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From The Engineer’s Desk

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April – May Recalls

Lots to report on this month, so let's get started:

Bosch is recalling (NHTSA Recall #13E 011) certain Hydromax brake master cylinders with 2" bore and 84 cubic inch reservoir with a brake fluid level indicator switch and without a differential pressure switch. These were manufactured between July 1, 2011 and April 12, 2012.

The brake fluid level indicator (FLI) may not properly detect a low brake fluid situation and warn the driver. If the brake system develops an external leak, it may result in a loss of brake fluid below the detection level of the fluid indicator switch.

Bosch will notify customers and replace the switch free of charge. Owners may contact Bosch Technical Support and Warranty Hotline at 855 426 7247.

They don’t give any indication of what vehicles may have these cylinders in them.

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However, Navistar has a recall (13V 054) out for certain 2011 – 2012 Workhorse Custom Chassis W42 and W62 manufactured between July 18, 2011 and July 12, 2012, equipped with hydraulic brakes. The same defect is described. So it appears that Workhorse is at least one user of that part.

In this one, Navistar will notify owners and dealers will replace the FLI switch free of charge. Navistar’s recall was to have begun by April 22, Owners may contact Navistar at 800 448 7825. Their recall campaign number is 13503.

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Meritor is recalling (13E 012) certain axle assemblies that were built with disc brakes using MGM J24 series air brake chambers.

Brake chambers may leak pressure allowing the parking brake to drag when it is supposed to be released. Brake dragging could lead to overheated brake components.

Meritor will notify owners, inspect brake chambers and replace as needed, free of charge. The recall was to have begun on March 19. Owners may contact Meritor at 866 668 7221. Their campaign number is C-13AA.

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Hercules is recalling (13T 002) certain Hercules ALL TRAC A/T Load Range E tires as follows:

LT215/85R16 115/112S, DOT Serial Numbers JEHMECL5008-4010

LT235/85R16 120/116S, DOT Serial Numbers JEKMECL4708-4710

LT245/75R16 120/116S, DOT Serial Numbers JEJKECL4608-4010

LT265/75R16 123/120S, DOT Serial Numbers JENKECL4808-4010

LT265/70R17 121/118S, DOT Serial Numbers JENJFCL5108-4010

LT245/75R17 121/118S, DOT Serial Numbers JELKFCL5008-4010

LT225/75R16 115/112S, DOT Serial Numbers JEJKECL5108-4010

These tires can experience in-service belt and tread separations.

Hercules will notify owners and replace the affected tires free of charge, including mounting and balancing. The recall began February 27. Owners may contact Hercules at 888 965 5795 or 419 425 6400. Hercules Tire’s recall campaign number is 01-2013.

I want to repeat my caution about aftermarket parts, where the retail dealer may not know where the parts end up. In the case of tires though, sales of individual tires are recorded for cases such as this. But even so, some could slip through the cracks.

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Chrysler is recalling (13V 038) certain 2009 – 2012 Ram 1500 trucks; 2009 – 2011 Dodge Dakota trucks; 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks and 2009 Dodge Durango trucks.

2009 Durango

The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.

Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer free of charge. The recall was to have begun during March. Owners may contact Chrysler at 800 247 9753. This campaign is an expansion of recall campaign NHTSA number 12V 474) Chrysler’ recall campaign number is N08.

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Spartan Motors Chassis is recalling (13V 066) certain 2012 – 2013 MetroStar and Gladiator fire truck chassis equipped with a Spartan Advanced Protection System (APS) supplied by Takata Protection Systems.

The circuits on the control module of the APS may short and cause an inadvertent air bag deployment.

Spartan Motors will notify owners,, and dealers will install a new sub-wire harness on the control module of the APS free of charge. The campaign was to have begun in March. Owners may contact Spartan at 800 543 5008, Option 4. Spartan’s recall campaign number is 13-004.

Spartan is also recalling (13V 046) certain 2005 – 2011 RMP 100 and 2008 – 2010 MMP 100 aerial vehicle apparatus.

These vehicles are equipped with a single platform inclinometer that may provide an intermittent signal allowing the platform to be tilted more than below the horizontal plane which could allow the platform to strike nearby objects or people.

Spartan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the single inclinometer with a dual inclinometer installed in a sealed enclosure, free of charge. The recall began on February 25. Owners may contact Spartan at 800 867 6478, Option 2. Spartan’s recall campaign number is ERV13-002.

Spartan ERV is recalling (13V-049) certain 2008 – 2009 RMA 75, RMA 103 and TDA aerial fire apparatus equipped with hydraulic extension and retraction cylinders produced by RamRod Industries.

The cylinders on the affected vehicles may have welded rod eyes that were not properly heat treated during the manufacturing process. An improperly manufactured rod eye end attachment may fracture or separate. In the event that two affected cylinders are installed on the same aerial device, the aerial may retract without warning.

Spartan ERV will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected cylinders free of charge. The recall began on February 25. Owners may contact Spartan at 800 867 6478, Option 2. Spartan’s recall campaign number is ERV13-003

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PACCAR is recalling (13V 048) certain 2013 – 2014 Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks; and 2013 – 2014 Peterbilt 579 and 567 vehicles. The exterior lights self test switch is intended to be used when the vehicle is parked. If the switch is pressed while the vehicle is in motion, the exterior lights self test switch will cause all exterior lights to be extinguished.

PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will disable the exterior lights self test software parameter and remove the exterior lights self test switch and install a switch plug in its place. The recall began on February 28. Owners may contact Kenworth at 425 828 5000, or Peterbilt at 940 591 4000. Kenworth’s campaign number is 13KWB. Peterbilt’s is 0213-B.

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UD Trucks is recalling (13V 053) certain 2011 – 2013 UD2600 and UD3300 trucks equipped with Allison 3000RDS automatic transmissions. The oil cooler hose clamp retaining rings may fail. If the retaining ring fails, the oil cooler hose may leak, leaving a large deposit on the roadway. If any of the oil sprays onto the engine, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

UD Trucks will notify owners and dealers will replace the affected hoses free of charge. The manufacturer had not provided a notification schedule as of April. Owners may contact UD at 800 832 5929.

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Pierce is recalling (13V 062) certain 2007 – 2010 Velocity and Impel fire trucks.

The springs inside the inner door handles may allow the door to open inadvertently.

Pierce will notify owners and dealers will replace the inner door handles free of charge. The recall is to begin in May. Owners may contact Pierce at 920 832 3000. Pierce’s campaign number is 74B327.

That's it for this month, but that's plenty to keep you busy for a while.

The temperature is finally warming up…. Play ball! …. Sam Yardumian

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Posted by on May 24, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Engineer's Desk • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

What Replaced The 50-Foot Ladder?

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Remember The Good Ol' Church Raise?

FOR DECADES, MAYBE EVEN 100 YEARS, ladder trucks carried at least one 50-ft. extension ground ladder.  Those 400-lb. sacroiliac strainers took six men to carry and to raise, including two risking their lives handling those pointed-end "tormentor poles."

By the middle of the 20th century they were going out of style quickly as the much more maneuverable 35 and 40-ft. aluminum ladders were being shipped out on the new ladder truck deliveries.  But the 50-footer, also aluminum now, remained a part of the stock primarily because the NFPA ladder standard mandated at least one on each truck.

So, complying with the mission that everybody needs to know how to use all the equipment, every fire school and recruit academy spent at least a half-day learning how to carry and raise the behemoth.  Part of this training was learning the Church Raise, a technique where ropes are tied off from the upper ends of the ladder and, along with the tormentors, used to keep the ladder upright without leaning against a wall.

And this usually led to a mandatory "character builder" and "confidence builder" evolution where each and every student had to climb the ladder on the church raise, climb over the top rung to the opposite side of the ladder and come back down the other side.  A memorable experience for sure.

But somewhere back around the 1970's the NFPA, recognizing the changing times, eliminated the 50-footer requirement and before the ink was dry on the new Standard, they all literally disappeared from ladder beds everywhere.

That got me to thinking ….. without the cold, challenging church raise around anymore, what has taken its place as the sly "character builder" these days?  What are they using instead of the extension ladder?  I found the answer just the other day.  Have you done this one yet?  Take a look…..

 

 

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Posted by on May 17, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Training • Tagged:

Firetruck vs. Bicycle in Ohio

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The Firetruck Always Wins

A CANTON, OHIO, FIRETRUCK WAS returning to quarters early Wednesday morning when it powdered a bicycle that had run through a red light. 

Fire Station 4  (CFD photo)

The truck was returning to Station 4 around 2:45 am and was making a left turn with the green light when a bicyclist coming the opposite direction but with a red light, pedaled straight through the red into the path of the engine and was struck.

 

The Canton Repository continues:

A man riding a bike west on Fulton failed to stop for a red light and was struck by the truck, Sgt. Leo T. Shirkey of the highway patrol said.

The man, whose identity was unknown Wednesday morning, underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition in Mercy Medical Center’s intensive care unit by 9 a.m., Shirkey said.

"We are in the process of identifying him," the sergeant said, noting that the cyclist had been wearing dark clothing at the time of the crash and carried no identification. The man appears to be in his late 40s to early 50s.

Canton Fire Department WEBSITE.

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Posted by on May 15, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: ,

Stolen Totalled Tanker Update

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Thief Dies – Insurance Lacking

THIS PAST FRIDAY MAY 10, Firegeezer brought you the story (HERE) of the Harrison Twp., Ohio, VFD's tanker that was stolen from the station in the middle of the night.  The thief got only about a mile away before he crashed-rolled the truck, causing total destruction of it.

WBNS

The man who committed the crime has been publicly identified now as Brently Montgomery, age 19.  He was found near the wreckage after having been ejected from the truck and was unconscious.  The Chillicothe Gazette tells us now that he never regained consciousness and was declared brain-dead on Sunday evening.  It wasn't announced until Monday after surgery to harvest his donated organs.

Brently Montgomery

Read the entire report in The Gazette HERE.

The Harrison Township VFD has become financially pressed as a result of this crime.  They carry insurance on their vehicles, but they learned that it does not cover replacement value, thus leaving a large gap in resources to replace the tanker and its equipment.

The VFD has posted a special webpage to explain their plight and kick off a fund drive to help with the replacement of the unit.  They write:

On 5/10/2013, someone broke into our station and stole our 2000 gallon tanker. After backing through a wall in the station, the truck was crashed and totaled less than a mile down the road.

