FiftyOnePride

Where to start. I am an auto appraiser for my real job, and get to see lots of bags deployed.
The cover on the wheel now is a bad idea. When it first came out you only had steering wheel bag.
With all the other bags in cars now the cover would give the rescuer a false sence of security and may lead them to over look undeployed bags in other tareas of the car.
5-10-20 is the rule to teach and pass along. The most critical skill that MUST be passed along is to EXPOSE EVERYTHING before you cut.. I witnessed an Audi that was cut by a nearby FD that they did not do this and in fact cut thru the tube that expells the propellant from a side airbag canister in a C post. They have no clue at how close they came to cutting into the caniser (1-2 inches on both sides!!!)
Air bags and their parts are everywhere
-steering wheels
- dash
-side of front and rear seats
-Head rails
-A post and in the hinge post
- Dash Knee air bags on alot of cars not just the old Kia Sportage anymore.
-There are also airbags now on the big Motorcycles too
- Ford is also toying with airbags to prevent pedestrian inj on the exterior as well.
Other things to keep in mind are pre-tensoners for the seatbelts, and auto deploying roll over protection as well on convertables. Any we have not gotten to th eHybeds or electrics yet.
Extrication has become increasingly complex and dangerous for the rescuer IF you do not keep up on new technologies you are going to get hurt. And trainning on 15 year old cars is NOT real world trainning anymore.
Contact your local car dealer to see what is new in safey
Aaron Hodge

Drain times on cars vary depending on a lot of things, I think Ron Moore also talked about a situation where a cellphone plugged into a charger could backfeed its juice into the car, keeping it energized, including the airbags and whatnot.
And refering to the OP, I think most times improper placement, and for some companies, poor testing and faulty products have lead to a general consensus of not trusting these systems. Ditto'ing Captain Glover - I think that if Hurst is marketing something - then they've done the research. All the aforementioned products I think were from various non-leading rescue companies trying to get a niche in the market, nothing from Hurst, Holmatro, etc.etc.

As said in topic, 51-11 made a pitstop from the main factory to the Yankee Fire Factory so we could look at it and figure out what we wanted to change and do with it so it could arrive faster to us...






We expect delivery in two weeks roughly...

Don't worry. You'll be using your "old" 4.5 for a long time. Nationwide FF's are being laid off, and I don't know of any FD that can afford to give away their 4.5's and buy the slim jim model.
Personally, if I were crawling down a hot hallway, I would rather have 2 bruthas in old Scotts than only one guy in the new one. Put the new pak on my wish list, but don't lay off my Firefighter.
Sorry, that's the times we are in.

How many of you armchair quarterbacks who cry "excessive" have actually been in that Officer's shoes?

Folds up just like that, will be more of a 90 degree when we extend the holster piece to allow for a fitting on the one intake behind it.
The next will be more of a quick attack engine, 500 gal, International/Rosenbauer job this time, 4wd.

Our new tanker was delivered today, 51-31 will be going into service shortly once everything is put in place. 31 is a fine addition to the Millerton Fleet, and will soon be followed in by a new Engine in June...
The Side:


A very simple, but very powerful 1250gpm pump for a tanker.

Rear chevrons and swivel dump.

Swivel dump fully extended. She dumps just about all 2000 gallons in just over a minute.

Swivel dump showing its just under 180 degree rotation capability.

We have already certified several drivers on it, can't wait to see some of you out on some jobs with it.

Our new tanker was delivered today, 51-31 will be going into service shortly once everything is put in place. 31 is a fine addition to the Millerton Fleet, and will soon be followed in by a new Engine in June...
The Side:


A very simple, but very powerful 1250gpm pump for a tanker.

Rear chevrons and swivel dump.

Swivel dump fully extended. She dumps just about all 2000 gallons in just over a minute.

Swivel dump showing its just under 180 degree rotation capability.

We have already certified several drivers on it, can't wait to see some of you out on some jobs with it.

Our new tanker was delivered today, 51-31 will be going into service shortly once everything is put in place. 31 is a fine addition to the Millerton Fleet, and will soon be followed in by a new Engine in June...
The Side:


A very simple, but very powerful 1250gpm pump for a tanker.

Rear chevrons and swivel dump.

Swivel dump fully extended. She dumps just about all 2000 gallons in just over a minute.

Swivel dump showing its just under 180 degree rotation capability.

We have already certified several drivers on it, can't wait to see some of you out on some jobs with it.

