FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL.152, NO.2, FEBRUARY 1999
42 FDIC SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
47 FIVE TACTICS FOR ACHIEVING FIRE SAFETY SUCCESS
Mark Chlibb Understanding the five 'Ts" information, insight, innovation, integration,
and involvement will lead to strategic success in engineering, education, and enforcement.
61 CHEMICAL AGENTS AS WEAPONS: MEDICAL IMPLICATIONS
Ken Miller, M«D»« Ph.D. Terrorism is a sad fact of life in modern society, and fire
departments, particularly those that provide emergency medical service in their communities,
must know how to handle exposures from chemicals that may be used as weapons.
71 STANDPIPE SYSTEM OPERATIONS: THE STANDPIPE KIT
Andrew A* Fredericks A well-equipped standpipe kit can make usually difficult
standpipe operations run more smoothly. Learn kit components, causes of standpipe water sup-
ply problems, and how the engine company chauffeur is key to troubleshooting such problems.
89 COMPANY STANDARDS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TESTING
John Lecuyer Is your department in a physical performance testing dilemma? This Col-
orado department uses a company-based approach to ensuring team and individual proficiency.
95 LEARNING TO BECOME A BORN LEADER
Michael F« Slaley Are you a good leader? It's not so much what you do but what you can
get others to do. How to create a work environment where all can excel and become future leaders.
99 SECURITY SYSTEM PRESENTS EGRESS AND ENTRY CHALLENGES
Rcsyxnond Oroasco A new type of security system for doors and windows in rehabbed
make it to your neighborhood? to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
make it to your neighborhood? To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
107 FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TIMES VS. FLASHOVER
John R« Waters What would it take to make a difference in responding to a fire to save the
5,000 people who die in fires each year? A true commitment to the sprinkler solution, says the
author.
11 5 IMPROVING COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY AND EDUCATION
Alexander D« Lobeto Prudent fire departments maintain ahigh profile in the com-
munity to promote fire safety and education.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
Building Bridges to the 21st Century"
14 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"RIT Rope Drag"
16 FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
So You Have to Inspect ... A Movie Theater"
18 INDUSTRIAL FIRE SAFETY
"Storage Practices in Warehouses and
Distribution Center"
24 NEWS IN BRIEF
30 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
121 PREPLANNING BUILDING HAZARDS
122 HAZ MAT: ON THE LINE
124 FIRE COMMENTARY
"Dealing with Civilians at Fire Scenes"
127 TECHNOLOGY TODAY
"The Use of Fiber Optics in a
Networked Fire Alarm System"
129 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
133 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
140 COMING EVENTS
143 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
147 NAMES IN THE NEWS
148 MAIL-ORDER MARKETPLACE
149 CLASSIFIEDS
152 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Roof Operations, Part 2"
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL. 152, NO. 4 APRIL .1999,
[Features]
49 TIMES SQUARE SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSE
Ray Downey In a rnultiagency operation that lasted 26 days, firefighters work a col la
that paralyzes a busy New York City business district and leaves 500 people temporal
homeless.
63 NOZZLES AND HANDLINES FOR INTERIOR OPERATIONS
David Wood Do you have SOPs for aggressive interior attack operations—and havethey
proven effective? A reexamination of your handline techniques may be in order.
79 ENGINE COMPANY SUPPORT OF RIT/FAST OPERATIONS
Andrews A. Fredericks While RIT/FAST teams are focused on saving our own,who
is focused on protecting the teams? The prompt application of water at the scene is theonly
chance all members have to get out safely. With the sidebar "The RIT/FAST Engine: Opera-
tional Guidelines" by Lorry Cohen.
97 THE PRE-ALARM DUTIES OF THE ENGINE CAPTAIN
Scott Barry Until the chief arrives, the engine captain most often is in charge, and his
early actions could mean the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful firefight.
107 HIGH-RISE STANDPIPE FLOW TEST
Gerald A. Trcicy What effect on flow and pressure do the second and third handlin
have in a high-rise standpipe operation? This test seeks to answer the question.
111 THE NEW NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM
Steven T. Worley It is hoped that this innovative new system will provide direction
reducing the American fire problem.
115 FIRES IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS: INITIAL SIZE-UP CRUCIAL
William Shouldis Business districts should be one of your "bread and butter" oper
tions. What are the key elements for the successful handling of these incidents?
