Emergency Vehicles and Operation News

Innovative Rigs on the Street: Bowmansville’s Aerial Tower

Department's first ladder truck is designed for myriad of responses

By Tom W. Shand

, Firehouse.Com Contributor

Web Exclusive included with this article

Innovative rigs can come in all shapes and sizes and often with very different intended purposes for which they were acquired. In our Innovative Rigs on the Street series so far we have reviewed three pumpers, one CAFS equipped pumper, a tractor drawn aerial ladder and a brush unit designed to operate in the urban interface.

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Innovative Rigs on the Street: Friendship's Attack Engine

Unit features a variety of pre-connected hoselines for any fire situation

By Tom W. Shand

, Firehouse.Com Contributor -

Web Exclusive included with this article

So far in our Innovative Rigs on the Street series we have visited locations in California, Maryland and Pennsylvania to identify innovative pieces of apparatus that have been well designed to serve their respective communities.

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Apparatus Roundup: New Technologies and Designs Unveiled at FDIC 2010

By Ed Ballam, Firehouse.com News -
Web Exclusive included with this article

With only about six weeks between the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis and the Interschutz international show in Leipzig, Germany, which is arguably the largest fire show in the world, some manufacturers were saving their big unveilings for the show in Germany, which happens only every five years.

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Innovative Rigs on the Street: Citizens' First-Out Engine

Layout and set up increase maximum effectiveness on fireground

By Tom W. Shand

, Firehouse.Com Contributor -

Web Exclusive included with this article

The Citizens Fire Company #1 in Lebanon County, PA, operates from a single fire station located in the Borough of Palmyra. The station is located at 21 North College St. and is under the command of Chief Dave Dugan. Company 1 protects approximately 7,200 residents in the borough as well as the areas within North Londonderry Township. The station responded to 711 calls during 2009, including runs with neighboring Lebanon County departments in Campbelltown and Annville as well as the Hershey Fire Department in nearby Dauphin County.

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Apparatus Maintenance: Severe Conditions Require Extra Apparatus Care

By Ed Ballam

, Firehouse.com News
Web Exclusive included with this article

Editor's Note: This article is one of five that that features web exclusive coverage of the "Apparatus Maintenance: Ensuring Extreme Service in the Toughest Conditions" feature starting on page 56 of the May issue of Firehouse Magazine. Look for additional articles and podcasts below.

Fire apparatus and emergency equipment must respond in any weather, extreme heat, bitter cold, flooding, dusty conditions, over pothole-filled roads - you name it it's got to be able to get there.

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Severe Service Maintenance: Caring for the Heart - Engines and Transmissions

By Ed Ballam

, Firehouse.com News -
Web Exclusive included with this article

The engine and transmission could arguable be considered the heart of any apparatus. And "cardiac care" is critical for virtually anything that is required to operate full-bore in tough conditions.

Water and dust and dirt are not friends of most all moving parts, particularly engines and transmissions.

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Severe Service Maintenance: Heating, Cooling and Climate Control

By Ed Ballam

, Firehouse.com News -
Web Exclusive included with this article

Heating and cooling apparatus that is required to perform in extreme conditions can be challenging. High temperatures can cause engine overheating and failure very quickly if not kept in check.

Conversely, extreme cold can make engines not run efficiently and freeze up if the coolant level is not appropriate.

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Severe Service Maintenance: Pump and Body Considerations

By Ed Ballam

, Firehouse.com News -
Web Exclusive included with this article

One might not think much needs to be done to the body in severe service, or even the pump for that matter, but just the opposite is true.

Think about the salt and calcium chloride that your own vehicles drive through seasonally or the mud and dust your pickup encounters annually if you live in those kinds of areas.

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Severe Service Maintenance: Undercarriage Care

By Ed Ballam

, Firehouse.com News -
Web Exclusive included with this article

Perhaps the most vulnerable part of any apparatus is its undercarriage and suspension.

Frames, springs, tires and related components are critical maintenance areas for apparatus used in severe conditions. It's where the proverbial rubber meets the road, and also the place that is most subjected to all the crud and dirt the elements can sling at them.

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Innovative Rigs on the Street: Miramar's Deployable Brush Unit

The unit is designed for structural and urban interface operations

By Tom W. Shand

, Firehouse.com Contributor -

Web Exclusive included with this article

For this month's installment of Innovative Rigs on the Street we traveled out to the west coast to visit the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar which is located in San Diego, CA. MCAS Miramar is home to the Third Marine Air Wing, which operates over 500 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft at the airfield. The base encompasses over 25,000 acres of land with a working population of 13,500 with over 5,000 fulltime residents. The fire department protects over 300 buildings with an additional 3,800 residential housing units planned for the future.