• Firefighters Suffer Huge Losses Due to Wildfires
Page 3
• LA Sets Speed Limits for Emergency Vehicles
Page 2
• Local Business Sends Firefighter Statue to New
York
Page 2
• Study Finds Most Fire Departments Strained by
Growth and Funding
Page 3
Fire Apparatus World
by David White
The world of fire apparatus is an ever changing institution.
Now Seagrave, which is one of the oldest fire truck companies, has just
been bought out by a group headed by Jim Hebe. Hebe was a former American
LaFrance manager who was the architect of the revival of American LaFrance.
He was the president of Freightliner of American and one of his endeavors
was to bring back ALF. He now has the money and the desire to bring
back Seagrave to a prominent place in American fire apparatus circles.
I will predict that he will, in the next few years, bring Seagrave back
like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Look for some new and exciting
models of aerials and fire apparatus.
Ed Bean, who formally was the E-One dealer in most of
Texas, now has the Rosenbaugher/General Line of fire trucks. John Gill,
who many know from his selling of E-One fire trucks, is now selling General
Fire Trucks for Ed Bean of Emergency Vehicles of Texas.
E-One is now the sole name of Saulsbury Rescue trucks
unless the customer specifically asks, then the name on the truck could
be Saulsbury.
Everyone today seems to be getting on the bandwagon that the larger
the pump on the engine the better. Keep in mind that the New York City
Fire Department has over 250 engines and gets along nicely with 1000
gpm pumps.
Mark your calendars for the 19th annual Industrial Fire World
Conference and Exposition
April 12-15, 2004
At the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Houston
Volunteers can apply to the Texas Forest Service for registration
reimbursement grants. Check our website at www.fireworld.com for details.
Little Known Fire Killed and Injured Firefighters
On November 15, 1942, six firefighters died and 43 others were injured,
many being trapped under debris for up to 18 hours, in a fire that was
pushed off the front pages by the Coconut Grove fire.
The Luongo Restaurant fire in East Boston started in the rear of the
building located on the first floor of the hundred year old Maverick
Lyceum. The night worker who discovered the blaze told firefighters
that an electric appliance caught fire. At 4:15 a.m. without warning,
a wall bulged and collapsed trapping firefighters in the building and
burying them. Firefighters who were fortunate enough to be clear of
the wreckage, made desperate efforts to save their comrades. The irony
was that the fire was considered to be “under control” when
the wall collapsed.
That more were not killed was due mostly to the actions of firefighters
who risked their lives to save their injured brothers.
News Briefs
FEMA Review Shows Need for Hazmat Training
Washington, DC - A technical review of the devastating explosion at
Concept Sciences, Inc. (CSI) in Pennsylvania, which claimed five lives
and caused $5 million in damage, is being released by the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The explosion in Hanover Township could be seen for seven miles, produced
a four-foot-deep crater and damaged 11 buildings adjacent to CSI which
manufactured free-base hydroxylamine, a semiconductor cleaner.
The review, compiled by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), also
noted that it was 60 to 80 minutes into the incident before the hazardous
materials team became fully operational and able to conclusively identify
the product, and that some emergency personnel entered the area without
proper protective clothing. Other lessons cited in the report include:
• The incident response involved three agencies from three counties,
but there was no set radio frequency that was common;
• Although more than 400 personnel responded, in addition to
agencies from the local, state and federal level, a unified incident
command system and solid emergency management plan allowed the incident
to be successfully managed;
• Extreme caution must be exercised when search and rescue dogs
are used in a situation involving hazardous materials;
• Fire investigators, state police officers and coroner’s
personnel who responded did not have a significant amount of training
in handling hazardous materials incidents and they lacked the protective
clothing and respiratory devices required to safely work an incident
of this type.
USFA and ISO Join to Encourage FD Census
The USFA recently established a partnership with the Insurance Services
Organization to inform and to encourage participation in the National
Fire Department Census.
Over the next few months, fire departments will receive a letterdescribing
the National Fire Department Census from the ISO through its community
outreach program.
As the national clearinghouse of public protection classifications
this effort will allow for a more complete picture of fire departments
and capabilities through the United States.
For more information about the National Fire Department Census, go
to: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/fdonline /about.cfm.
A current listing of the fire departments registered with the census
can be found at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/ fdonline. Please
limit the search criteria to the zip code only or part of the fire department
name. Fire departments not registered with the census may register on-line
at: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/ fdonline/register.cfm or download
the census form from the same web page and fax it to (301) 447-1049.
New Firefighters’ Contract Threatens Taxes
Newington, CT - An agreement forcing Connecticut firefighters
to abandon any volunteer services they provide for other departments may
mean an increase in local taxes, officials said.
The town’s fire department relies solely on volunteers and the contract
may force the town to hire full-time firefighters, which officials said,
could create a 3.5 to 4 million increase to the 32.39 million tax rate
to cover salary costs.
