exposure Suit Inspection Procedures
The use of exposure suits at hazardous material incidents often will be the most difficult and traumatic part of your team's operational efforts. The encapsulation of the human body in the confines of these suits while expecting peak performance from each member on the fireground requires much training and discipline.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The November 1984 issue's article "Ammunition Fires—Shooting Away Misconceptions" interested me. From time to time, other articles in other magazines have indicated that there is no really serious danger posed by fires involving ammunition. I know that anecdotal evidence does not have the standing of more formal testing based evidence, yet I feel the need to share one anecdote from the dim and distant past.
Converted booster reels accommodate larger size hose
With the new techniques that are being incorporated into today's firefighting tactics, there is a steady demand for more efficient, high capacity equipment. To enhance the quick-attack ability of fire companies,1 1/2and l 3/4-inch hoses are being preconnected to high-pressure pumps.
Decontaminate! A Perspective For First Responders
Contamination avoidance is the best posture to adopt at a hazardous material (hazmat) incident. However, in many instances personnel and equipment are inadvertently or unavoidably contaminated in a number of ways, including:
Control Flammable Liquid Fires by “Premixing”
Every firefighter faces the eventuality of a flammable liquid fire. Firefighters experienced in this type of fire and its suppression agree that the rapidity with which fire progresses in liquids is amazing. The intense Btu (British thermal unit) production signals to firefighters the importance of rapidly containing and extinguishing the fire.