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OnSprinkler issue
once again rears its head
Dec. 24, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs called for mandatory sprinklers in all new residential buildings. The plea to the provincial government for changes to the Ontario Building Code followed a townhouse fire in Toronto in which a mother and two of her four children were killed just three days before Christmas.
OAFC president Richard Boyes, the fire chief in nearby Oakville, put it bluntly: “People are dying by code,” he said. “People are supposed to feel safe in their homes, yet people are still dying in homes that are built to code. The code doesn’t go far enough.”
The Toronto fire happened days after the North Carolina building code council vetoed a motion to form a committee to prepare a code amendment requiring sprinklers in residential buildings of 3,600 square feet or more. The council, made up of home builders, referred the issue to a different committee for review.
According to news reports from in Wilmington, N.C., three dozen uniformed firefighters, chiefs and marshals from across the state attended the council meeting to support a petition for the code change.
“We’re extremely disappointed,” Frank Blackley, president of the N.C. Fire Marshals Association, told WECT news. “The residential committee is made up of home builders. We know they’re not going to support sprinklers.”
In North Carolina, the proposed code change is, in part, a response to the fire in Ocean Isle Beach in October that killed seven college-age students. The municipal foot dragging is in stark contrast to the actions of councillors in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., where, as of Jan. 1, builders of new homes and commercial structures larger than 1,000 square feet must install sprinklers (a change from 5,000 square feet). The home builders association there opposed the change, saying it would be expensive, adding between $5,000 and $10,000 to the cost of a new home but the regulation is among the most strict in North America.
Fire Marshal David Douglas of Greensboro, N.C., said sprinklers run about one to two per cent of the cost of a new home, about the same as better-quality carpeting or installing granite kitchen counters.
In Ontario, two private member’s bills on mandatory sprinklers dating to 2004 died after second reading in the legislature.
“If this law was introduced years ago, these deaths might not have happened,” Kitchener, Ont., Fire Chief Tim Beckett told the Kitchener-Waterloo Record after the Toronto fire. Beckett, who is first vice president of the OAFC, noted that Ontario is the only province that doesn't make sprinkler systems mandatory in apartment buildings.
According to the OAFC, the range of cost to install residential sprinklers is between $1.50 and $3 per square foot. And, the association says, savings on property insurance for units with sprinklers can range from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
In Vancouver, B.C. and Scottsdale, Ariz., all new residential developments must include sprinkler systems. Since the regulations were introduced, there have been no fire deaths in homes with sprinklers and more than 90 per cent of all fires in these homes were contained by the operation of a single sprinkler.
What’s clear from a web search on residential sprinklers is that the arguments for them – safety, security, lower insurance costs – clearly outweigh the builders’ arguments of higher costs but the builders’ lobby appears to be stronger.
Similar to campaigns for seatbelts, healthy eating, no smoking and smoke detectors in homes, this issue requires a sea change in attitude. Perseverance pays. Put your public education divisions to work and make this a priority.
Editor Laura King lking@annexweb.com 905-847-9743
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Canucks show stuff at worlds
Canadian firefighters bring home hardware from U.S-held championships
by LAURA KING
There were fewer Canadian competitors than usual at the 2007 Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge but several of those who made the trek to Las Vegas in November came home world champions and a slew of others clocked top-10 finishes.
Mike Gilbert of St. Catharines Fire Rescue, a perennial Canadian competitor, claimed the over-40 category while Jimmy Kolar from the Sudbury Fire Department
took the over-45 title. In addition, Gilbert and Kolar teamed up and placed first in the over-40 tandem championship.
Equally impressive was the performance of Newfoundland’s Jack Hickey, who also brought home two world championship titles, in the over-50 and the chiefs categories. Hickey is the fire chief at the St. John’s Regional Fire Department.
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Canadian women’s team of Jacqueline Rasenberg and Denise Townshend, both veteran competitors, won the 2007 female tandem championship. In
addition, Rasenberg, of the Vaughan Fire Department in Ontario, came second in the women’s individual competition while Kathy Babcooke of the Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department in Nova Scotia claimed the bronze.
For Babcooke, the third-place finish was her best individual result at worlds in five trips. Babcooke says that although there were fewer Canadian competitors overall at the championships this year more women are competing.
“It’s really nice to see that it’s opening up more. It makes the competition a lot harder but that’s what you want,” she said.
In the tandem, Halifax’s Sherry Brown and Liane Tessier of Mahone Bay, N.S., teamed up and took the bronze medal while Andrea Speranza and Julie Read, both of Halifax, came fifth followed by Babcooke and teammate Melanie Edwards in sixth.
“Having us compete at this level and doing as well as we did kind of substantiates our role as women in the fire service,” Tessier told the Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
In the co-ed tandem, Tanya Phillips of the Vaughan Fire Department and Steve McCulloch of the Guelph Fire Department teamed up to earn the bronze while Rob Hebb and Adam MacNeil of Halifax came 13th in the male tandem event. (Phillips and former teammate Angie Gauthier hold the world record in the female tandem event from their 2006 run of 4:22:35.)
Mike Triff, who won the Canadian Scott FireFit Championships in Halifax in August with an impressive run of 1:20:05, was counting on a top-five finish for his team in Vegas but the heat, differences in the course and other challenges left the Maritimers a disappointing, albeit impressive, ninth in the team event.
“I don’t think we adjusted very well to the weather,” Triff said. “It was dry and hot and the course had enough differences that our lack of training on the course came into play. We were definitely aiming for top five.”
Competitors were unable to practice on the course because it was taken down each night and there was no time available for training. The numbers of stairs on the tower is different than on the Canadian course, as is the width and pitch of the stairs. In addition, there’s an extra pylon on the course and the force machine is different.
Triff’s team of Andrew Foote, Rob
PHOTO COURTESY WOLFVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Kathy Babcooke of the Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department in Nova Scotia claimed the bronze medal at the 2007 world combat challenge in Las Vegas in November.
Hebb, Adam MacNeil and Mike Sears ran the fastest relay in the first round of 64 teams but the bluenosers were eliminated in the next round because of a penalty for an uncontrolled or illegal handoff.
Next year, Triff says, the team will go to Vegas a few days earlier to acclimatize to the dry heat.
“Just the heat alone . . . the tempera-
World champions
World challenge – over 40
Mike Gilbert, St. Catharines Fire Rescue 1:31:49
World challenge – over 45
Jimmy Kolar, Sudbury Fire Department 1:45:89
World challenge – over 50 and chiefs Jack Hickey, St. John’s Fire Department 1:43:06
World challenge – female tandem
Jacqueline Rasenberg, Vaughan Fire Department, and Denise Townshend (Canadian Forces Fire Marshal) 2:11:13
World challenge – over 40 tandem
Mike Gilbert (St. Catharines Fire Rescue) and Jimmy Kolar (Sudbury Fire Deparement) 1:22:31
Results
Female tandem
1. Jacqueline Rasenberg, Vaughan Fire Department, and Denise Townshend, Canadian Forces Fire Marshal 2:11:13.
3. Halifax Female Team 2, Sherry Brown, Halifax, and Liane Tessier, Mahone Bay, N.S. 2:24:19
5. Andrea Speranza and Julie Read, Halifax Team 1 2:26:13
6. Melanie Edwards and Kathy Babcooke, Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department 2:27:52
Co-ed tandem
3. Tanya Phillips, Vaughan Fire Department, Steve McCulloch, Guelph Fire Department 1:40:93
6. Denise Townshend and Johnathan Welsh (Canadian Forces Fire Marshal) 1:50:41
Male tandem
13.Rob Hebb and Adam MacNeil, Halifax Team 1 1:31:37
14.Joe Triff and Mike Sears, Halifax Team 1 1:36:37
Over-40 Tandem
1. Jimmy Kolar, Sudbury Fire Depart-
tures were in the 80s. We were all having a hard time with that,” he said.
