Fire Rescue EMS Equipment Articles and Reviews

By Daniel J. Cimini | 01/10/2013

This article will begin a series on the importance of testing apparatus and equipment to the various NFPA Standards. This article will cover some of NFPA 1911 and the ones to follow will discuss the minimum requirements for establishing an inspection, maintenance, and testing program for your apparatus and equipment and later the various inspection and tests needed to comply with: NFPA 1915 Standard for Fire Apparatus Preventative Maintenance NFPA 1914 Standard for testing of Fire Department Aerial Devices. NFPA 1932 Standards on use and Maintenance and service testing of In-Service Fire Department Ground Ladders NFPA 1962 Standards for the ... Read More...

Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, apparatus, maintenance, nfpa, testing, service, inspection, equipment, fire apparatus, preventative maintenance, maintenance testing, fire department, nfpa 1911, maintenance program

David Pease | 10/05/2012

As we move into the second half of the year, we can only look back at things that have happened and look forward to things that will. As our budgets get tighter, we have to look closer at our needs and the equipment that may best fit those needs. We have to now become thriftier with our dollars in every purchase we make — always looking for more bang for the buck. I had the opportunity to use the new flip jacks by Rescue Jack and the new rope gloves by Tech Trade. Both proved to be worthy pieces of equipment or PPE. The Rescue Jacks have been around for some time now and have proven to be one of the best stabilization struts on the market. T... Read More...

Relevant Tags:

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

By Mike Coffey | 10/05/2012

Fire alarm systems have become commonplace responses in today’s fire service. Between carbon monoxide alarms, general fire alarm activations, smoke detectors, other detection devices and pull stations — we stay busy answering these calls for service. Understanding what the system and devices attached to them are telling us can help identify problems and keep properties from becoming even more of a statistic than they already are. Read More...

Relevant Tags: fire, alarm, system, detection, fire alarm, alarm systems, false alarms, detection devices, fire department, returning foundations, detection system, carbon monoxide

By Willie Wimmer | 10/05/2012

(This is the final installment of a four-part issue on writing specifications for your fire truck.) We have reviewed everything up to the final inspection. Your yearlong process is almost over and your department is getting ready to pick up the bright shiny red truck. And by saying red I am in no way discriminating against any other colors, but OK yes I am, fire trucks are RED! I’ve had my say, so let’s get on with it. Your department has been told to be at the XYZ manufacturer to pick up your new piece of apparatus next week — what do you do now? Read More...

Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, truck, inspection, final inspection, fire truck, inspection yearlong, pump test

By Willie Wimmer | 10/05/2012

Well we may want to start calling this section my bitch session or soap box because this is where I vent about all the stupid CRAP that I run across on a weekly basis. I touched on this in my last article but I feel I need to elaborate a little. I was performing annual services on some apparatus a little while ago and came across a few items that I have never seen before and just wanted to share them with you. If you read this and it was you, please contact me so I can tell you exactly what you need to do with your life and not live in some fantasy world where you think you know how to work on trucks. Read More...

Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, pump, dictate safety, safety equipment, weekly basis

| 08/13/2012

APPLETON, Wis. (August 9, 2012) – Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, today announced that Atlantic Emergency Solutions is the new Pierce apparatus dealer for North Carolina, expanding its current territory that includes Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, and portions of West Virginia. The change is prompted by the retirement of Triad Fire Inc. founder, Dick Hastings. Gerald Sapp (partner at Triad Fire) will join Atlantic Emergency Solutions as vice president of sales, North Carolina, and remain involved with all North Carolina customers. Read More...

Relevant Tags:

| 08/08/2012

Nesquehoning, PA – KME is pleased to announce the addition of Safe Industries (www.safeindustries.com) to the KME sales representative network. Safe Industries’ home office is located in Piedmont, SC, just south of the Greenville/Spartanburg area, and will handle sales and service for KME products in both North and South Carolina. Read More...

Relevant Tags:

Ed Henry | 08/01/2012

Rope has been used in the American Fire Service for well over 150 years. It is one of the tools still used in service today, but with many advances thanks to science. As with many things in the fire service, ropes have made the difference in life and death for many civilians and even a few firefighters. The technical advances in ropes and rope gear have been nothing less than unbelievable. As with anything related to life safety, you have many choices in ropes and the components that make Rope Rescue Systems. This article will focus on one-half Kernmantle life safety rope. Again, this article will not discuss brand names or manufactures, but... Read More...

