FA Volume 20 Issue 3

The Latest

Combating Wildfires Using Satellite/Cellular Technology

Throughout time, wildfires have been a valuable resource management tool to maintain ecological conditions. But as population throughout the world increases, communities are expanding beyond urban areas into what was once wilderness. This causes great conflict with these natural occurrences.

Fire Technology & Industry Innovation

Street Smarts from a Driver’s Perspective: the Walk-Around

All my life I wanted to drive a fire truck. The driver-operator of today is faced with changes and challenges because of many variables and outside parties. Why is this?

Fire Apparatus

Onboard Foam Delivery Systems

The use of onboard foam delivery systems is becoming more and more common in our fire service.

Fire Apparatus

“Typing” of Fire Departments

In my recent column about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) possibly developing standards for the emergency responder community, I mentioned a suggestion from the July 2014 OSHA stakeholder meeting about "typing" fire departments.

Fire Apparatus

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More FA Volume 20 Issue 3

Aerial Apparatus Inspections and Safety

Christian P. Koop I recently wrote an article on basic preventive maintenance (PM) and how important it is for apparatus operators to perform their…

Fire Apparatus Ladder Trucks

Staffing and Truck Operations

Recent research performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has shed a lot of light on fire behavior and the science behind fire development.

Fire Apparatus

The HydroVent™ Nozzle

1963, Downtown Chicago, Illiniois-Firefighter Jim "Jaws" O'Donnell, of Truck 3, is responding to another midrise apartment fire with reported smoke and flames visible.

Equipment

The Fire Service Charts Its Own Path to Broadband

Walk into a firehouse anywhere and you're likely to hear firefighters talking about broadband. The fuel for these discussions often is news of a new, more powerful consumer smartphone. Firefighters want access to the capabilities consumer devices deliver.

Equipment

Justifying Proprietary Purchasing Specifications

Industry experts and fire service commentators weighing in on purchasing fire apparatus advocate writing open or performance specifications (specs). At the same time, they usually demonize proprietary specs as being unethical, morally incorrect, political hot potatoes, perhaps illegal, never in a purchaser's best interests, and giving preferred vendors blank checks.

Fire Apparatus

The True Cost of Operating Worn-Out Fire Apparatus

Every fire department-whether urban or rural, large or small, career or volunteer-has a basic and ongoing moral and legal responsibility to provide safe and functional fire apparatus and equipment for use by its personnel in performing their duties. But, these are tough economic times, and a fleet of fire apparatus represents a huge capital investment for any department.

Fire Apparatus

Kickin’ Tires; Makin’ Wish Lists

With FDIC International 2015 set to take place at the end of this month, the fire service trade show season is officially underway.

FDIC Fire Apparatus

Do’s and Don’ts of Fire Station Design

Some considerations before you design a station that you will have to live with for years to come. DON COLLINS

Station Features The Fire Station