We are an all volunteer fire/rescue and EMS station that covers 36 square miles. We also provide mutual aid with an additional 92 square miles with three adjoining townships and a state forest.

While our insurance is working very well with us, there are going to be many costs for replacement equipment, supplies and gear that we simply cannot cover. We have no tax base, no levies and our only funding for fire comes from the townships general fund and two fund raisers we hold every year.
Even with the generous support we are receiving from the people in our township, surrounding departments and our volunteers, we still need assistance with the things we simply cannot repair and cannot afford to replace.

Their goal is to raise $10,000 to fill the gap.  Take a look at their webpage HERE to take a look and catch a little bit of dept. history while you're there.

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Posted by on May 15, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, current events, Fire Rescue Topics • Tagged: , ,

Another Stolen Firetruck

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Thief Totaled VFD's Tanker

A THIEF BROKE INTO THE Harrison Township VFD station in Ross County, Ohio, early Friday morning and stole the department's 2,200-gal. tanker.  After first knocking into the kitchen wall, he got it going forward and drove about one mile before crashing through a guard rail and rolling the truck over, totalling it.

WBNS-TV

The thief was ejected during the rollover and was seriously injured and remained unconscious through Friday.  The Ross County Sheriff and Ohio Highway Patrol are working to identify the man who was carrying no means of ID.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting:

The Ross County sheriff’s office reported that a surveillance video showed a man breaking a window to enter the fire station and then raising an overhead door and driving away in the fire truck.

Harrison Township Fire Chief Bryon Thornton said the truck is a total loss. "It's in pieces. What used to be a 10-foot-tall truck is four-feet." The 2,200-gallon tanker truck, which is insured, will cost $190,000 to $250,000 to replace, he said.

The thief unsuccessfully tried at first to steal the department's pumper truck, the chief said. The thief also backed the tanker through the kitchen wall before departing the fire station "with it all lit up," Thornton said.

Chillicothe Gazette

Read more details in the Chillicothe Gazette HERE.

Hat tip:  Joe P.

Posted by on May 10, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, crime, Fire Rescue Topics • Tagged: , , ,

From The Engineer’s Desk

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March Recall List

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Here are the latest recalls:

General Motors is recalling (NHTSA Recall #13V-001) certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) #102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock an Transmission Braking Effect," and FMVSS #114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention.

These vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly. As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or with the key in the OFF position.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. This recall began on January 21. Chevrolet owners may call 800 630 2438. Cadillac owners may call 866 982 2339. GMC owners may call 866 996 9463. GM’s campaign number is 12331.

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Navistar is recalling (13V-020) among others, certain 2011 – 2013 International DuraStar and 2013 WorkStar trucks. These vehicles are equipped with certain 2011 – 2013 I-6 engines with feature codes 12NUK, 12NUL, 12NUM, 12NUN, 12NUP, 12NUR, 12NUS, 12NUT, 12NUU, 12NUV, 12NUX, 12NUY and 12NUZ.

The injection pressure regulator (IPR) harness wire may break because of vibrational damage. This could cause an unexpected shutdown of the engine.

Navistar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPR wire connector free of charge. The recall was to have begun by March 18. Contact Navistar at 800 448 7825. Navistar’s campaign number is 13501.

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PACCAR is recalling (13V-027) certain 2013 Kenworth T680 vehicles and 2013 Peterbilt 579 and 567 vehicles.

These vehicles were equipped with the air suspension dump valve option. New software may cause the air suspension to reinflate without warning after the operator turns the ignition key to the "OFF" position.

PACCAR will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the software. The recall was to have begun during February. Contact Kenworth at 425 828 5000 or Peterbilt at 940 591 4000. Kenworth’s campaign number is 13KWA. Peterbilt’s is 113-A.

That’s all this month. Go Phillies!
……………. Sam Yardumian

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Posted by on April 1, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Engineer's Desk

Tower-Ladder Rollover in Belgium

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Collides With Bus

A TOWER-LADDER TRUCK FROM THE Antwerp Fire Brigade in Belgium was responding to a chimney fire Monday evening around 7:40 pm when it collided with an articulated transit bus at an intersection.

Nieusblad

According to news reports, both drivers tried to evade the crash, but the bus still grazed the firetruck in the rear side causing it to swerve and then roll over.  By good fortune the truck narrowly missed crashing against a house, instead landing in the yard.

112 Antwerpen

The truck had three firefighters on board, all of whom were injured.  Two of them were not seriously hurt, but the third received a head injury and was hospitalized.

There were no passengers on the bus.  The driver was uninjured.

Nieusblad

This past Sunday an ambulance was struck by a tram at the same intersection.

Nieusblad has the STORY.
The fire brigade website 112 Antwerpen has more plus a 20-image photo gallery HERE.

An earlier photo of the Bronto Skylift that was involved
by Louis Van Looey, via 112Antwerpen

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Posted by on March 20, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , ,

Teen Using His Head, Vandalizes Moving Firetruck

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Improper Use of Controlled Substance Strongly Suspected

A REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA, ENGINE CO. was responding to a medical emergency Saturday morning around 1 am when the driver saw a 17-yr.-old boy dash out into the street and stand directly in the engine's path.

The driver quickly slowed down, yet the youth stayed in place blocking the pumper.  The truck was forced to a complete stop to avoid striking the errant pedestrian, at which time the boy jumped up on the front bumper and started beating on the windshield with his head and his fists.