Hilary McRoberts, whose B.C.-based company, FireFit, administers the Scott FireFit Championships, said Canadian competitors have always been the cream of the crop at the world competition.
“They take this event super seriously and are breaking records all the time.”
Indeed, Gilbert holds the world record
ment, and Mike Gilbert, St. Catharines Fire Rescue 1:22:31
Relays – women
Andrea Speranza, Leanne Tessier, Julie Read and Sherry Brown, Halifax, made it to the consolation round of four
Relays – men
Sherbrooke, Que., DIFCO team made it to consolation round in a field of 64 teams
World Challenge Finals – team
8. Delta, B.C., Men in Black 4:58:38
9. Halifax Fire Team 1 - Joe Triff, Andrew Foote, Rob Hebb, Adam MacNeil, Mike Sears 5:03:84
World challenge finals – individual
4. Darren Hillman, Windsor Fire & Rescue 1:31.32
5. Mike Gilbert, St. Catharines Fire Rescue 1:31:49
15.Colin Macaulay, Vancouver Fire Department, 1:35:47
18.Steve McCulloch, Guelph Fire Department 1:35:74
23.Ryan Richards, Delta, B.C. Fire Department 1:36:49
35.Jamie McGarva, Delta, B.C. Fire Department 1:39:70
42.Andrew Foote, Halifax Fire Team 1 1:41:15
43.Mike Sears, Halifax Fire Team 1 1:41:29
44.Adam MacNeil, Halifax Fire Team 1 1:41:40
46.Rob Hebb, Hire Fire Team 1 1:42:12
47.Mark Millward, Delta, B.C. Fire Department 1:42:19
49.Joe Triff, Halifax Fire Team 1 1:42:38
52.Jack Hickey, St. John’s Regional Fire Department 1:43:06
57.Jimmy Kolar, Sudbury Fire Department 1:45:89
58.Eric Pichette, Sudbury Fire Department 1:46:66
65.Ron Arsenault, Moncton, N.B. 1:48:11
86.Cyril Fraser, Halifax Fire Team 2 1:56:73
in the over-40 category for his time of 1:26:65 in 2005, Hickey’s world record in the over-50 group of 1:40:52 in 2006 still stands and Rasenberg’s 2003 team holds the female relay record of 1:47:12.
Canadian regional events in the Scott FireFit Challenge start in May in Kamloops. For the complete schedule, visit www.firefit.com.
99.Yoland Deschenes, Canadian Forces Fire Marshal 2:06.97
120. Rob McNamara, Toronto Fire Service – Paul Davis System 2:22.29
124.Murray McCartney, Canadian Forces Fire Marshal 2 2:40:78
World challenge finals – over 40
1.Mike Gilbert, St. Catharines Fire Rescue 1:31.49
6.Mark Millward, Delta, B.C., Fire Department 1:42:19
19.Jacqueline Rasenburg, Vaughan Fire Department 2:37:95
20.Kathy Babcooke, Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department 2:40:06
World challenge finals – over 45
1.Jimmy Kolar, Sudbury Fire Department, 1:45:89
2.Ron Arsenault, Moncton Fire Department 1:48:11
5.Yoland Deschenes, Canadian Forces Fire Marshal 2:06.97
World challenge finals – over 50
1. Jack Hickey, St. John’s Regional Fire Department 1:43:06
2. Cyril Fraser, Halifax Fire Team 2 1:56:73
8. Rob McNamara, Toronto Fire Service 2:22;29
World challenge finals – 55-plus
7. Murray McCartney, Canadian Forces Fire Marshal 2, 2:40:78
World challenge final – chiefs
1. Jack Hickey, St. John’s Regional Fire Department 1:43:06
World challenge final – female
2. Jacqueline Rasenberg, Vaughan Fire Department 2:37:95
3. Kathy Babcooke, Wolfville Volunteer Fire Department 2:40:06
4. Tanya Phillips, Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services 2:44:74
6. Vanessa Moores, St. John’s Regional Fire Department 2:50:35
7. Danielle Comolli, Toronto Fire Services 2:52:97
Risk management requires thought
Two recent events got me thinking about our occupation. The first was a letter to an editor of a local paper that caused a bit of an uproar between emergency responders. In a nutshell, the letter writer was frustrated with an EMT who stayed outside an area where a stabbing had occurred. The letter writer felt the patient perished because the EMT did not enter the scene immediately. The writer went on to say that if he were in a similar situation he would have entered without delay and therefore the outcome may have been different. The second event was a TV show about firefighters. A district chief was asked about gambling within the fire department. He went on a bit of a rant and finished by saying “We are New York City firefighters. Every day of our lives is a gamble.”
People risk a lot every day. They do this to gain financially, personally and professionally. Many people go to casinos and play games of chance; others partake in sports such as rock climbing and some trade in the stock market. The common denominator is that they are all risking something to profit in some other way.
In most professional situations, firefighters should not gamble, rather we should be prepared to weigh the odds and do what will yield the best outcome for all. When casino-goers walk into a casino, the odds are instantly against them. We need to be better prepared than that. Sure, our job comes with certain inherent dangers and risks but, for the most part, we control the situations we face. We control how we train, the way we maintain our equipment and the teamwork we use to mitigate emergency situations in a safe manner. That is not to say that we do not have periods when we’re essential laying a bet. There are times when we cannot manage all of the occurrences at an incident but, with common sense, experience and training, we wager that we will make decisions that will result in positive outcomes.
training and competence, as well as those around me. I also looked at the equipment I was presented with and how I could use the gear in a variety of conditions.
VERN ELLIOTT
So, how do we measure and manage our own risk? First, look at your job within the department. As a firefighter you have a certain amount of accountability to the crew and to the public. You are also accountable to your family and friends outside the job. Next, look at the different situations you can be face – loss of property and/or life being the two main categories. How would you respond to either of them? Think about this carefully; you might not have enough time during the real thing. There is a big difference between responding when you know there are occupants in a structure fire and being asked to retrieve a safe full of investment documents from a fully involved house. Lastly, look at the resources at your disposal. Who are the people you work with that you trust? It should be everyone; if it isn’t, is more training required? Do you know all your equipment and its limits? If not, do you need different equipment; are improvements for existing systems required? Do you need more training or information? Do you need better gear? How well do you know your highest risk areas within the district? These are all items you should be carefully contemplating to develop your own risk possibilities.
In most professional situations, firefighters should not gamble, rather we should be prepared to weigh the odds and do what will yield the best outcome for all.
The question I asked myself was “What am I willing to risk on the job?” There are many dangerous occupations that we could get into and receive healthy remuneration for the dangerous work. We perform a job that requires us to place a great deal on the line and we do not receive any danger pay. So, have you thought about what you are willing to chance?
Very few of us have fought enough fires to have the experience to judge every situation properly. So, how do we know what we are willing to risk? I know that as a young firefighter I was ready to throw caution to the wind; I would have (and maybe I did) run into situations with little or no regard for the possibilities. As my experience (i.e., age) increased and my personal life changed to include more responsibilities, so did my personal risk management. I slowly began to look at my
Now you can evaluate your risk factors and run the different scenarios. Develop your own controls to mitigate stress and risk. Decide what situations would cause you to “fold your cards” and those that would have you “double down.” Develop a system of working through the possibilities so you know what you are capable of in the different scenarios. Obviously, you cannot plan for everything but if you have an understanding of your limitations then decisions may come easier at critical times. Hopefully, you will never have to use this system but if the need ever arises you should be somewhat prepared.