121 "FAILING" YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS: THE VALUE OF NEGATIVE THINKING
Michael F. Staley Learning how to fail is an important part of being a successfl
leader and mastering failure takes practice.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"A Treciation Curve"
14 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Creative Funding for Your Department's
Dream Project"
20 INDUSTRIAL FIRE SAFETY
"Fire Operations at Storage Buildings"
28 NEWS IN BRIEF
42 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
123 PREPLANNING BOILDIN6 HAZARDS
124 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
127 COMING EVENTS
128 CLASSIFIEDS
132 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Burning Questions, Part I"
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL.152, NO.5, MAY. 1999,
63 BIG TRUCK, SMALL TOWN
Dave Gallagher As smaller towns become more "urbanized," they need fire depart-
ments that can keep up with the challenges that new growth brings. And the departments need
adequate training and equipment to ensure aggressive truck company operations at structure
fires.
75 OIL WELL EXPLOSION
Curl Taylor and Michael C. Waits It was one of the worst oil field acccidents to
happen in the United States, leaving seven workers dead and five critically injured. Among the
lessons: the importance of a "go slow" approach, ICS, staging, critical incident stress debrief-
ing, scene control, and preplanning resources.
85 THE SAFE USE OF POWER SAWS
Bob Pressler They are basic fireground tools for ventilation, forcible entry, and other
tasks. Are you confident that your department is proficient enough in the basic uses of such
tools?
89 HEATING METHOD CAN PLAY ROLE IN FIRE
Ronald J. Bakosnik Investigators should be thoroughly familiar with less prevalent
home-heating methods, as evidenced by this case, in which pipes from steam heat played a
major role in the fire even though the origin was determined to be electrical.
93 STRETCHING AND OPERATING THE FIRST LINE
Tim Kletl Efficient fire extinguishment depends in large part on the engine company offi-
cer's size-up, his radio report to incoming units, and his expediency in ordering and overseeing
the stretching of the first line to get water on the fire quickly.
105 RESPONDING TO FIRES IN INDOSTRIAL OVENS
Bill Glistin Ovens and fire procedures vary greatly from facility to facility, so what is a
department to do? Work with oven manufacturers, on-site engineers and other plant personnel,
and loss-control engineers to develop a working knowledge of and preplan for such facilities in
your response district.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
10 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"Part-Time Officer, Full-Time Responsibility"
30 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Using Adult Learning Techniques
ininstruction"
42 ROUNDTABLE
"Using the Elevator at Structure Fires"
52 NEWS IN BRIEF
58 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
112 APPARATUS: THE SHOPS
"Diesel Cooling System Service"
117 WHAT WE LEARNED
"Even 'Successful' Incidents Can Teach
Valuable Lessons"
118 FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
"Fire Academy for Kids"
120 THE OL' PROFESSOR
"The Dangerous 'Five Classes of
Buildings'"
126 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
130 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
133 COMING EVENTS
135 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
135 NAMES IN THE NEWS
137 CLASSIFIEDS
140 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Burning Questions, Part 2"
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOLUME 152, NOUMBER 3, MARCH 1999
[Features]
63 HIGH-RISE FIREFIGHTING AMD STANDPIPE TRAINING
The focus is on realistic training, preplanning, and proper equipinenl. With the uriicles "Prepar-
ing Your Firefighters for the Worst" by David M. McGrail; "Standpipe Operations at
Health Care Occupancies" by John Grasso and lack J. Murphy. Jr', and "Getting
Water to the Upper Floors of a High-Rise Fire with No Slandpipe" by Thomas Roberts.
103 TECHNICAL RESCUE INVOLVING BIG TRUCKS: A CASE STUDY
Gary Siegel—A garbage truck hits a large commercial signpost, which becomes imbedded in
the truck, trapping the driver. Responder concerns include stabilization of the large vehicle on an
incline, electrocution hazards, leaking diesci fuel, and disenlangleinent/extrication of the driver.
109 FIRE-BASED EMS AND THE FLSA''FIREFIGHTER EXEMPTION"
Alan D, Cohn—Are fire department EMS personnel classified as firefighters under the
FLSA? There is no clear answer, so fire service managers must carefully structure overtime
pay policies for such workers to avoid liability for not paying overtime properly.