Much can be learned about the transition in rank/supervisory duties at any level of size by taking a look at the military. As most already pointed out it can be very challenging when you transition in smaller departments when most of the persons you are going to now be supervising are your friends and even saw you do some of the smaller things that might not have fit so snug within the rules, regs or appropriate means of the fire service.
As with the military the rank structure does carry some weight and also changes the way in which persons speak to you by title. The only major difference is enlisted personal (at least in the Marine Corps) are also prohibited from calling each other by first name, last name only was appropriate. Once you reached NCO status, everyone called you by your title and last name, even if you were the same rank. Hence, Corporal Smith. Not just "Smith" by another corporal. This instills that the title is something of significance and demands the respect of such. I also feel that this holds true within the fire service where a Lt. should reference another Lt. as Lieutenant. Not Lieu..not "L.T.". Same things holds true with Captain. Obviously anyone of higher rank should always be called by title and last name. ALWAYS. To take it another step, I rarely if ever refer to a fire instructor who I am working with by their first name with students, I do not allow students to call instructors by their first name and I reference them either by Instructor XX or by the title they earned if they are on the job, Captain XX. I find it sets the example for students, particularly probies in the academy and demands respect of the service, the title and the discipline the fire service should have. Bottom line is this also, while you may be friends with some of them, those that are truly your friends and respect our job will give you the respect you deserve and if not they will quickly not be a friend and you will do your job as needed.
On a personal level when promoted in the service and assigned a team, squad or whatever the assignment, I generally had a meeting of just my personnel under my supervision. This often included guys who I was friends with and was going to stay friends with as I had bonds with outside of the tight comaraderie that occurs in operational military units. In the meeting, I would make it semi formal as I would take a position of authority either by having them sit, and me standing or having them directly in front of me as I would sit alone in front of them. I would lay out what my expectations are and in smaller unit levels would remind them that I am also not just there to supervise them, to get a job done, but also there for them when they have problems or concerns and that I would carry them to the appropriate level to get assistance or an answer and that I will be honest with them, but I demand honesty with them. Then once that was done, for the first couple of weeks, if any hiccups would occur I would do personal verbal counseling sessions to attempt to correct any issues that I had or were violations of rules and regs. From that moment on any additional would get the appropriate disciplinarian action. If there is one thing that I have learned that gains huge respect from your men is this:
1. They're not stupid. They knew who and what you were in the ranks. Come on too strong or holier then thou, they will become defiant. Also under this..there is a difference between leadership and management. Balance the 2 well they will go to war with you (in some cases for me that was literally).
2. Stand up for them and they will respond very well. Often another person of equal rank but of a different group or of a higher rank will want to take something on or go after a member of or your group directly. I would always, pull that person to the side and discuss it, even with higher rank, stay respectful of their title, but if they get it, they will realize that it costs you face and sometimes they need to be reminded that chain of command goes both ways and with same rank you are responsible for your people. I would then go back to them, reinforce that if they did something wrong, they were wrong, but that I spoke to the individual and that if that were to occur again that they were to report it to me, and not take it up with the other person. This builds face for you, shows you are involved in your group cohesiveness and shows other rank that you will not be walked on. The problem is you have to make sure you're people are up to snuff and doing their jobs or this is all for not. The only thing I ever found acceptable was to correct safety issues immediately but then those persons should come to me not only out of respect but to ensure I can supervise correctly and make sure it doesn't occur again. I also forgot that if your member was disrespectful..to ensure you deal with that immediately and sternly.
3. Let them do their jobs..and let them invest in what you need to get done. If your not afraid of how you will look by delegating they will like it and helps them build into getting promoted and the skills necessary to do so the right way. Maximize your people with their potential and pair those up with them who are not so they learn a new skill/process. It will come around full fold if that 1 person who is good at something isn't there when you need them.
4. Know how to identify when its time to be your rank/last name and when its time to be joe blow. I always looked at it this way. In uniform or official FD function in plain clothes...title. Non FD function, first name. Again friends who have respect will get this also.
Just a few and I could go on...but some probably stopped reading already.

I think you're confusing me with someone else. I wouldn't want to take any credit for all the great work that our bailout rope committee members are doing. I am not involved and I have total confidence their efforts. These days I am mostly a paper pusher although I am a very interested observer of this issue.
I do think one common problem that most departments, including ours, are going to have after spending all this time and money on selecting bailout rope systems is providing mandatory, ongoing, realistic training, as well as mandating that the systems be worn at all times and inspected regularly. The only way to do this for our own members benefit is to not only provide the opportunities for regular training, but to mandate that all members participate, and hold people accountable for not completing training as well as not regularly inspecting and wearing the systems.
Accountability means someone has to be the "bad guy" and unfortunately too many fire service "leaders" are more concerned with being liked than with taking the necessary steps to increase firefighter health and safety...this would apply to many areas such as seatbelts, physical conditioning, regular, realistic training aimed at everyone not just at the junior guys who are still gung-ho, etc., but this is all a topic for another thread I guess....