Our job has risk; not as much risk as some other occupations such as underground mining or crab fishing but we are willing to risk our lives for the basic needs of others? Ultimately, should we be risking our lives for anything less? I don’t know the real answer to this but if emergency responders perish in an empty warehouse have they done so for the fundamental needs of someone else?
Vern Elliott has 14 years’ experience in emergency services in municipal and industrial departments as a firefighter/paramedic. He works with Strathcona County Emergency Services in Alberta.
Blogger Peter Sells tells it like it is
Peter Sells’ FlashPoint column in our sister magazine, Fire Fighting in Canada, generates lots of feedback but now readers can respond directly to the thoughts and opinions in Peter’s FlashPoint blog at www.firefightingincanada.com. Join the always spirited and sometimes controversial conversation on two hatters, seatbelts or residential sprinklers. Let us know what you think!
Tim Beebe, the fire chief in Upsala, Ont., looks at the lighter side of fire fighting in his new online column, Spontaneous
“Upsala Fire Department, we have a report of a two-vehicle collision involving tractor trailers, kilometre 12, Graham Road, ambulance is requesting assistance, time out 02:45.” Nothing out of the ordinary for a volunteer fire department, right? Except that Graham Road winds through a vast area of no-man’s land, meaning that it doesn’t belong to any fire response area, so we really aren’t supposed to go there . . . Read the full column online at www.firefightingincanada.com
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B.C. department learns lessons from devastating crash
Recommendations include keeping meticulous maintenance records
by STEVE SORENSEN
When members of the fire service are paged to attend to motor vehicle accidents it’s usually just another day on the job. But when members of the Sooke Fire Department were paged to an accident just 300 metres from their own station, the scene that met them was anything but routine.
Oct. 6, 2006, was a typical fall day in Sooke, B.C. The morning skies were overcast and a light rain was falling – the first rain to fall after a very long dry spell.
Capt. Matt Barney was returning to Station 1 from Station 2 with the Sooke Fire Department’s heavy rescue truck for some regular maintenance work. He was about 300 metres from the fire station when a white Honda CRX suddenly crossed the centre line, skidding towards him.
Braking quickly and swerving the rescue
truck to the right could not prevent the collision. The little sports car was no match for the heavy fire truck as the passenger side of the car impacted with the extended front bumper.
Fire Chief Bob Kelsey was following the truck back to the fire station and witnessed the crash. He immediately placed a call for assistance. Other members of the fire department, along with the RCMP and a provincial ambulance crew, were quickly on scene to extricate the 17-year-old female driver of the Honda.
Unfortunately, the popular teenager, who was on her way to classes at the local high school, was killed instantly in the crash. Uninjured but obviously very shaken, Capt. Barney was removed from the scene. The force of the crash completely destroyed the Honda. The impact forced the passenger side of the car through to the driver’s side, leaving the car only about 18 inches wide at the driver’s seat. The box of
The 17-year-old female occupant of a Honda CRX was killed when the car impacted with the Sooke Fire Department’s heavy rescue vehicle on a rain-slicked curve just 300 metres from the fire station.
the heavy rescue truck slid forward on the chassis and impacted the back of the cab, buckling the doors. The frame of the truck was protruding about six inches out the back of the rescue body. The steering in the truck was also broken. It was later determined that the car was travelling about 70 km/hr and the rescue truck was going between 40 and 45 km/hr when the crash occurred. The speed limit on this section of road is 50 km/hr.
The investigation
The investigation was extensive and
“Our fire department recycles used rechargeable batteries and cell phones. So should you.”
We protect our citizens and we protect our environment. The fire stations in our department recycle the used rechargeable batteries in their mission-critical equipment such as two-way radios, cell phones, portable defibrillators and cordless power tools. With RBRC as our partner, recycling is easy and free! RBRC has enrolled more than 4,300 public agencies and recycled millions of pounds of rechargeable batteries and cell phones since 1996. Get started today at www.call2recycle.org or call toll free 1-877-723-1297. RBRC. Responsible Recycling.
Anthony Peluso Lieutenant of Fire Station #79 Montreal, Quebec
The fire captain was cleared of any wrongdoing in the October 2006 accident but the crash caused the department to look more carefully at its record keeping and rules and regulations governing its vehicles.
exhaus tive. The road was immediately closed and detours were set up. This closure was in place for almost seven hours while several agencies investigated, including:
• Local RCMP
• RCMP traffic analysts
• Coroner
• Provincial highways engineers
• Provincial commercial motor vehicle inspectors
• Workers Compensation Board
Some of the items investigated by these agencies included:
• Capt. Barney’s driving record and his driver training records;
• Weekly vehicle inspection trip reports and vehicle log. (The Sooke Volunteer Fire Department completes a weekly vehicle and air-brake inspection on all apparatus at the beginning of each weekly training session.);
• All vehicle maintenance records;
• The truck was weighed to ensure it was not overloaded;
• Analysis of the accident scene;
• Mechanical inspection of both vehicles involved.
Lessons learned
As a result of this tragic accident, the
Steve Sorensen is the deputy fire chief in Sooke, British Columbia. PHOTOS COURTESY STEVE SORENSEN
department learned a number of vital lessons.
• A certified driver training program is essential.
• Maintenance records of all vehicles must be kept and stored.
• Pre- or post-trip reports must be completed on all apparatus.
• Annual provincial motor vehicle inspections must be completed.
• We learned that most fire apparatus are overweight for the roads. While the SFD vehicles are not overweight on their axle ratings, some of the units are overweight for B.C. roads. This is especially true for pumper trucks with largecapacity water tanks. We found that all three of our pumper trucks (each with a 1,000-gallon tank) are overweight. We have since obtained overweight permits from the provincial commercial vehicle inspectors who were very helpful after this incident. Fortunately the rescue truck was not found to be overweight or this could have had serious repercussions for the fire
department and municipality.
•This can happen to any one at any time.
• Vehicle checks and maintenance records DO NOT COUNT if they are not documented and records maintained.
Outcome
The final investigation determined that Capt. Barney was not at fault for the accident. According to the accident report, the young driver, with little driving experience, was going too fast for road conditions and was unable to overcome the skid as she rounded the corner where the incident occurred.
The fire department and municipality were also found to be not at fault due in large part to our driver-training program, maintenance program and record keeping. Even the teen’s family took the time to call Capt. Barney, offer their sympathies and let him know that they did not blame him for the accident.
For more information, call your local Globe dealer or Safedesign.
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Coquitlam, British Columbia 800-667-3362
Calgary, Alberta 800-661-9227
Edmonton, Alberta 800-222-6473
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Prince George, British Columbia 250-960-4300
QUEBEC
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Industrial Scientific introduces
MX6 iBrid gas monitor
The New MX6 iBrid multi-gas monitor from Industrial Scientific Corp. is an effective tool for protecting fire-service personnel from dangerous chemicals and by-product gases of methamphetamine production. Potential dangers to fire personnel include toxic gases such as phosphine, ammonia and hydrogen chloride as well as explosive conditions that can be caused by volatile chemical ingredients or the mixing of oxygen and phosphine in certain concentrations. The MX6 provides the dependability, adaptability and durability to ensure the safety of responders. For more information visit www.indsci.com.
