FA Volume 21 Issue 5

The Roseville (MN) Fire Department, situated north of the twin Minnesota cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, had to replace a 1990 custom pumper on a Volvo chassis but wanted a new pumper that was shorter, had a larger water tank, and had more horsepower from its diesel engine.

Mother Nature is constantly trying to push apparatus off the road. Be familiar with your district and where the curves are. Midway through a curve is not the time to realize you are driving too fast. CHRIS DALY

Geography of areas covered, types of structures protected, street layouts, firefighting tactics, and more dictate the designs for apparatus in the United States and countries across the Atlantic. ALAN M. PETRILLO  

Last month, I discussed the advantages of using a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to fight aircraft fires and took you through the events of a controlled burn aboard an aircraft fire simulator. In this column, I'll focus on the benefits of using a TIC to fight shipboard fires. The majority of firefighters are trained to battle structural fires, but a number of fire departments fight fires aboard ships. Using a TIC can be an effective tool for firefighters who face the challenges of a shipboard fire.