In December 2008, I had the opportunity to assist in a live burn of a MCD's. The live burn was jointly conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Engineering Department of the University of North Carolina. The structure was constructed in the 1980's and had a wood truss roof. Heat measuring thermocouples were placed in the building and the entire structure was fully documented with sketches, measurements,video and photographs.The purpose for the live burn was to collect data on how these structures hold up under fire conditions. The results of the burn are to be part of a future NIST Report. The fire was started using ordinary combustibles in a garbage can in the managers office. This room was located in the center of the structure.
Its my estimation that the roof held up for approximately 15-20 minutes from the inception of the fire. I quite frankly expected the truss roof to fail earlier in the fire since the roof components were unprotected.
Attached are the photographs from my position on a roof top across the street from the MCD's.

Here are pics of a typical fast-food restaurant under construction.

Bob,
We use the Petzl EXO. We tested the CMC Escape Artist 540 Belay, it jammed up several times doing about 200 slides. It also does not play out very smooth when hooking up to an anchor that's distant from the window. Hands down the EA did not work as well as the EXO. I see that Chief Flynn said they have a new CMC EA, if it has a post running through the center of the 540 belay cylinder then, I suspect that's causing the problem, if not I would like to see how it works. Stop over and see us next door, we can show you what we tested and how they worked out.

Amen.

This is the place. The rig is pictured on the fire dept. website.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blountstown,_Florida
http://www.blountstownfire.org/

To expound on this a bit, yes, Independent Fire Compaies/Departments can be a subject of a State Comptollers audit. (Example XYZ Fire Departmet Inc contracts with the Town od OZ to provideFire & EMS services in Town of OZ Fire Protection District 1). If the contract is over 200K, they can be audited. There are a couple of audits on the State Comptrollers website of indepentent (501.C.3) Departmetn audits

1. What type (AR-AFFF, AFFF, Etc.) do you use? Class A in a Compressed Air Foam System.
2. What are it's uses? Structural, Vehicle, and other type fires.
3. How much do you carry? 30+ gallons at any given time.
4. Can you pump it from the rig or do you rely upon eductors? Pumped through the rig as aforementioned using a CAFS system.
5. Do you have any SOPs/SOGs regarding it's use? We do, I'll have to go get the specifics.
6. Why do you carry what you carry? Because it works, Foam directly deals with all three sides of a fire triangle. This, since we received our first foam truck in the mid 90's has worked. Only electrical malfunctions have really affected its use from what I can remember.
Once you put foam down, don't break the barrier by throwing water on top as well. I'll have more later...

I can only hopefully answer your second question, but if you are referring to incorporated fire districts, then yes, they are subject to independent yearly audits. If over as I believe aforementioned a 200K yearly operating budget.

http://www.cdc.gov/n...face200837.html
A new NIOSH LODD report that came out, recommendation #3 deals with accountability.
It comes down to what works for each individual department, some things work for one department, and others for another. It all boils down really to mentality and attitude, but those mindsets are what make each style or type work for them. If a company is committed to it, they will make their mindset work for the whole company.

Well this is a topic that can't be adequetely covered in a couple hundred words on here. Here are some things that come off the top of my head.
1. Risk Management-The whole thing will depend on if the place is opened or closed. If it's open some sort of interior attack will probably be necessary to attempt a primary search. After the joint has closed the only life hazard becomes us and any advanced fire the risk may very well outweight the benifit of interior attack.
2. Water supply- Lay in (don't count on somebody else to do it for you). 2 1/2 with a smooth bore is an excellent choice in commercial for a number of reasons. Great reach, absorbs lots of btu's, and is powerful so that is blows those ceiling tiles apart and penetrates to the fire.
3. Thermal Imaging Camera- The TIC is always important but at a commercial building where you have high ceilings it may be your first warning of heat build up above your head. A good tactic is to lift up a ceiling tile on entry and check the plenum for fire before you venture in too far below it. The TIC will help you stay orientated, find victims, keep track of your crew, and locating the fire).
4. In many cases we will be dealing with truss roofs so roof ops is out.
5. Consider using the search rope if you are entering without a handline.
6. A middle of the night fire in one of these buildings is a good canidate for a backdraft.
Most of the fires you will encounter in these buildings are duct fires which have different tactics. Lastly here is the link to a LODD report about a fire in a McDonald's in Houston Texas that occured in 2000. This tragic fire took the lives of two firefighters.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200013.html

Looking nice boys!!!
Thomas

http://www.lohud.com/article/20100314/NEWS02/3140353/1018/NEWS02/Millwood-Fire-District-wins--161-000-FEMA-grant-for-equipment