The engine crew grabbed him and forced him onto a grassy area next to their position and, after tussling with the lad, got him calmed down until the police and an ambulance got there.  The windshield on the pumper was broken, putting the unit out of service.

KABC-TV

He was transported to a hospital where he was treated for his self-inflicted injuries and then charged with vandalism and interfering with emergency personnel before being released to his parents custody.

The Redlands-Loma Linda Patch has MORE.

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Posted by on March 3, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics • Tagged: , , ,

From the Engineer’s Desk

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The February Recalls

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Here are the latest recalls:

Neotek Corporation is recalling (NHTSA recall no. 12E-057) certain replacement brake rotors, branded as DURALAST, part number 5399, sold exclusively through Autozone.

Some of the brake rotors may have been produced from castings with narrow thickness in the bridge between the mounting surface and the braking surface. The narrow area of the casting can allow for fractures.

Neotek will notify the Autozone retail outlets and post public notices about the recall. Affected DURALAST brake rotors will be replaced, free of charge. The recall was expected to begin during January 2013. As always, in cases like this, if you think you may have any of the affected parts, you need to be proactive and check with, in this case, Autozone.

Mack Trucks is recalling (12V-499) certain 2013 CHU, CXU, GU, LEU, and MRU trucks, equipped with model number 90262, 90541, or 10073 Hayes Lemmerz steel wheels. Because of an inadequate weld between the wheel disc and rim, the disc can separate from the rim..

Mack will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheels on affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall was expected to begin on, or before, Jan. 11, 2013. Owners may contact Mack at 336-393-2000 for more information. Mack’s recall campaign number is SC0368.

Autocar (NHTSA 12V588, 589 and 590) and Volvo (12V500) also have recalls out for the same wheels. Contact Autocar at 765- 489-5499. Autocar’s campaign numbers are M1207 and T1206.

Contact Volvo at 336-393-2000 for more information. Volvo’s recall campaign number is RVXX1205.

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Hino is recalling (12V-555) certain 2005 through 2013 medium-duty trucks, models NA6J, NB6J, NC6J, ND8J, NE8J, NJ8J, NF8J, and NV8J,

Over time, the main B+ circuit from the battery to the starter could potentially short to ground due to wear that accumulates as a result of interference between the B+ circuit and its convoluted tubing sheath.

Hino will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall was expected to begin on, or about, Jan. 15, 2013. Owners may contact Hino at 248-699-9390. Hino’s recall campaign number is A8310.

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Phenix Enterprises is recalling (12V-562) certain 2009 and 2011 trucks manufactured from July 22, 2008, through Dec. 16, 2011, equipped with a Sure Power battery separator, part number 16511893 (model 1314).

Suspect vehicles, in their as built configuration, had a Sure Power battery separator installed on the inboard side of the curb side rail. These battery separators may overheat.

Phenix will notify owners and replace the battery separator free of charge. Owners may contact Phenix at 800-736-9790.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling (12V-576] certain 2007 Sterling 360 trucks manufactured 2007 and equipped with an EPA04 4M50 engine. The fuel lines may crack because of an improper manufacturing process. Also, the fuel pipe flare nuts may have been insufficiently tightened. Cracked fuel pipes or loose fuel pipe flare nuts may leak fuel.

DTNAr will notify owners. Dealers will inspect the fuel lines and tighten or replace them as needed, free of charge.

The safety recall was expected to begin on Feb. 5, 2013. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks at 800-547-0712. Daimler’s recall campaign number is FL-636.

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Spring Training has started, so hibernation season, which began at the end of the World Series, is over!
Take care ……. Sam.

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Posted by on February 27, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Engineer's Desk • Tagged: , , , , ,

Serious Firetruck Crash in Maryland

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Firefighter in Critical Condition

A PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FIRE & EMS engine was involved in a traffic accident early Wednesday morning that injured seven people, including four firefighters.  One of the FF's is reported to be in critical condition.

PGFD photo

Fire Department officials are saying that the West Lanham Hills Engine 828 was traveling on the Capital Beltway near Rte. 50 just before 3 am, returning from a call to an earlier accident, when it was rear-ended at speed by a tractor-trailer.  The violent impact drove the pumper into the concrete lane barrier and caused both trucks to roll over.  A third vehicle, a private SUV was also struck by the fire engine and it careened across the traffic lanes.

PGFD photo

WUSA-TV Ch. 9 is reporting:

Chief Alicia Francis, spokeswoman for Prince George's County Fire and EMS, is on the scene and confirms four of the seven patients are firefighters. One of them has been taken to Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, which specializes in severe limb injuries. He is said to be in critical condition. The conditions of the other three firefighters at PG Trauma have been upgraded and may be released soon, says the fire chief.

According to Chief Francis, the driver of the tractor trailer and two victims from the Jeep were taken to Medstar. Right now the severity of the civilians' injuries are unknown.

WTTG-TV recently posted this video report from the scene:

 DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

This story may be updated later if any further information warrants it.

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Posted by on January 30, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, current events, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: ,

Firetruck Rollover in Kentucky

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Icy Stretch on Interstate 64 Caused Multiple Accidents

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ENGINE 8 was enroute to a traffic accident Friday morning when it hit a patch of ice and slid off the pavement.  As it went onto the shoulder, it got onto an embankement and rolled over.