AirHAWK unveils new blower motors
AirHAWK Air Purification Systems has introduced new blower motors that operate on one-half the power of standard motors. AirHAWK 3000 XL units designed for firehouse applications are ETL certified to the UL 507 standard and offer a lifetime warranty. The new motor assembly also produces greater airflow for maximum effectiveness in removing diesel exhaust, incident-related pollution and circulating clean air back into the firehouse. The 3000 XL chassis is 16-gauge steel and designed to suspend from the ceiling. Units have chemical-resistant, baked enamel epoxy finishes. Visit www.airhawksystems.com for details.
Hydrant wrench needs backers
Invention Submission Corp. says one of its clients, an inventor from Kamas, Utah, has designed a modified fire hydrant wrench that could enhance protection of lives and property. The inventor has created a prototype.
The Fast Fire Response would be designed for faster rotation than conventional firehydrant wrenches. The sturdy tool would increase the speed at which hoses could be deployed at a fire, which could result in the ability to put out fires more quickly and efficiently.
The inventor, a firefighter, came up with the idea through occupational experience. “I was frustrated with how long it takes to open fire hydrants using conventional wrenches. I made this tool for faster rotation,” he said. “It offers quicker set up times at a fire scene for the fire service because it’s a faster, more efficient way to open and close fire hydrants.”
The original design was submitted to the Salt Lake City office of Invention Submission Corp. It is available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, visit our www.inventhelp.com.
Draeger releases fireground tracking devices
Thompson, Manitoba
204-778-7123
Safety equipment manufacturer Draeger Safety KG & Co. KGaA has introduced a new line of life-saving products for tracking downed firefighters.
Draeger entered into an exclusive manufacturing and supply agreement in December with Exit Technologies of Boulder, Colo., developer of the Tracker FRT (Firefighter Rescue Transceiver) and ET (Egress Transmitter). Through this agreement, Draeger launched two fireground tracking products at the 2007 Fire-Rescue International show in Atlanta, under the names Draeger FRT 1000 and Draeger ETR 1000.
The Draeger FRT 1000 is a low-frequency 457 kHz radio transmitter and receiver
In today’s fast-changing world where your Fire / Rescue mission is 80% Rescue, having the right gear for the job is critical.
The new CONVERTIBLE™ lets you configure your gear and level of protection on the fly to handle the challenges you face everyday: flash fire, sharp objects, blood and body fluids, common on-scene chemicals, and the extremes of weather. Now designed to meet the new NFPA 1951, 2007 Edition, CONVERTIBLE™ comes in two models: Rescue and Recovery converting to Utility with a removable CROSSTECH® fabric liner providing performance unmatched by any other waterproof, breathable barrier and soon CBRN converting to Utility with deployable featuresforaddedchemicalandbiologicalprotection. at FDIC or a conference near you, visit globelifeline.com to locate your Globe LifeLine dealer, or call 800-232-8323.
Community builds training tower
Newfoundlanders pitch in with time and talent
by ROBERT LYNCHand ROBERT SEYMOUR
When the Newfoundland government expropriated the land on which the Harbour Grace Fire Department’s training ground stood in 2000, firefighters from nine departments were left with nowhere to train and no money to rebuild.
With a little ingenuity, a lot of determination and the generosity of myriad Newfoundlanders, a new training tower and grounds for the Greater Conception Bay North region is near completion and is expected to be functional by spring.
Almost eight years after the province took the land in Harbour Grace for a new highway, construction began in May on a three-storey training tower in Bay Roberts. To get the project started, Chief Clarence Russell and planning com-
mittee of The Bay Roberts Volunteer Fire Department applied for a $25,000 grant from the province. Several unsuccessful trips were made to see provincial officials but a change of government in 2003 and subsequent approval of the grant opened doors for the training ground.
“With today’s firefighting techniques and with new members coming into the various departments we felt the need to have a training facility to serve the needs of not only our fire department but also the other eight departments in Conception Bay North,” Chief Russell said.
“We believe that with neighbouring departments combining their efforts into one central training site the facility will meet the various needs and be of benefit to all involved. Also, with departments getting more and more into specialized
The new training tower in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, will serve nine fire departments in the region.
training we will be able to provide an all in one site to practise the techniques.”
Approval of the grant application was a great boost to firefighters but it was only half the battle as $25,000 wasn’t enough to complete the project. Knowing the importance of training for first responders, businesses from all nine municipalities in Conception Bay North donated time, talent and assets.
The 65 metre by 130 metre parcel of land for the training ground was donated by Bay Roberts businessman Gerald French. The survey was done by Norman and Parsons Surveyors of Bay Roberts at no charge. Shawn Batten of Shawn Ventures Limited prepared the initial site free of charge. Concord Paving of
PHOTO COURTESY ROBERT SEYMOUR
Ingleside, ON
Carbonear, Nfld., donated the clearing of the lot surrounding the building.
The nine fire departments in the area were approached for donations of any kind to help offset the cost of construction. The Victoria Volunteer Fire Department donated $200 in cash and the Carbonear department threw in $1,000. Salmon Cove Perry’s Cove Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Rossiter donated the use of a tamper and enough scaffolding to do all work involved. The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade, through local company North Atlantic Refining Inc., donated the steel i-beams for the floors. The Spaniards Bay Volunteer Fire Department donated two loads of stone. The Cupids Volunteer Fire Department provided a couple of members to help clear land, lift concrete blocks and backfill foundation. The Upper Island Cove Volunteer Fire Department measured a two-level deck for the back of the site and is supplying material and labour to finish it. Owner Lamonte Stagg of RV repair shop Recreational Parts and Accessories donated his forklift for the
lifting of the first-storey block.
Contractor Bert Snow donated a Kabota tractor for a couple of days for site clean up. Boyd Caravan of Boyd Caravan Trucking in North River donated two 16metre containers to be used for confinedspace training and delivered them to the site from St. John’s at no cost. All block work on the building was done by Piercey’s Masonry of Cupids while Dawes Concrete Products Ltd. in Bay Roberts supplied the blocks. The form work for the foundation was supplied by Murrin Co. Ready Mix and roof trusses were supplied by Riverside Trusses, both of Spaniards Bay. Also, the town of Bay Roberts donated about $2,500 in work and materials.
Some businesses were paid for supplying materials and labour and were happy to be part of the project.
Bay Roberts Mayor Glenn Littlejohn applauds the firefighters’ efforts to work up enough money and talent to build the training tower.
“Volunteer fire departments throughout Conception Bay North are first responders to so many calls for
assistance and are involved in such a wide variety of situations that training is essential and we have to provide a site for them to be ready to respond,” he said. “We turn to these volunteers and they are there for us a moment’s notice. We must be sure they are trained to respond safely and to return safely to there own homes.”
Cupids Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeremy Hall said having the training facility within a five minute drive will probably encourage his members to attend more training sessions and therefore provide better service.
Robert Lynch, a 20-year veteran of the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade, was the town’s citizen of the year for 2006. He served twice as chief and twice as assistant chief.
Robert Seymour is an eight-year veteran of the Bay Roberts Volunteer Fire Department. He is the department’s representative to the town’s disaster planning committee and is completing the department’s website, www.bayrobertsfiredepartment.com.
