Fire departments, large and small, continue to devote the large majority of their resources to big equipment, e.g., today’s engines and aerial apparatus, without a closer examination of the fire risk in their communities. And they’re doing so with less available staffing than ever before.
Read More »Tag Archives: fire apparatus
Eastside Fire and Rescue and the Rudolph Engine
Each year, the firefighters with Eastside (Wash.) Fire and Rescue and IAFF Local 2878 team up with HopeLink of Sno-Valley, a non-profit organization, for the holidays to spread holiday cheer and help the less fortunate members of the communities they serve. The flagship for this effort is an Eastside fire engine decked out with lights, music, a sleigh carrying Santa and Rudolph the Reindeer atop the engine that leads the way through several communities collecting unwrapped toys, food and clothing.
Read More »Tips for Keeping Your Apparatus and Station Secure
Not a day goes by, it seems, that we don't learn about fire and EMS apparatus being taken "for a ride" by unauthorized persons. From fire stations to emergency scenes to hospital parking lots, fire trucks and ambulances are not only being illegally taken, but also used to create general damage and mayhem before the perpetrators are apprehended.
Read More »Aerial Safety Around Powerlines
Firefighters being electrocuted by a powerline while on an aerial device is largely preventable; make sure your department is taking these safety steps.
Read More »A case for bolted-together fire trucks
Fire apparatus designers and manufacturers are constantly in pursuit of several goals when constructing vehicles for the fire service. There are five basic goals. Manufacturers want to keep them lightweight so the truck can carry the necessary equipment and get the best fuel mileage possible. They want to make it durable so that the customer gets the maximum lifecycle out of the vehicle. They also want to make it cost-effective, easy to repair, and easy to modify so that it can fill several roles over its lifecycle. Increasingly, fire apparatus manufacturers and their customers are using bolted construction to better achieve those goals. Bolted construction for fire apparatus is not new; manufacturers like American La France began bolting or riveting vehicle components on fire apparatus in the 1920s.
Read More »Should all fire trucks carry water?
The general public doesn't know the difference between an engine and a truck. They just know that they've called 911 to report a fire. And when that first piece of fire apparatus appears on scene, they expect that firefighters are going to start applying water to the fire. Perception is reality.
Read More »Rebuild vs replace: firefighting brush trucks
Many areas of the country, particularly those affected by sustained drought conditions, are seeing increased use of Type III or Type VI engines, also known as the brush trucks . And when a brush truck sees service it's typically a hard run — operating in dusty and dirty conditions, over undulating terrain and in all types of vegetation can really take a toll on these vehicles.
Read More »5 game-changing fire truck technologies
Here are five game-changing technologies in fire apparatus that will have a major influence on firefighter safety, efficiency and operations for years to come.
Read More »How to solar power a fire truck or ambulance
Solar-capturing technology has made it easier to keep fire truck and ambulances fully charged without leaving them running, and saves money.
Read More »5 reasons to consider a modular fire truck
There are a couple of realities for fire departments when it comes to vehicles and equipment for emergency responses: fiscal resources are tight and vehicles have to be able to multi-task. Related Article: Size matters: Smaller apparatus provide function and economy Related content sponsored by: One option could be swap-body or roll-off fire apparatus. Another might be a concept used in European fire services: modular compartmentation.
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