The clause specifically states that paid firefighters cannot volunteer
in emergency response services for any town for both economic and safety
reasons, but it does allow them to volunteer in non-rescue duty, such
as training or department administration.
Sprinklers Mandated in Maryland New Homes
All new homes in Montgomery County will soon be required to install sprinkler
systems due to a bill that is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
County and state laws already require sprinklers in townhouses and apartments.
Opponents of the legislation said homebuyers should be able to decide
for themselves whether to install sprinklers.
The cost of installing sprinklers is about $1 to $1.50 per square foot.
Homebuyers could receive insurance discounts for installing the devices
and pay off the remaining cost for less than $20 per month.
New York Prohibits Use of People in Live Burn Training
The smoke inhalation death of a volunteer firefighter and
injuries of two men during a live burn in Oneida County have led New York
lawmakers to prohibit the use of people as victims during fire fighting
training exercises that involve live burns.
The new law, which takes effect immediately, reinforces this effort and
adds a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations of the new standard.
The National Fire Protection Association standards recommend against the
use of individuals as victims in training programs for firefighters.
LA Sets Speed Limit for Fire Trucks
Due to a number of accidents in which motorists failed to
yield to sirens and flashing lights of emergency vehicles, the Los Angeles
Fire Department has set speed limits and other safety standards for fire
trucks.
Fire trucks will be prohibited from going more than 10 mph above the
posted speed limit. Fire trucks driving into opposing traffic lanes and
through intersections could travel no faster than 20 mph.
Fire trucks trapped in traffic must shut down their sirens and wait with
other motorists instead of pushing their way through the traffic.
Some departments are experimenting with “on the quiet” response
policies and others have installed strobe lights on fire trucks, which
automatically turn traffic lights to green so firefighters have the right
of way.
Los Angeles police and fire officials plan to team up to crack down on
motorists who fail to yield right of way. Beginning this fall, motorcycle
officers will drive next to fire trucks on the way to emergency calls,
pulling over drivers who don’t obey the sirens.
Features
Study Finds Most U.S. Fire Departments Strained by
Growth, Funding
Seventy-three percent of U.S. fire chiefs say residential
and commercial growth is already straining their departments’ ability
to protect the communities they serve, according to an independent survey
conducted by Opinion Research Corp. International.
What’s more, 81 percent of the fire chiefs say growth is likely to
put even more strain of their departments’ resources during the next
three years, according to the newly published findings of the research
group. The respondents cited two major reasons:
• 77 percent say they expect most future growth in their communities
will occur in areas where water mains, hydrants and hauled-water services
must be improved.
• Half (51 percent) say fire stations will be needed in areas of
their districts where most of the growth is likely to occur.
By an overwhelming 91 percent, fire chiefs say getting necessary funding
is a significant obstacle to making needed improvements to their communities’
fire protection services. The chiefs see other serious obstacles to improving
service:
• 79 percent noted difficulty recruiting and retaining firefighters,
whether career/paid or volunteer.
• 69 percent expressed difficulty in accessing adequate water supplies.
• 46 percent cited a lack of cooperation from local water companies.
The survey was commissioned by Insurance Services Office, Inc. and conducted
independently by ORC. The survey includes responses from a random sample
of 500 fire chiefs, fire marshals and commissioners representing fire-protection
jurisdictions of all sizes across the U.S. The survey’s margin of
error is plus or minus four percentage points.
Firefighter Fatality Report Shows Large Losses Due to Wildfires
The ongoing sacrifice of the country’s firefighters was underscored
in the annual firefighter fatality report released by the Department of
Homeland Security’s Federal Emerggency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to the new report, 100 firefighters lost their lives while on-
duty in the U.S. in 2002, nearly a quarter of those while fighting wildland
fires.
The U.S. Fire Administration, which produced the report, has been tracking
and analyzing firefighter fatalities for 26 years. The report helps identify
the cause and circumstances of each death, with a goal of finding ways
to reduce firefighter fatalities in the future. Almost 2500 firefighters
have died on duty in the past two decades.
According to the report:
• 23 firefighters died in wildland firefighting incidents, primarily
in California and Colorado where the fire season was especially severe;
• Five firefighters from Oregon, traveling to fight a fire in Colorado,
were killed when their van was involved in a crash;
• Six deaths occured as a result of three wildland fire fighting
aircraft crashes;
• Three New Jersey firefighters were killed when a burning residential
structure collapsed on them as they were searching for victims;
• 11 firefighters were killed during training exercises;
• Four firefighters died in separate incidents when they were struck
by passing vehicles while working incidents on roadways;
• A fire chief in New Mexico was killed by a gunshot suffered while
on the scene of a structure fire and six other firefighters were murdered
in arson-caused or suspicious fires;
• 37 firefighters died on duty from heart attacks;
• Career firefighters constituted 34 of the deaths in 2002, with
volunteer, seasonal and part-time firefighters comprising the remainder;
• 95 of the deaths were men and 5 were women.