Lexington Herald-Leader photo

The sudden appearance of freezing rain in the area caused a 4-mile stretch of I-64 to ice over including several patches of black ice.  The Highway Patrol reported that about 50 accidents happened during that time.  Engine 8 was responding to one of them when it got caught in the same hazard.

The three firefighters on board were transported for evaluation and were released.

The Lexington Herald-Leader has the STORY.

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Posted by on January 25, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , ,

Gearing Up For The Pilgrimage

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Millions of Vistors Expected

TODAY IS THE OPENING DAY OF THE HINDU festival of Kumbh Mela in the northern Indian city of Allahabad.

Tens of millions of pilgrims are expected to visit to bathe at the Sang am – the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. The festival will continue until March 10 and is billed as the biggest religious gathering in the world.

The festival has been held on the banks of the Ganges for thousands of years and hits its peak once every 12 years when it attracts millions of people.  Preparations in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the invasion of pilgrims has been going on for months and part of their planning is fire safety because thousands of bonfires are constantly burning.  Also, civic attempts at providing all kinds of assistance are vigorously pursued.  Even the Pared Fire Station in Allahbad has put up a large May I Help You? sign.

NBS News

And that's not all that the fire station has done to get ready.  They have put into service a pair of quick-response motorcycles that have portable extinguishers and are more easily able to weave through the dense crowds crowds to get a quick attack on burning problems.  They show off their stuff in this video report posted by NBS News:

 

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Posted by on January 14, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, current events, Fire Rescue Topics, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Firetruck Rollover in Texas

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Tiny Pickup Broadsides Big Pumper

A HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, FIRE ENGINE ended up on its side around 7:20 pm Central Friday after a small pickup truck broadsided it in a Houston suburb.

KTRK-TV

The engine from the Cloverleaf Volunteer Fire Department was on the street running an errand and not more than a block from the firehouse when the Dodge pickup blew through a stop sign with enough speed and force to knock the pumper onto its side.

The driver and passenger in the pickup were both heavily entrapped and had to be extricated before they were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.  The four firefighters were treated and released at the hospital.

KTRK-TV Ch. 13 posted this video report from the scene:

 

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Posted by on January 12, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Fire in the Firehouse

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Engine 6 Out of Service

AN EARLY MORNING FIRE inside an Elizabeth, New Jersey, fire station (probably) destroyed the pumper and heavily damaged the firehouse Sunday morning.

WABC-TV

The fire started in the engine itself around 2 am and spread into the living quarters of the station.  The fire went to two alarms before it was extinguished about an hour later.  No injuries were reported (nor much of anything else…ed.).

WABC-TV carried the STORY.

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Posted by on January 1, 2013 • Filed under: apparatus, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, fire stations, Fires • Tagged: , ,

Breaking In a New Engine – Literally

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Brand New Rosenbauer/Mercedes

THE EBERN, GERMANY, VOLUNTEER FIRE Department just received their new Rosenbauer fire engine a few days ago, replacing their aged 1982 pumper.  A proud week for the local firefighters.

Rosenbauer factory photo

But it only lasted for a moment.  While three of the FF's were out on a familiarization drive today (Saturday) just before noon local time, the truck went off the road and rolled over against some trees.

According to the report posted by inFranken, the rear wheels drifted off the roadway and onto the soft shoulder and then the engine struck the parapet of a bridge over a small creek.  The new, 15-ton truck then rolled over in the soft, muddy ground, just missing the creek bed, and came to rest against a stand of trees.

inFranken.de

None of the three firefighters were injured, but that is the only good news for the day.  The entire department membership is understandably despondent over the temporary loss of their new engine.  A special crane had to be brought out to right the truck and get it transported to the shop with what were described as "substantial" damages.

inFranken.de has the story plus a 13-image photo gallery HERE.
The Ebern Feuerwehr (FD) website has factory photos of the truck just before delivery HERE.  (scroll down to view them)

Thanks to Christian Lewalter of Feuerwehr Weblog.

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Posted by on December 22, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: ,

If You’re a Fire Engine Salesman, Things Ain’t Great in Washington State

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"Essential services?  What essential services?"

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN TWO Washington cities are trying a new tack in order to keep from spending more money on fire protection.

A headline in KING-TV's website reads:  Tacoma Fire Department replacing some fire trucks with pickups.  Not an exaggeration as it turns out.  They go on to report:

Axed with millions in deep budget cuts, the Tacoma Fire Department will be replacing some big rig trucks with pickup trucks at two of its stations. Firefighters say all residents should be alarmed.

KING-TV image

Since 1911, Tacoma Fire Station 13 has been a staple in the community, but now, it may be something to worry about. Due to $11 million in budget cuts, the station will no longer have a fire engine. Instead, it will respond to calls in a truck. "It’s a pickup truck. It’s the same thing you can buy off the lot," said Ryan Mudie, President of Tacoma Professional Firefighters Local 31. According to the union, the Chevy trucks used to be driven by supervisors. At stations 13 & 15, two firefighters will use them to provide EMS services 12 hours a day from 7am to 7pm.

"People don’t have emergencies just at certain times of the day," said Susan Zubalick, who lives near Station 13.