123 INSTRUCTING THE INSTRUCTOR
Instruction techniques that have proven effective throughout the country—with the articles
"Staying Excited About Fire Service instruction" by John C. Lewis, Ed.D.; "Effective
Questioning Techniques" by John B. Sachen; and "Incident Simulations as a Training
Tool" by Robert Halton and Ted Nee.
145 THE USE OF CRANES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN RESCUE AND HAZ MAT
Mike Shannon—If properly operated at a rescue scene, heavy equipment can shorten res-
cue/recovery times and expose fewer rescuers to site dangers. Using such equipment requires
training and a good working relationship with local construction and equipment rental companies.
155 "IT'S JUST AN ALARM DROP!"
Koi W. Hiecyer—Taking a fire alarm seriously and expecting the worst will ensure there are no sur-
prises when you respond to a seemingly "routine" alarm and Find that fire is blowing out the windows.
163 TRAINING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: A LOOK AT THE NOMINEES
The 1999 Fire Department Instructors Conference marks the first time the Fire Engineering Train-
ing Achievement Award is given for an innovative, cost-effective, adaptable training program.
180 1399 FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE
An overview of seminars, exhibits, and special events.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"Performance-Based Award System for
Volunteer Retention"
16 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Basic Tools: The 2(1/2)-Gallon Water Extinguishe]
22 FIRE FOCUS
"Engine Company Operations"
32 FIRE COMMENTARY
"It's Time for Us to Reclaim Our Fire Service"
"Let's Get Back to the Basics ofFirefighting"
42 NEWS IN BRIEF
54 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
61 HAZ MAT: ON THE LIME
"Leaking Hazardous Waste"
189 WHAT WE LEARNED
"Long HandUnes and Hose Headers"
201 THE OL' PROFESSOR
"New York City Permits It, and They
Are Tough"
207 APPARATUS: THE SHOPS
"Apparatus Bidding: Specifying the
Rules of Engagement"
213 INNOVATIONS: HOMEGROWN
"Fire Prevention Week: Stanley's
Fire Safety"
214 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
223 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
237 COMING EVENTS
243 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
247 MAIL-ORDER MARKETPLACE
248 CLASSIFIEDS
252 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Roof Operations, Part 3"
Second-class postage paid al Tulsa, OK 74120.
________________________________________________
FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL. 152, NO. 6, JUNE 1999
[Features]
THE "FIRE" BILL: THIS IS THE YEAR 55
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., who recently introduced the FireFighter Investment and
Response Enhancement Act in the House, urges the fire service to generate the support needed to
pass this important piece of legislation. You deserve to be trained, you deserve to be equipped,
you deserve to be prepared. Nothing less is acceptable," he emphasizes. Included are the text of
the bill and current cosponsors.
TRAIN DISASTERS TEST THE FIRE SERUICE 61
Is your department prepared for an accident of the magnitude of a train wreck, with possible
mass casualties, haz mat concerns from cargo, and site access problems, among others? Valu-
able lessons can be learned from the incidents described in "Tragedy on the City of New
Orleans' by Ed Si. Louis and Steve Wilder and "Conrail Train Derailment" by Gary
Siegel.
ATLANTA MILL FIRE AND HELICOPTER RESCUE 83
J. David Rhodes and Malt Moseley—Rapid fire spread in an Atlanta cotton mill
under renovation produced a fire of conflagration proportions and necessitated the spectacular
rescue of a worker trapped 225 feet above the fire.
ARE ORIGIN-AND-CAUSE INVESTIGATORS "FIRE SCIENTISTS"? 96
Michael Pavlisin and Sheila K. Horan— Although NFPA 921 is a guide, it is
given credence by many fire investigators and, as a result, may be used as a weapon in their
cross-examination at a trial. The authors look at how recent court decisions affect investigators
seeking to comply with the standard.
UNUSUAL TOOLS FOR UNUSUAL RESCUE CALLS 109
Lorry Collins—When a truck, its load of lumber, and two workers end up at the bottom of
a steep canyon, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has to find new uses for available
resources—a bulldozer, a construction sled, and a helicopter—to bring the incident to a safe
and successful conclusion.