PHOTO COURTESY ROBERT SEYMOUR
Shawn Piercey and his father, Henry Piercey, both of Piercey’s Masonry of Cupids, Nfld., work on the Bay Roberts training tower
Surrey firefighters help tackle meth problem
Awareness campaign, funding aid anti-drug program
by KARIN MARK
The growing meth epidemic in Canada’s cities is usually the territory of police, health and social service agencies. In Surrey, B.C., however, members of the fire service have thrown their support –and dollars – into the fight against this scourge in their community.
“We have to break from tradition and leverage our resources,” Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis explained. “We’re saying, ‘There is a problem in the city, and it’s our problem, too.’”
Meth is a common term for crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that affects the body’s nervous system and initially makes users feel invincible and euphoric. Meth can be cheaply and easily manufactured using many products –referred to as precursors – found in hardware and drug stores, including acetone,
hydrochloric acid, red phosphorous, ephedrine, lye, Draino, iodine, lighter and brake fluid, cold remedies and camper fuel.
The inexpensive production of meth results in a cheap street cost, making it increasingly the drug of choice among addicts. B.C. police say a single dose of meth can cost as little as $5. An addict can support a habit for as little as $20 a day, according to Clandestine Drug Laboratories in British Columbia, a 2005 report by the International Centre for Urban Research Studies at the University College of the Fraser Valley.
Even more alarming are recent studies indicating that meth may be prevalent in B.C. high schools. In a 2005 Institute for Safe Schools for British Columbia survey, at least eight per cent of the 13,176 high school students polled in three school districts said they used crystal meth during the 2004-05 school year – mostly on school property. As well, close to half
reported using meth on school grounds more than once a week.
The situation is similar in Surrey, where a 2005 school district survey found that 1,260 (nine per cent) of 14,000 high school students had used meth off of school grounds, while 980 students (seven per cent) had used meth while at school.
Also among the district survey results was the startling statistic that four per cent of Grade 8 students and three per cent of Grade 9 students said they use meth more than once a week.
In response to Surrey’s growing meth problem, the Surrey Methamphetamine Regional Task Force (SMART) was formed in February 2006, following the model of a successful pilot project in neighbouring Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.
SMART’s 90-day awareness campaign spawned an ongoing Meth Watch program in the community that targets businesses that sell meth precursors. Chief Garis
chaired SMART’s precursor committee and Surrey firefighters helped promote the awareness campaign by distributing precursor information to Surrey businesses.
The fire service has also made a longterm commitment to help sustain Meth Watch in Surrey. During company inspections, firefighters look for meth precursors and encourage retailers to join Meth Watch, which provides display materials and education about suspicious sales of precursors.
Surrey firefighters have also opened their wallets to help fight their community’s drug problem. In September, the Surrey Firefighters’ Charitable Society – a project of the Surrey Firefighters’ Union –announced a pledge of $1 million towards fighting mental health and addictionrelated issues in Surrey.
The funds will be divided three ways:
• $100,000 for an endowment to establish an lectureship on research into mental health and addiction at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus, allowing for an expert to share research findings at SFU and speak at community forums throughout the region;
• $500,000 for a mental health and addictions crisis unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s new Emergency Centre; and
• $400,000 towards future city programs that provide long-term solutions to crime and the cycle of addiction.
“We feel firefighters are respected members of the community and we should take a leadership role in trying to deal with some of these social issues,” said
Larry Thomas, president of the firefighters’ union and its charitable society.
As first responders and public safety advocates, firefighters have grown increasingly concerned about the negative consequences of drugs in the community, including crime, the general decay of the downtown core and the growing number of homeless addicts, Thomas said.
It’s hoped the firefighters’ funds will not only help bridge the gap in services for addicts that exists after the police do their jobs, but also encourage other organizations and businesses to step up and provide funding, he added. “The aim is to help create a safer community, and that’s what we’re all about.”
A strong relationship exists between drugs, crime and threats to public safety. In a 2003 report on auto crime in Surrey called Perception vs. Reality, police estimated that most auto thieves are addicts and at least 70 per cent are chronic meth users. Stolen vehicles are often used to commit secondary crimes, including arson, the report said. As well, reckless driving comes with the territory and sometimes results in fatalities; between 1999 and 2001, 81 deaths resulted from stolen vehicles in Canada.
The production of drugs brings considerable safety hazards into residential neighbourhoods. The UCFV report Clandestine Drug Laboratories in British Columbia, which studied the 33 clandestine labs found by police from April 2, 2004 to March 31, 2005, said 58 per cent of the labs were in houses or apartments,
most of them rented.
Fire and explosion are known risks at clandestine labs, the report said. A review of files revealed that leaky chemical containers were found at 33 per cent of the sites, while burn hazards were found at 64 per cent of the sites. As well, fire was involved in one-third of the labs that were operational at the time of police intervention.
In addition, the labs pose environmental risks from improper disposal of chemicals and equipment, and the presence of weapons threatens public safety. Firearms were found at 31 per cent of the labs, and other weapons, such as knives, were found 23 per cent of the time.
Working to eliminate drug labs is important, but it is only one part of the solution, Chief Garis said. Each day, firefighters see the other side of the equation – the results of drug addictions – as they respond to medical emergencies around the community. It’s clear a more holistic approach to the problem is needed – one that involves all members of the community, including the fire service, he said. “We need to get upstream of the problem and be proactive to assist the community in dealing with it.”
Based near Vancouver, B.C., Karin Mark writes for publications and corporate clients and offers a range of contract communications services. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter for 13 years, earning multiple provincial and federal awards for her news and feature writing.
Disaster management
HUSAR teams, governments stage mock terrorist attack
by LAURA KING
Mock disaster participants
USAR/HUSAR
Canada Task Force 2 – Calgary
Canada Task Force 3 – Toronto
Canada Task Force 4 – Manitoba
Canada Task Force 5 – Halifax OPP PERT K9 unit
Medical
Ontario Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT)
Ontario Provincial Police Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT)
Public Health Agency of Canada –National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT) Health Emergency Response Team (HERT)
CBRN
Toronto Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response Team
On a frigid November morning an ear-splitting blast ripped through a network of financial office towers in the fictional community of Constellation, Ont. More than 2,200 employees work in the buildings but no one knew how many were inside when the suspected terrorist car bomb blew through the concrete.
The scene, reminiscent of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that claimed 168 lives, was a mishmash of debris and rubble, fire, dust and victims, meticulously crafted to resemble the real thing.
The site – the old Constellation Hotel near Pearson International Airport in Toronto, which is set for demolition – was eerie, cold, dark and swarming with hundreds of members of emergency response teams participating in the largest mock disaster ever staged in Canada.
Four of Canada’s urban search and rescue teams, from Toronto, Halifax, Calgary and Manitoba, along with provincial and federal medical teams, collaborated
to stage the massive exercise. The newest disaster-response team, Ottawa-based NOHERT, the National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams, which had close to 200 medical specialists on scene, was formed after 9-11 and the 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto.
All told, more than 900 people participated in the three-day, round-the-clock drill, including about 200 college students posing as disaster victims.
For the highly trained firefighters on the Canada Task Force search and rescue teams, the $2 million exercise was a key opportunity to work together and learn from each other’s experiences.
“The exercise was an extremely valuable experience that allowed the four teams to function as a cohesive unit in dealing with an overwhelming event,” said Coby Duerr, team leader for Calgary’s CAN-TF2 search and rescue team. “These exercises are designed to test our teams’ abilities but more importantly to allow us to learn from one another and work together to get the job done.”
It was also the first test for the teams of co-operation with the NOHERT and
PHOTOS BY JOHN HANLEY
Opposite page: Rescuers Len March (inside vehicle), Jason Parsons and Capt. Cliff Messervey from Halifax’s Canada Task Force 5 search and rescue team look for survivors during an exercise in Toronto in November.