Susan obviously possesses more wisdom than the city council.  Fire Chief Jim Duggan, who seems to have been forced to take the action against his better judgement apparently, says things will get sticky real quick when there are equipment move-ups to cover the stations that are out in their pickups.

Read the full article HERE.

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ABOUT 100 MILES SOUTH on I-5 near the Oregon border, the Vancouver City Council heard a proposal from Fire Chief Joe Molina and Deputy Chief Dan Olson to run a trial program where SUV's will  be parked in two stations where two FF's will be pulled from the engine to run "non-emergency" medical calls.  (Emergency EMS calls are handled by AMR ambulance service.)  The Columbian tries to explain this unusual concept:

Molina said he'd like to start April 1 doing a pilot program in which SUVs — Molina and Olson have offered their city-owned SUVs for the test — would respond to priority 3 and 4 medical calls. Fire engines would still be sent on the most critical medical calls, which are ranked priority 1 and 2.

Molina said the department will also be working to better coordinate with American Medical Response, which has the ambulance contract for Emergency Services District 2, which includes the city of Vancouver. For medical calls that only rate priority 5, perhaps just an ambulance would respond, Molina said.

Since 2010, 40 types of medical calls have been added to the fire department's do-not-respond list, and the department may add another 15 types of calls. Examples of ailments that rate as priority 3 and 4 calls include back pain, fainting, near fainting, chest pain in someone older than 35, relatively minor assaults and falls and headaches due to an unknown cause, Olson said.

The entire article is posted HERE.

Firegeezer is unable to relate to lengthy do-not-respond lists.  Back when I was saving lives and property, if somebody called for help, we went and helped.  What's wrong with that?  Long-time Firegeezer readers might recall that a couple of years ago the VFD sold off their two EMS response units so that they wouldn't have to run the calls.  Thanks to Firefighter Dave for passing this along.

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Posted by on December 10, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics • Tagged: ,

Updated: Firetruck vs. Pedestrian in Kentucky

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Investigation Still Ongoing Into Cause

Update, Monday 9 am Eastern:  Victim identified, more info posted.  Scroll down.

A LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, WOMAN DIED SATURDAY night in the center of downtown when she was struck by a fire engine that was not on an emergency call.

The Lexington Fire Department says that Engine 9 was en route to a nearby hospital to pick up a firefighter that had accompanied an ambulance crew on a medical call.  The pumper collided with the unidentified pedestrian around 10:15 pm at Broadway and Main Streets.

Herald-Leader photo

The Lexington Herald-Leader in an early report states:

The truck appeared to have been driving southwest on Broadway; it was parked on Broadway between Main Street and High Street beside Triangle Park, inside an area cordoned off by police.

The woman's body was near the crosswalk across Broadway, though Willoby said Sunday morning it was too early to tell whether she was in the crosswalk when the wreck happened. It also was unclear which direction she was headed or who had the right of way, he said.

Police were reviewing surveillance camera footage in the area "to look and see exactly where she was."

As police continued investigating about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the woman's body remained on Broadway by the Christmas tree in Triangle Park, covered by a white sheet. Dozens of passersby leaving bars about 1 a.m. glanced curiously at the scene, some gasping.

Unofficially, some witnesses told reporters that it appeared that the woman had walked into the side of the fire engine.

Read the early report from the Herald-Leader HERE.

Update, Monday 9 am Eastern:

The victim has been identified as a woman from Washington, D. C., who was visiting Lexington to participate in a running competition.  The Herald-Leader has just posted additional information on the accident:

A downtown pedestrian who died late Saturday when she was struck by a Lexington fire truck was an attorney with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission who was in town to compete in a cross-country running competition.

A report from the Fayette County coroner's office said the case was being investigated as an accident. According to police, Lauren Woodall Roady, 27, of Washington, D.C., died shortly after she was struck about 10:05 p.m. Saturday by the Lexington Division of Fire's Engine 9 at Broadway and West Main Street near Triangle Park. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said that the fire truck was on a non-emergency trip to pick up some crew members and that its siren and warning lights were not in operation when the accident occurred. "They were driving with traffic," police lieutenant Richard Willoby said.

According to the police report issued late Sunday, the fire truck was being driven by firefighter Christopher Presley and was making a left turn from West Main Street onto South Broadway when Roady was struck. That intersection is next to Triangle Park, not far from the city's outdoor skating rink and Christmas tree.

The police report said Roady was crossing Broadway from east to west when she was struck. Earlier Sunday, police said it wasn't clear whether she was in the crosswalk when the accident occurred. The police report doesn't say whether she was in the crosswalk.

The results of the investigation are not expected until after the first of the year.  Lauren Roady had been married just a little more than two months.

For more details read the updated story in the Herald-Journal HERE.

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Posted by on December 9, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , ,

Firetruck Rollover in Virginia – 4 Injured

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None Seriously Hurt

A BEDFORD, VIRGINIA, FIRE ENGINE rolled over while responding to a grass fire Saturday just before noon Eastern.

WSET-TV

There were four firefighters in the cab and all were transported.  At first it was feared that two of them were seriously injured and they were airlifted to a trauma center, but it turned out that they were not so critical.  The Bedford Fire Department posted the following notice on their Facebook page Saturday evening:

Today, December 1st at 11:52am Bedford Fire Department's Engine 1 was involved in a single vehicle accident while responding to a reported brush fire in the 4100 block of Peaks Rd. Firefighters on the truck immediately called for assistance at the accident which was in the 1200 block of Peaks Street in the City of Bedford. Four firefighters were injured, but with non-life threatening injuries and all have been released from the hospital. The accident is still under investigation.

