Firefighters fix own equipment
Lake Forest, IL, firefighters saved the city $47,000 when they decided two years ago to rebuild an ailing fire truck and build a new pumper using the, vehicle's serviceable parts.
FE Volume 138 Issue 4
The Latest
There Are No Volunteer Politicians
The enormity of the task of disaster planning lies in just that phrase—disaster planning. Our minds wander to the catastrophes we have experienced, know of, read about, and imagine in our most depressing thoughts. Yet, in spite of a mind-boggling collection of events that may be termed disasters, we choose to face it with a commitment—planning. But how can we accomplish such a task? Mud slides, floods, tornadoes, avalanches, tidal waves, blizzards, wildfires, explosions, conflagrations, etc., give no warning, and are usually remote in recurrence.
COURSES/COMING EVENTS
April 16-17, 1985—ASBESTOS, THE WORKPLACE, BUILDINGS AND SCHOOLS: RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT. To be held at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions' Turner Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD. Contact: Jacqueline Corn, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room 1101, Baltimore, MD 21205. Telephone: (301) 955-2609.
Tanker fill time cut in half with Siamese and large diameter hose
In areas where water has to be carried to the fire, an efficient tanker operation is invaluable. One way of getting a longer, more continuous fire flow is with the use of a Siamese and large diameter hose, as outlined by Assistant Chief Don Curtis ("Rural Hitch," FIRE ENGINEERING, December 1984).
More FE Volume 138 Issue 4
COMPANY NEWS
Richard C. Legge, Jr., has joined Repco, Inc. as director of national sales. Legge's experience has been in market analysis, marketing administration, and sales management. His responsibilities with Repco will include repositioning the company within the communications industry as well as overseeing the total national sales effort.
APPARATUS INNOVATIONS/DELIVERIES
The Mobile, AL, Fire Department has accepted delivery of the first Ward 79 Limited Fire-Max model custom fire body on a Mack CF chassis. The Fire-Max custom fire body is constructed of 12-gauge galvanneal construction and has over 105.6 cubic feet of enclosed compartment storage space. Other features include a 500-gallon stainless steel water tank, stainless steel pump panels, high-side compartments left-hand side, electric booster reel, night-fighter telescoping floodlights, extended pumper with hose tray, and a 5-inch front suction inlet.
Pump Operators or Lever Pullers?
The philosophy of many fire departments is that the necessity of immediate response is so great that almost every member must be an apparatus driver. As a result, many become so with little or no training for the position. Although he may get the apparatus to the scene,
Tips for Better Training Programs
In many cases, fire service training has become institutionalized. Practices handed down over the years have become so well established that they are beyond tradition, but, although updated and dressed in contemporary costume, are "period" in every sense of the word.
Aviation fire safety scholarship requirements announced
Selection criteria have been announced for the George H. Tryon III Memorial Scholarship, which is available through the foundation that bears his name. In order to be considered for the scholarship, the candidate must:
NAMES IN THE NEWS
The Connecticut fire service will be honoring Richard P. Sylvia, a former editor of FIRE ENGINEERING, at a dinner on April 20, 1985, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, CT. Mr. Sylvia recently stepped down as one of the commissioners for Connecticut's Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, a position he held for the past nine years. Mr. Sylvia,
EQUIPMENT DIGEST
A new high-pressure dual hydraulic hose reel with a narrow profile that is useful for emergency vehicles is now available from Aero-Motive Manufacturing Company. The new WJ Reel can hold up to 100 feet of 1/4-inch dual hydraulic hose rated at 10,000 psi working pressure. Options include aluminum construction; electric, air, or motor drive; and roller guides.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I'd like to add my support for the rural hitch evolution (“Rural Hitch," FIRE ENGINEERING, December 1984). It really helps bring order to the fireground and allows operational flexibility. Our previous standard operating procedure was to have the first-arriving engine and tanker both enter the "country lane" and begin operations.