Relevant Tags: rope, knots, fire service, rope rescue, life safety, service tools, american fire, tools ropes, types rope

Willie Wimmer | 08/01/2012

(This is part three of a four part series on writing specs for your apparatus.) In this article we will review the steps involved in opening the bids. Step one — open the bid. We are done because this is the lowest bid. No we are not. A lot of people believe they have to go with the lowest bid. If you are into getting a slight pressure against your southern reason then always just go with the lowest bid. What we are talking about is every manufacturer offers slight variations to everyone’s specifications and each truck may have a little extra cost here and there. You have to compare apples to apples — not apples to oranges. Read More...

Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, bid, apples, specifications, writing, apparatus, apples apples, lowest bid, writing apparatus, apparatus specifications, compare apples

Daniel J. Cimini | 08/01/2012

During these economic times budgets are getting tighter and tighter. City leaders or commissioners may ask you to look at repairs and or refurbishment of your older apparatus rather than replace them with new. Your decision should be based on a sound financial bases — not spending good money after bad, keep in mind, that you must maintain and repair a vehicle during its life time per NFPA 1911, this could mean making a major repair to the apparatus. Fire department leaders must be in a position to justify their repair, or-replace decision before the city manager, mayor and council or a board of commissioners. Read More...

Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, apparatus, fire, repair, replace, nfpa 1911, fire apparatus, replace fire, refurbish replace

Mike Coffey | 08/01/2012

Foam fire streams are one of the few fire streams that have a special purpose. That purpose is a four-fold plan: Separating fuels from fire Cools temperature of the fuel and surrounding surfaces Smothers or suppresses the release of flammable vapors thereby reducing chances of re-ignition or the initial ignition of a fuel Penetration of water by reducing its surface tension and allowing water to penetrate into a deep-seated fire area Read More...

Relevant Tags: From the Editor, foam, class, water, fuel, fire streams

Dennis Amodio | 08/01/2012

I’ve been in the fire service for over 35 years. I can say with confidence that pre-planning is essential, but not because of my years of fire service experience. What 35 years of experience yields is a long view of where pre-plans have been, a clear picture of where they are now and a good idea of where they’re going. Or where they could go. Or where they should go. That said, I’ve seen my fair share of approaches to pre-planning over the years. There are many different ways to pre-plan, and many different forms pre-plans can take. But it wasn’t until recently that I had the chance to work with a different, more dynamic, more interactive wa... Read More...

Relevant Tags: FIRE PRE-PLANNING, electronic, planning, information, pre planning, first responders, fire service, situational awareness, planning first

Capt. Brad Maness | 08/01/2012

Whether you’re career or volunteer at some point in time you will be involved in apparatus and equipment checks. As career firefighters, this should be one of the first things we do at the beginning of each tour. Volunteer departments may have designated times during the month to perform routine inspections. Either way, each department needs to have some form of procedure or guideline for completing this basic but essential task. Read More...

Relevant Tags: equipment, fire, tools, care, apparatus, equipment checks, fire equipment, apparatus equipment

Daniel J. Cimini | 04/23/2012

Several articles ago I mentioned the option of leasing apparatus. With apparatus prices continuing to go up and up, it’s becoming more difficult for municipalities, cities, and fire departments to purchase new apparatus. An engine can cost $350,000 to $500,000, and an aerial can easily reach $1 million, with the prices continuing to escalate we have to look at a different purchasing approach that reduces the pain of the purchase. Read More...

Relevant Tags: All About Trucks, apparatus, fire, leasing, organizations, financing, local, tax exempt, new apparatus, alternatives purchasing, daniel cimini, fire apparatus, apparatus engine

Willie Wimmer | 04/23/2012

After reading that headline some of you are thinking what the H-E-double hockey sticks is he saying? Well now is my time to vent. If you don’t want to read don’t. If you do, here I go. Read More...

Relevant Tags: All About Trucks, truck, technician, gynecologist vasectomy, fire truck, truck repairs