We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this incident and our Brothers from around the County for staffing our station during and after the incident.
We are back in service and will be there if you need us.

WSET-TV Lynchburg filed this video report from the scene:

 WSET.com – ABC13

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Posted by on December 2, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Tanker vs. Tree in Maine

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Tanker Totaled

THE SOUTH BERWICK (Maine) FIRE DEPARTMENT's tanker wrecked Sunday afternoon while returning to quarters from a fire call.  While traveling down a rural road, the truck went off the road and smashed into a tree, destroying the cab and front end of the tanker.

The South Berwick engine and tanker were dispatched at 2:15 on a mutual aid assist to Eliot, but were returned to service before they arrived.  The 3,000-gal. tanker was being driven by Adam Leach, 31, who turned the truck down another road leading back to the station when he lost control for some reason and crashed into the pine tree.

Leach is an oil tank driver for his occupation and is well experienced with liquid cargo and has been a member of the department for 15 years.  South Berwick Fire Chief George Gorman says that he believes the wreck may have been caused by "a medical problem," but did not elaborate on that.

The truck was fully insured.

The Portland Press Herald has the STORY.

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Posted by on November 20, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: ,

Special Recall Notice From the Engineer’s Desk

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Urgent Recall Notification

OUR COLLEAGUE STEVE MARSHAL, the Gnome Handler just passed along this recall notice that I believe is too important to set asided until our monthly updates. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently announced that American Honda has recalled 150,600 portable generators because the fuel line can leak causing a fire or burn hazard.  Honda is aware of four incidents of fuel leaks. No fires or injuries have been reported.  Many fire companies utilize this generator to power portable lighting, etc., sometimes even mounted on the apparatus.

Description: This recall involves Honda gasoline-powered portable generators with model number EU2000i and serial numbers EAAJ-2260273 through EAAJ-2485025. The generators are black and red in color or have a camouflage design. They measure about 20 inches long by 11 ½ inches wide by 16 ½ inches tall. "Honda," "EU converter" and the model number 2000i are printed on the side of the generator. "Companion" is printed on the side of some EU2000i models. The serial number is located on the lower right side, rear corner of the generator.

Sold at: Honda Power Equipment dealers, Camping World, Gander Mountain, Grainger, Hertz Rental, John Deere, National Pump & Compressor, Northern Tool, Scheels Sporting, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Sunbelt Rentals, True Value, United Rentals, White Cap and Wholesale Sports store nationwide and online from October 2011 through September 2012 for between $1,150 and $1,400.

Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled generators and contact the nearest Honda Power Equipment dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair.

Consumer Contact: American Honda; Phone toll-free (888) 888-3139, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at http://powerequipment.honda.com and click on "Recalls and Updates" under "Service and Support" for more information.

Thanks, Steve.

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Posted by on November 20, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Engineer's Desk • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – November 17

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Saturday Morning – Some Things To Watch Out For

A fairly brief Lineup this morning, but there are a couple of warnings that I want to share with you.  First is still another item about choosing safe passwords for your dozens of accounts that demand them.  That list seems to keep on growing and the tendency is to pick 3 or 4 favorites to keep life simple for you, but you really know better than to do that.  Yet we all do it anyway.

In case you missed our more recent discussions on this, please take the time to review our postings from June 22 HERE, and our more recent chat on October 3 HERE.  Without going into detail just now, I want to direct you to another recent article that is worth taking a few minutes to read through.  It was published in the New York Times last week titled How to Devise Passwords That Keep Hackers Away.  Nicole Peruroth has a fascinating article that deserves to be read and re-read which includes this sample:

Within weeks, I set up unique, complex passwords for every Web site, enabled two-step authentication for my e-mail accounts, and even covered up my computer’s Web camera with a piece of masking tape — a precaution that invited ridicule from friends and co-workers who suggested it was time to get my head checked.

But recent episodes offered vindication. I removed the webcam tape — after a friend convinced me that it was a little much — only to see its light turn green a few days later, suggesting someone was in my computer and watching. More recently, I received a text message from Google with the two-step verification code for my Gmail account. That’s the string of numbers Google sends after you correctly enter the password to your Gmail account, and it serves as a second password. (Do sign up for it.) The only problem was that I was not trying to get into my Gmail account. I was nowhere near a computer. Apparently, somebody else was.

'Nuff said.   Read the entire ARTICLE HERE.

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The next recommended reading for today is an interesting website that I stumbled across the other day.  An enthusiastic fire buff named Ben Saladino has posted a Fire Truck Brand Spotting Guide that sure would come in handy when watching a parade or traveling through another town and seeing the lads responding to a call.  Ben has done a lot of work photographing as many different types of apparatus as he could, all of it current models.

You can visit his webpage HERE for a look around.  Click on the thumbnails to see the full-size images.

We need to visit our own full-size vehicles now and get this equipment checked out.  I'm heading for the Bunn-O-Matic to get ready for our session in the day room shortly.  See you there.