The 2002 report, previous years’ reports and the Firefighter Fatality
Retrospective Study 1990-2000 can be found at www.usfa.fema.gov/inside-usfa/nfdc/pubs/ff_fat.shtm.
Information on the annual memorial service for fallen firefighters can
be found at www.firehero.com. Local Business Makes Firefighter Statues
Frazier’s Ornamental and Architectural Concrete, Inc., located near
Hempstead TX, has made more firefighter statues than owner Billy Frazier
can count.
One statue that stands out in his memory is “Silent Hero,”
a tribute to the firefighters of 9/11. Frazier said he felt it would be
spiritually uplifting for the rescue workers at ground zero and a healing
thing for the community. Unfortunately, when the statue arrived in New
York, they were not allowed to put it on the WTC site. However Engine
40, and Ladder 35 made a place for it in front of the firehouse.
Since then, more concrete producers have started making firefighters statues.
Frazier donates statues to families of fallen firefighters for display
at their fire houses.
Recently, Frazier donated a statue to the awards committee fund raiser
in Houston. He said the MC bid highest on it because he wanted it. You
can reach Fraziers at 979-826-6760 or through their website at fraziersconcrete.com.
Grant News
USDA Offers Community Development Funds for Fire Departments
The United States Department of Agriculture has a low interest loan and
grants program for volunteer and career fire departments. The program
can fund loans or grants for fire department station, apparatus, rescue
equipment, EMS equipment and vehicles, up to 100 percent with either a
grant or loan or a combination of the two.
Projects that are higher in cost can be matched with funds from other
sources such as the Texas Forest Service or FEMA’s Fire Grants, etc.
Eligible departments are in communities with less than 10,000 population
and cannot be in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). They primarily
fund projects where the local people are not eligible for other loans
and grants.
Current loan rates are 4 1/2 to 5 percent. Refinancing of existing loans
may be included in some loans to departments.
To contact the USDA for additional information on this program, check
their web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/tx/ or call the state headquarters
at 254-742-9789.
DEM Explains Federal Assistance
The Texas Department of Emergency Management explained how large scale
emergencies and mutual aid responders would be eligible for reimbursement
through federal assistance. For Federal Assistance to the State of Texas,
the state must first have expended $3.5 million in state funds before
federal assistance could be requested.
For agencies to potentially receive reimbursement from the state following
a mutual aid response, that agency must have been lawfully summoned for
assistance. A lawful request must come from a chief elected official or
an on-scene or deputy on-scene incident commander from a recognized jurisdictional
authority. Industrial facilities were eligible to apply for reimbursements
if these facilities did respond to a lawful request as listed above for
their assistance.
Additionally, compensation for line of duty death by mutual aid responders
who were not lawfully requested would most likely not be covered under
normal state statutes for public servants.
News
NIOSH Approves First Upgrade to CBRN Protection for SCBA
Devices
On September 11, 2003, NIOSH announced that specified models of previous
deployed Scott Health and Safety self-contained breathing apparatus
could be upgraded for protection against chemical, biological, radiological,
and nuclear agents using
procedures and materials certified by NIOSH. The approved procedures
and materials apply to upgrades of Scott Health and Safety’s model
4.5 Air-Pak 30-minute, 45-minute and 60-minute open-circuit, pressure-demand
SCBA. The upgraded SCBA are NIOSH-certified for occupational use by emergency
responders and will display the label designating the respirator as having
received a CBRN retrofit. All new are posted on http://www.cdc.gov/npptl/cbrncheck.html
as soon as they are issued.
NASA-Funded Earth Alert System to Aid in Disasters
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has recently deployed
a new communications system, based on NASA technology, that is designed
to aid emergency management professionals when natural or man-made disasters
occur.
During the early hours of Hurricane Isabel, key Maryland Emergency Management
officials had access to Earth Alert, a system that enabled MEMA to quickly
view personnel deployment and status on a map, track personnel movement,
send text alerts and send messages to and from devices in the field. They
were also able to report damages and coordinate response teams operating
in the field.
The new system is another success story in NASA’s Technology Transfer
Program, whose major goal is to transfer technology derived from its space
activities to the public and private sectors.
Because Earth Alert is a hosted web-based solution, it can be implemented
without buying expensive call center infrastructure, networked computer
servers, or special hardware for field deployment. It uses commercially
available GPS-enabled wireless phones, off-the-shelf PCs and standard
web browsers.
NASA initially conceived, sponsored, and co-developed the first prototype
of the warning system to broadcast survival to isolated populations.
Texas Fire World
PO Box 9161, 540 Graham Road
College Station, TX 77842/45
Phone: 979-690-7559
Fax: 979-690-7562
E-mail: ind@fireworld.com
Publisher: David White davidw@fireworld.com
Editor: Teresa Riecher