Clockwise from top: 1. Members of the Ontario Provincial Police team work to secure the scene.
2. Trevor Schellenberg (left), Stu Carruthers (second from left), and other members of the Manitoba CAN-TF4 team team prepare for a shift inside the explosion area.
3. Manitoba CAN-TF4 team members Tim Bartel and James Avison at the cutting table.
4. Capt. Pat Kline with Halifax’s Can-TF5 climbs through a hole in the wall in the parking garage beneath the structure where the explosion occurred.
5. Steve Koch with Halifax’s CAN-TF5.
NOHERT
The Public Health Agency of Canada established the National Office of the Health Emergency Response Teams (NOHERT) within the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response to improve its ability to respond and support provincial, territorial and local government management of health emergencies. NOHERT is leading the federal efforts to establish and train Health Emergency Response Teams (HERT) to be located in regions across Canada. HERT units are trained and equipped to respond to disease or injuries caused by national disasters. The first HERT team is in Ottawa and comprises doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical professionals who volunteer for up to two weeks of training and exercises each year. Each HERT team has up to 185 members and can be deployed anywhere in Canada within 12 to 24 hours. The team can sustain itself for up to 72 hour before needing to be re-supplied. HERT units are deployed in three configurations:
1. HERT mass casualty unit, which includes a rapid response team, a medical response team and a mission support team;
2. HERT specialized unit, comprising primary health-care workers to address an epidemic or CBRN incident.
3. HERT air mobile unit, designed for rapid deployment by air to remote regions of Canada and including a reduced medical response team and mission support team.
PHOTOS BY JOHN HANLEY
Clockwise from top:
1. A medevac helicopter from Ornge, North America’s largest provider of aeromedical transport services, takes off from the disaster site.
2. Pat Manus and James Slobodian with Toronto’s CAN-TF3 HUSAR team discuss strategy.
3. Manitoba CAN-TF4 team members including Dave Singleton and Darren Baker watch a demonstration of portable ultrasound by Toronto team members including Dr. Chris Denny, right.
4. Bill MacNeil with the Halifax USAR team pulls wiring through a shored-up doorway underneath the building where the explosion occurred.
PHOTOS BY JOHN HANLEY
Clockwise from top:
1. A rescue worker helps to prepare an entry way to a space that was sealed off in the explosion.
2. Manitoba CAN-TF4 team members working on a laced-post shore.
3. CAN-TF2 member Keith Clements acts as an exercise controller closely watching Halifax’s CAN-TF5 team efforts.
4. Members of the Halifax team shown through a hole in the wall between areas in the parking garage.
5. Steve Koch of the Halifax team looks for survivors.
EMAT
Ontario’s Emergency Medical Assistance Team, or EMAT, was established in 2004 and is part of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care’s emergency response programming. EMAT is operated by ORNGE, the province’s transport medicine program, and is effectively a base hospital with a team of 244 flight paramedics. ORNGE was established in 1977 with one aircraft in Toronto. There are now 26 bases across the province. In addition to EMAT, ORNGE manages a 56-bed mobile acute care unit that can respond to major health emergencies. ORNGE is the largest program of its kind in North America and performs more than 17,000 admissions every year.
Ontario’s EMAT team was deployed for the second time since its 2004 creation in June to provide medical support and services to residents of Sudbury after a fire broke out at the Sudbury Regional Hospital. The deployment included three doctors, six nurses, 13 critical care paramedics, an X-ray technician and logistics and administration staff. Among other things, the EMAT team assisted with the transport of 12 intensive care patients and treating and repatriating 23 patients who were admitted to the EMAT.
Ontario’s EMAT contingents. As is the point of all training exercises, there were plenty of lessons learned.
“As far as the operation of our team actually going in and extricating patients out of the rubble, we always find that piece of it goes really well,” said Doug Silver, special teams co-ordinator for Toronto HUSAR/CBRN. Although a formal debriefing hadn’t occurred by press time, Silver and representatives of the Calgary and Halifax search and rescue teams noted that the major difference with the exercise was the number of external agencies involved.
“Normally we’ll do an exercise with the OPP PERT team and maybe the Ontario fire marshal,” said Silver. “But this one was quite interesting because we brought in NOHERT and EMAT, organizations that aren’t necessarily familiar with the [Incident Management System] IMS unified command structure.
“We can’t assume that they understand our command – they’re not used to operating that way. So probably table-top exercises leading up to real exercise, so that a unified command has a chance to evolve, would have been a good idea. I think that was a very big point.”
Calgary’s Duerr agrees.
“These additional departments gave us some insight to working with outside agencies at a disaster scene,” he said. “There are hurdles that must be overcome when dealing with outside agencies, that include but are not limited to communications, logistics, functionality, etc.”
Capt. Chuck Bezanson with the Halifax USAR team said the exercise gave the Maritime team a chance to better define the roles of its members and to determine what areas need work, including logistics, planning and financing. He too noted that having the medical teams on site was a new experience and recommends separate encampments for the search and rescue teams and the medical teams to avoid confusion.
Manitoba Fire Commissioner Doug Popowich said the exercise was a valuable opportunity to again work with other search and rescue teams under the unified command system.
“We saw that our decision to support our staff in the way that we do – providing hot meals, adjusting shifts in the hot zone to accommodate fatigue and weather conditions – was and is the right decision,” he said.
Popowich added that more work is required to ensure that all
PHOTOS BY JOHN HANLEY
Clockwise from top:
1. Neil Wootton, a member of Toronto’s heavy urban search and rescue team (CANTF3), communicates with incident management during the exercise.
2. David Hutcheon of Toronto’s search and rescue team crawls through a space in the wall of the parking garage.
3. The vehicle that exploded is lodged in the parking garage as rescue workers ensure the area is safe.
4. Sign on the door to the incident management tent.
5. John Noble (left) and another member of Toronto’s HUSAR team prepare shoring.
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participants in type of multi-agency, multicasualty incident have a good understanding of incident command and, in particular, how unified command works.
NOHERT’s Don Campbell notes that the federal response team is in its infancy and needs to learn from EMAT and the search and rescue professionals but says the exercise was a critical step in the evolution of disaster-response management in Canada.
“There’s no question in my mind that if we were deployed in a real event we would have been in a position to save lives,” he said. “We had the right people there and the right mix of skills and the right logistics. What that does is help us move to the next steps if we needed to deploy.”
NOHERT will assess the data from the exercise to determine how well its medical professionals completed in the field the tasks they normally do in hospitals. An advisory committee of medical professionals is evaluating whether the team had the proper equipment and tools and another group is determining whether the right kinds of emergency medicine were on hand for the team to contribute to a an emergency situation anywhere in Canada.
For Toronto’s HUSAR team next steps include exercises in the spring and fall and a major leap forward with talks with the Department of National Defence for air-lift support.
“We need to find a carrier that can load our team on a plane and move us from point A to point B, so that’s very high on our radar screen for the first quarter,” said Silver. The team hopes to complete an exercise this year during which it moves its personnel and equipment via aircraft to a HUSAR scenario.
What’s clear from Caduceus Major is the level of provincial and federal support for disaster response, a direct result of 9-11.
“For Toronto HUSAR, 9-11 was a catalyst,” Silver said. “In the way of financial support for the team, that was basically the time that the federal government requested communities such as ours to host a team. Toronto HUSAR was around before that but we certainly didn’t have the financial support as great as we did before 9-11. Since 9-11 we haven’t stopped. We’re completely focused on getting this team developed.”