 

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Posted by on November 17, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, morning lineup, Technology & Communications, technology-communications-ems-topics

Looking Back

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Fire Engineering – August 1939

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Looking Back is a regular Thursday feature on Firegeezer.  You can scroll through previous Looking Back postings HERE.

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Posted by on November 15, 2012 • Filed under: antique apparatus, apparatus, Looking Back • Tagged: , ,

LODD in Indiana Tanker Rollover

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Rollover While Making a Right Turn

A WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (Indiana) FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER died Sunday night after the tanker he was driving rolled over and wrecked while responding on a call.

Indiana News Center

The Fort Wayne Fire Department announced that the truck was responding to a grass fire around 8:40 pm Sunday night when the driver was making a right turn onto Butler Rd. and apparently the load shifted and pitched the tanker over.  The truck rolled several times and struck three utility poles bringing live electric wires down.  According to the Journal Gazette, the fire units responding to the wreck had to wait for the power company to deactivate the lines before they could extricate the victim.

The driver was critically injured in the wreck and died later at the hospital. He has not yet been publicly identified and it is believed that he was the only passenger on board.

WANE-TV has posted some raw video from the scene:

 

Firefighter dies after tanker crash

No other information has been released so far.

For more details read the report from WANE-TV HERE.
Also, Indiana News Center HERE.

photo by C. Allen / IndianaFireTrucks.com

Hat tip:  FireCap5

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Posted by on November 12, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Line of Duty, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Firetrucks Collide in Brooklyn – 11 Injured

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Engine and Truck Headed to Same Incident

TWO FIRETRUCKS COLLIDED AT AN INTERSECTION Wednesday morning in Brooklyn, New York.

NY Post / Martinka

The crash left eleven firefighter injured, four seriously, including the engine driver who was unconscious and trapped in his cab.  The New York Post continues:

The collision happened around 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of Avenue J and East 103rd Street in Canarsie, officials said. All of the injured firefighters were taken to Kings County Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the FDNY said.

Engine 257 was traveling south on East 103rd, while Hook & Ladder 170 was motoring west on Avenue J, according to witnesses. The trucks swerved and collided in the middle of the intersection. Black skid marks showed where they hit.

Both trucks crashed through a brick wall of a two-family house at the corner. Truck 170 slammed into a parked yellow cab before going through the wall. The house itself escaped serious damage, other than a few busted [sic] windows.

NY Post

Both units were responding to a smell-of-smoke call.

No further information has been released yet on the medical conditions of the injured.  Firegeezer will update if any more info. is given out.

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Posted by on November 8, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, health & safety, News • Tagged: ,

This Isn’t Your Grandfather’s Basement Pump-Out

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Moving Water By The Millions

FOLLOWING THE ASSAULT ON NEW YORK CITY by Hurricane Sandy, the city's subway system was literally flooded with millions of gallons flooding the tracks and in some cases, putting passenger platforms underwater as well.

MTA photo

Restoring public transportation is vital to the city's economy and necessary to get routine daily activities going again.  Remarkably, the MTA had some service restored after just three days and had a major portion of the system operating less than a week after the tubes were flooded.  So how do they get rid of all that water?  It can't drain UP you know.  Flooding is a problem that the MTA is already equipped for.  They have several of what they call "pump trains," all ready for service at such incidents and while this one was a major event, it was just larger than what they have done in the past.

The Daily News visited one of these trains to observe the operation and posted this description:

The six-car "pump train" has made it to about 2,000 feet shy of the South Ferry station as of Thursday afternoon, its back car on muddy tracks, its nose plunged in about 4 feet of brackish water.

Farther down the line, the water gets deeper and deeper, reaching all the way up to the tunnel’s ceiling as it nears the tip of Manhattan. In the station itself, the water drowns the platform and extends to the top of the stairs leading to the mezzanine. The pump train is pumping out all that water "back to the Hudson River, the harbor, back where it belongs," said Maurice Peck, a train service supervisor in the work train division.

First is the "pump car." It has a diesel engine that, fired up, sounds like a tank rolling through a village in a World War II movie. It has three pumps that descend through its metal floor to the submerged tracks. Each pump removes 1,500 gallons of water per minute.

Inside the pump car  (MTA)

The water is then channeled through three "reach cars" — gutted passenger cars, each with an 18-inch-wide metal pipe, painted battleship gray and bolted to the floor. Between the reach cars, the water flows through four smaller fire hoses linking the sections of metal pipe so the train can turn.

MTA

The hose runs to the top of a flatbed car, winds upward through the ventilation shaft, and emerges out the sidewalk grate on Greenwich St. at the corner of Battery Place across from Battery Park. The water rushes a few feet along the curb and down into a storm drain. "Millions of gallons going back to the Hudson River, back to where it came from, back where it belongs," says Peck.

Behind the third reach car, and the flatbed car, is the diesel locomotive that pushes the entire apparatus to its current location.

The crews work in shifts but largely stay in the train 24 hours, sleeping in the "crew rooms" that are already part of the configuration.

The pump trains were all built in the MTA's own workshops utilizing retired train cars.

The MTA posted this very good video tour of the train showing it in operation:

 

Read the entire, informative article in the Daily News HERE.
Business Insider has a 17-image photo gallery of the pump train at work HERE.

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Posted by on November 5, 2012 • Filed under: apparatus, current events, News • Tagged: ,