EDITOR'S OPINION 4
VOLUNTEERS CORNER 8
Adapting Apparatus for High-Water Rescue
and Evacuation"
TRAINING NOTEBOOK 16
"Using Air Tools as Rescue Tools"
THE RESCUE COMPANY 28
" 'Man in a Machine' "
RESCUE POINTS TO PONDER 36
NEWS IN BRIEF 44
LEXERS TO THE EDITOR 50
HAZ MAT: ON THE LINE 119
"Hydrofluoric Acid Causes Death of
Sanitation Worker"
PREPLANNING BUILDING HAZARDS 122
INNOVATIONS: HOMEGROWN 123
"Inexpensive Portable Lighting"
FROM THE NFAAA 124
APPARATUS DELIVERIES 126
PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA 129
COMING EVENTS 135
CLASSIFIEDS 137
RANDOM THOUGHTS 140
"Hose StufF
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL. 152, NO. 7, JULY
[Features]
48 HIGH-RISE/STANDPIPE HOSE PACKS: A PRIMER, PARTI
David M. McGrclil—Carrying a hose pack in a high-rise or standpipe-equipped building
does not have to be a labor-intensive ordeal. Learn a new simple and inexpensive method of
packing, storing, and transporting this vital tool.
55 PRESSURE EFFECTS ON AND DEFORMATION OF WASTE CONTAINERS
Michael D. Larranaga, CFPS; David L. Volz; and FredN* Bolton,
PE, CIH—Many haz-rnat teams may not know how to approach bulging drums or be aware
of the dangers. New tests show the effects of pressure on various size drums; the conclusions
will help responders assess the safety hazards at such incidents.
65 SEARCH IN THE MODERN ENVIRONMENT
Doucf Leihbacher—New synthetic furnishing materials, better clothing protection, and
dangerous fire phenomena can add to the problems of the searching fi refighter. Can you recog-
nize the dangers so you can bring the search to a successful conclusion for you and the victim?
77 PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY AODITING
Alien Clark—In this risky profession, a safety audit can help protect your department's
most valuable commodity—its members. A step-by-step guide to evaluating your health and
safety program, with sample forms and checklists.
83 CHASING DOWN ELECTRICAL FIRES
Frank C. Montacyna—Locating and controlling fires caused by electrical systems can
be a frustrating, even embarrassing, operation. Here are some ways to become more efficient at
these incidents. With the sidebar "Thermal Imaging and Heat Detection" by Sleven P.
Woodworth.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"Raising Your Department's Standard"
16 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Tips and Tools for Top-Floor Fires"
26 THE RESCUE COMPANY
"High-Angle Operation in Times Square"
31 NEWS IN BRIEF
44 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
87 THE OL' PROFESSOR
"I Would Do the Same Thing Again'"
93 APPARATUS: THE SHOPS
"Diesel Cooling System Service, Part 2"
95 TOOLS OF THE TRADE
"Thermal Imaging Technology: What's
Right for Your Department?"
98 FROM THE NFAAA
102 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
104 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
107 COMING EVENTS
108 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
113 CLASSIFIEDS
116 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"More Hose StulT"
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL. 152, NO. 8, AUGUST 1999
[Features]
61 HIGH-RISE/STANDPIPE HOSE PACKS: A PRIMER, PART 2
David M. McGrail—A proper, rapid stretch is the most important benefit of u^ing the
high-rise hose pack.
79 RESOURCE ALLOCATION STUDY LEADS TO MORE EFFICIENT COVERAGE
Timothy T. Kuehnert—Analyzing current and future fire station locations enables the
Tulsa Fire Department to evaluate its resource needs, which led to better coverage and
decreased response times.
93 RESCUE CHALLENGE: MOVING HEAVY OBJECTS
Michael G. Brown—Exercises in moving heavy objects with simple hand tools build
teamwork, resourcefulness, and ingenuity—all qualities you need at the rescue site. With the
sidebar "Rescue Challenge '99" by David Bogoz and Kenneih E. Sail elder.
107 WRITING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES
John Lee Cook, Jr.—Effective rules and procedures offer numerous advantages to the
fire department and are vital to the management of your service product.
118 HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL FIRE, TAMPA, FLORIDA
Emilio F.Salabarria and Leslie P. Ennis—Firefighters face many obstacles—
overcrowded stairwells filled with panicky senior citizens, lack of sprinklers and a public
address system, and erroneous first reports—at this three-alarm fire.
125 THE IMPACT OF STAFFING LEVELS AND FIRE SEVERITY ON INJURIES
Michael J. Vatter—The fire service must do a better job of educating lawmakers and the
public about the importance of adequate staffing and the relationship between low staffing lev-
els and fireground injuries.