PHOTOS BY JOHN HANLEY
Clockwise from top:
1. Aerial view of the site including NOHERT and PERT hospital tents.
2. The Halifax CAN-TF5 truck with the Constellation Hotel in the background.
3. Members of the OPP team work to secure the area.
Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education
Are you looking to take on more responsibility in your Department? Trying to round out your technical ability with leadership skills? Preparing to advance your career?
At Dalhousie University we offer a three course program, the “Certificate in Fire Service Leadership” to career and volunteer fire officers.The 3 courses Station Officer: Dealing with People,Station Officer:Dealing with New Operations and The Environment of the Fire Station are all offered in each of our 3 terms, September (fall term), January (winter term) and April (spring term). The program can be completed in one year if a course is taken in each of the 3 terms.
For more information and a program brochure please contact:
Gwen Doary,Program Manager
Dalhousie University Fire Management Certificate Programs 201-1535 Dresden Row,Halifax,Nova Scotia B3J 3T1
Tel:(902) 494-8838 • Fax:(902) 494-2598 • E-mail:Gwen.Doar y@Dal.Ca
You will also find the information in our brochures or at the following internet address:Web site:http://www.collegeofcontinuinged.dal.ca
Code changes make elevators safer for firefighters, residents
by DAN COOK
As the harmonization of the North American Elevator Code progresses, firefighters have a safer system to use during fire operations in high buildings.
The (Canadian Standards Association) CSA B-44 and (American Society Of Mechanical Engineers) ASME A-17 committees have completed the 2007 code, which now needs to be adopted by the provinces and territories. Firefighters will most likely start to see these improvements in new buildings in late 2008 or early 2009. Changes and amendments to the 2004 code are showing up now in buildings in certain cities and provinces. Departments in smaller cities with few high buildings may not yet have had any of the 2004 code changes go into effect.
Automatic recall phase I
Automatic recall phase I exists to protect the occupants of a building. If people are in an elevator when the smoke alarm activates, the elevator will automatically take them to a safe floor, away from the fire, and then shut down with the doors open.
Under the 2007 code, all automatic elevators in public buildings will be required to have phase I automatic recall, meaning elevators are automatically sent to a safe floor once smoke detectors in the lobby or machine room go off.
Under some earlier codes, elevators could be recalled by pull stations and by sprinklers.
All these elevators will also operate in “firefighter emergency operation”, or phase II (details below). Under the new code, all elevators are required to have phase II operability; older codes required only a percentage of elevators in a building to have phase II operability.
Until now, only high buildings were required to have automatic recall and firefighter operation. (There have been some deaths of firefighters and civilians due to elevators going to the fire floor in low-rise buildings.)
It is recommended that an elevator car not be used in phase II operation when the fire is below the sixth floor. Many departments require that the fire be above the sixth floor for firefighters to use elevators on the lower floors.
Once the fire is contained or extinguished,
phase II can be used to evacuate occupants and move firefighters and equipment to the fire floor.
Most Standard Operating Guidelines require that the elevator only go as far as two floors below a fire during fire operations. When the officer on the fire floor determines it is safe, the elevator can then be used to bring firefighters and equipment directly to the fire floor.
Firefighter operation phase II
In phase II, firefighters can safely use the elevators during fire operations by maintaining control from inside the elevator car.
Here are the changes that will make a difference to firefighters during fire operations.
• Separate open and close buttons are required for cars with more than one entrance. The separate buttons will be identified as either “side” or “rear” door. All operating buttons will have a minimum size of 19 millimetres.
• A “call cancel” button will be provided that will cancel all calls and stop the car at or before the next landing. This is already in the code and some jurisdictions may have it now.
• A firefighter stop switch will be available (also previously in code) but now it must be operable by a firefighter wearing turnout gloves.
• The fire panel, including the visual warning signal, additional call cancel button, stop switch, door open and close buttons and the firefighter keyed switch will be behind a locked cover. Again, some jurisdictions may already be seeing this.
• Interruption of power will not cause the elevator car to move toward or above the fire floor. The car will only be able to move a maximum of one floor toward the designated recall floor in phase I operation and only level in the zone in phase II operation.
• Multi-compartment elevators (more common in large cities) will have a visual display of the lower compartment and a lowercompartment lockout. This will allow the operator “taxi” to check and lockout the lower compartment from the top compartment.
• There will be some wording changes to the sign containing the instructions for phase II operation. The most important wording change is the last one, which now states “To automatically return to recall floor, turn key to off.” It was felt that this wording was better as the former wording might encourage fire-
Diagram shows how the firefighter panel will look in elevators that comply with the 2007 code.
fighters to send an empty car back to the recall level, which is something that most fire departments would not do.
• There will be a common firefighter key that can be used for all firefighters elevators. This will be a big advantage to firefighters as there have been numerous problems with keys going missing or being mislabelled over the years.
The change to a common key for firefighter service elevators should make things run a lot smoother during fire operations. The most common problem with the elevators has always been missing or mislabelled keys and security service bypasses added later, which override the emergency service. By having a standard key on the apparatus when responding, firefighters will be sure that they have a key that works.
In the future, it would be good if the key would also open the car top hatch so the hoistway could be checked with a light or even with a thermal imaging camera to see if a hoistway door is hot or if there is heat entering the hoistway itself. It would be a good idea to set up a training program when your department acquires the firefighter service keys or to review any training and procedures that are already in place.
In addition to the above points, it should be noted that the firefighters panel cover might include all the floor buttons. Common sense would dictate that a high-rise building with 30 to 40 floors would probably not have all landings included in the separate firefighter panel but all the buttons might indeed
Continued on page 49
Stabilization 101, Part Two
In the October issue we talked about basic stabilization and dealing with vehicles that remain on their wheels when involved in crashes. This time we’ll focus on situations in which vehicles are found resting on their sides or roofs.
Many older vehicles were built with heavier construction materials and had a square, box-like shape, which made the vehicle less likely to roll over in an accident. The shape of vehicles today has changed because of the need for better fuel economy. Refined aerodynamics and lighter construction materials are being built into newer vehicles to assist with better gas mileage. As a result, body styles have taken on a more rounded, bullet-type shape, which makes vehicles more inclined to roll over onto their sides and roofs.
When a vehicle comes to rest on its side or roof, it puts emergency service personnel and crash victims in a hazardous situation. The objective, at this point, is to make the vehicle stable enough to be able to work safely while considering possible extrication pathways for your patients.
70 degrees. Try to wrap the straps as low as possible on the posts and keep them as straight as possible. You can insert wedges to keep the strap from riding up on the post and becoming loose. (See photo 2.)
The first step after incident size up of a side-resting vehicle is to determine which way the vehicle is most likely to tip over or shift. This will depend on the location, the damage to the vehicle, the ground conditions and whether the vehicle is leaning more to the roof side or to the wheel side.
There are many types of mechanical stabilization devices on the market today to help with these types of situations, all varying in load capacity, adaptability and cost. For the emergency service that has a limited budget and cannot afford these devices, there are inexpensive alternatives. These alternatives may not offer the same flexibility as engineered stabilization equipment but they can be used safely with a little ingenuity and innovation.
Ladders, which we all carry on our fire department apparatus, can come in handy to stabilize a vehicle. Use ratchet straps to secure the ladders to the vehicle and you have an inexpensive stabilization system. (See photo 1.)