135 A ONE-DAY COLLAPSE RESCUE TRAINING PROGRAM
John O'Connell—A real collapsed structure teaches students about types of void spaces
and other collapse-related hazards and concerns.
143 STATIC WATER SUPPLY CHALLENGES: AUSTRALIA'S SOLUTION
Bruce Covey-—To answer the growing wildland interface threat, backyard swimming
pools are identified and preplanned to help combat water supply shortages during severe fires.
151 FIRE SERVICE DEPLOYMENT ANALYSIS: A BLUEPRINT
Mark Chubb—Methods of analyzing and optimizing the delivery of fire services.
159 INTERNSHIPS LINK ACADEMIC AND ACTUAL
Tom Wolf and Patrick Reynolds—The Open Learning Fire Service Program at the
University of Cincinnati shows whether interns have the "right stuff' to enter the fire service.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"Whose Crisis?"
16 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Responding to a Problem Firefighter"
22 ROUNDTABLE
"Positive-Pressure Ventilation"
36 APPARATUS: THE SHOPS
"Emergency Vehicles and Y2K"
44 NEWS IN BRIEF
54 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
162 PREPLANNING BUILDING HAZARDS
165 ONE-MINUTE MOTIVATOR
'Twenty-Two Ways to Rediscover Your Job"
166 THE FIREFIGHTER'S BOOKSHELF
"The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"
169 FROM THE NFAAA
"The National Fire Academy and the Future"
170 TECHNOLOGY TODAY
"Putting a Heat Senior to the Test"
180 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
182 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
186 COMING EVENTS
190 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
190 NAMES IN THE NEWS
192 CLASSIFIEDS
196 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Tower Ladders"
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FIRE ENGINEERING
VOL. 152, NO. 9, SEPTEMBER 1999
[Features]
53 MANAGING CHEMICAL EXPOSURES: THE ENGINE COMPANY PERSPECTIVE
Rob Schnepp—You don't have to be a doctor or a haz-mat specialist to safely treat victims
of chemical exposure. The author outlines basic procedures for dealing with exposed victims,
including identifying the chemical exposure; safely removing the victim; performing decon on
yourself, your equipment, and the victim; and initiating medical treatment.
63 MULTIROOM FIRES IN RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES
David Wood—A fire involving several rooms in a dwelling necessitates aggressive interior
attack with the initial handline coupled with adequate water flows and application. Particular
characteristics—for example, a fire in a large, open area; a railroad flat layout; several rooms
off a long hallway; fire in the ceiling—require specific tactics.
71 FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO THE COLUMBINE TRAGEDY
Mark Wallace and Susan Brightmire—It is becoming an all-too-familiar story in
the news: students bringing weapons to school and killing other students. Is your department
prepared for such a tragic, stressful event such as this mass-casualty incident? Fire/EMS opera-
tions at Columbine yield many lessons learned.
79 FALL PREPLANNING FOR SAFE ICE RESCUE OPERATIONS, PARTI
Andrea Zaieres and Wall "Bulch" Hendrick—What was the most important
lesson learned from many surface ice rescue incidents? That rescuers were not prepared—they
had no SOPs, and the ICS just fell apart. They key to success is preplanning: It will give you
those crucial extra few minutes your victim may need to survive.
84 THE BENEFITS OF A PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATION PROGRAM
Michael A. Konoza, BS (EMS), NREMT-P—Defibrillation is not just for fire and
EMS personnel anymore. Defibrillators are cropping up in shopping malls,' on airplanes, in police
cruisers, in large high-rises, and other places with large gatherings of people. Such a program—
which by some estimates may prevent at least 20,000 deaths a year—is worth looking into.
[Departments]
4 EDITOR'S OPINION
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
"The Volunteer Fire Service as 'Deep Play'"
18 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
"Determining Target Heights for Ground
Ladders: The Click System"
26 ROUNDTABLE
"Nozzles"
38 FIRE FOCUS
"Fireground Searches"
44 NEWS IN BRIEF
48 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
89 THE OL* PROFESSOR
"Should There Be a Smoke
Control Sector?"
97 FROM THE NFAAA
"The Secret to Attending the NFA"
101 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
102 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
104 COMING EVENTS
103 CLASSIFIEDS
108 RANDOM THOUGHTS
"Letters ...I Get Letters"
____________________________________