Another cost-effective option is to simply carry four- to sixfoot 4 x 4 posts with notches cut into the ends to dig into the road surface or underside of the vehicle, again using ratchet straps to secure them to the vehicle at angles of between 45 and
If the crash is on flat pavement, more often than not vehicles will want to roll over toward the roof side because of the angled design of the roof structure. If the tires of the vehicle are intact, they will generally keep the vehicle from rolling back over to the wheel side.
This could be the exact opposite if the crashed vehicle is found on the side of a hill, overpass or embankment. Each situation will present itself with its own challenges, hindrances and obstacles.
It is considered best practice to use wedges as initial stabilization on the side that needs to be dealt with first. This should generally be your first step before employing the side-resting type of stabilizing equipment. This will at least make the vehicle somewhat stable before you continue on to the next level of total stabilization.
By maintaining a safe distance from the fall zone of the vehicle in case it rolls over, you can insert wedges by getting down on one knee and sliding the wedges along the road surface until the wedges make contact with the vehicle. Voids can be filled after you have safer access to the vehicle. (See photo 3.) A pike pole may also come in handy to insert wedges or 4 x 4 blocks if you feel the vehicle is really unstable.
Now, let’s look at more sophisticated stabilization systems that offer a little more flexibility.
RANDYSCHMITZ
Photo
There are many brands of strut-type or telescopic systems available on the market. All basically operate the same way with the same principles applied and most offer a variety of accessories. Depending on the applications of each department, the load capacity, price and ease of use will be the deciding factors in determining what brand will suit your needs.
Price
Prices range from less than $100 for a basic set of Z-Mags to a few thousand dollars for systems that can be used for vehicle rescue and higher-load rated building collapse/trench-rescue applications.
All the systems have slightly different tips, base plates and accessories. Also, the body construction can be either metal, aluminum or fibreglass composite material. A few offer the capability to lift a vehicle upward slightly or other such heavy objects.
The Calgary Fire Department has done a year’s worth of extensive testing with all the popular brands available and has chosen the Rescue 42 brand as the best strut to suit our needs. This system offers an accessory to assist with the lifting of a vehicle or object in conjunction with stabilizing, which our department has already put into use a number of times during extrication operations over the last two years.
In choosing the right system for your department, ensure you do extensive testing and research, as what may work for one department may not necessarily work for another. Test wisely, consider price and ease of use and do not buy the first set you try out. Test as many brands as you can.
Photo 3
Photo 4
Side-resting vehicles
Once initial stabilization has been accomplished, have a team member position himself at one end of the vehicle and put his hand on the vehicle to monitor any movement. This will assist in determining whether the vehicle may shift or tip over onto rescuers as they are making the vehicle stable enough to work with, and give them ample warning to get out of the way.
Choose how many struts will be needed to secure the vehicle; four-point stabilization is the best, meaning two struts per side of the vehicle, but three-point can be used as well. (See photo 4.)
If possible, position the head or tip of the strut above the centre of gravity, preferably high on the vehicle and definitely on something structurally solid like the framework, when dealing with the undercarriage side. Take advantage of tie-down slots or other holes in the framework or unibody to lock the strut-head tip in place when you tighten up your ratchet straps. On the sheet metal or roof side of the vehicle you may have to be a little more creative to find a good location to insert or lock in the strut head – a popular location is the void in between the hood and the fender at the top of the side-resting vehicle. A lot of times the void acts as a built-in purchase point to insert the tip point
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
of the strut head. (See photo 5.) Another location is in the corner of the A-pillar where it meets at the dash line. However this may pose a problem if the windshield is still intact, as you would have to break the glass and possibly cause it to fall onto patients below. It also positions the strut and strapping closer to where possible extrication work will take place and could hinder operations or egress of patients if roof-flap or roof-removal evolutions are planned. Preplan your strut positioning wisely.
Strut placements
If a void is found to be of sufficient size underneath the front or back of the vehicle at ground level to slide ratchet strap webbing and hook through, place two properly extended struts on each side of the vehicle and connect the two base plates together. Keep the base plates in line with one another. If they are offset, the plates will shift from the originally intended location when the ratchet straps are tightened. This method is the most preferred because it is quick to assemble and creates a good solid footprint or triangle for stabilization.
When you cannot insert a strap underneath the vehicle, try to hook the strap directly to the vehicle from the front of the strut plate to a low point on the vehicle. (See photo 6.)
If you cannot find a feasible attachment point try the following: in a straight line, hook one end of the strap around the front of the vehicle then back to the rear of the strut plate, then feed the strap through the slot and continue the strap onto an attachment point near the other end of the vehicle, creating a V-pattern.
Using the strap through the back of the strut plate forces the whole plate to stay on the ground when the strap is tightened. If you feed it through the front of the plate, it will have a tendency to lift the front portion off the ground as it is tightened and reduce the surface of the base plate that is in contact with the ground. (See photo 7.)
Strapping tips
Another area of concern is if you cannot find a suitable purchase point in which to insert the strut-head tip while stabilizing on the sheet-metal side of the vehicle. With a little innovation, a solution to this problem is possible.
ratchet strap and attach the strap hook to the chain, loop it around strut head and back to the chain, then tighten the ratchet strap until there is no slack in either the chain or the strap itself. This will force the strut head into the sheet metal tightly enough to hold it in place. This method can be applied to almost all strut systems on the market today. (See photo 8.)
Roof-resting situations
More often than not, when a vehicle comes to rest on its roof, the engine end will be down on the ground. However, some vehicles could still remain balancing on their roofs
TESTED
and this may present some stability issues as the vehicle could easily rotate. Cribbing between the void of the hood and the ground will be necessary and should also take care of any forward or rearward motion in addition to side-to-side movement if on level ground.
Be sure to also place cribbing at the rear of the roof near the rear window area to complete your initial stabilization.
If you find that the vehicle roof is weak and are worried about further collapse, place two struts on each side of the vehicle at the rear fender areas at 45-degree angles and attach a ratchet strap to the two base-plates leaving the strapping a little slack. Attach
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Set up a strut at the proper length and angle; choose whichever base plate strapping method described previously that will work. Take a length of rescue chain and hook it from the A-pillar closest to ground then around to the vehicle frame, keeping a bit of tension on it. Next, take another
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three-eighth rescue chain into the chain slot on the strut head, run the chain under the vehicle where the bottom of the rear window and trunk lid meet, then take out as much slack in the chain as possible. You are essentially saddling the rear trunk lid with the chain. Tighten base plates together with the ratchet strap until the chain has no slack in it and it is tight to the sheet metal of the vehicle. (See photo 9.) For additional safety you can hook another smaller strap to the chain and tie it back to the vehicle if the chain might slip off. After the strut system is secured, adjust all other cribbing to maintain contact between the vehicle and the ground. (See photo 10.) This method allows good access to the rear and sides of the vehicle without interfering with extrication operations.
If vehicles are found on slopes or embankments, attach a winch line, rope or other securing device from the vehicle to a solid object. Pickets or stakes can be driven through the hood and into the ground to assist in securing an inverted hood-resting vehicle. This initial type of stabilization may be required prior to employing the methods described above.
Ratchet-strap operation
A frequent problem w hen using ratchet straps is that rescuers do not pull enough of the webbing strap through the drum slot before cranking the ratchet-strap handle. This will result in a drum that has been wound too full of webbing for the ratchet assembly to continue to operate and not enough tension on the webbing to secure what the strap hook is connected to.
Best practice would be to pull enough
New products
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both contained in the same handheld unit. The Draeger FRT 1000 is worn on the SCBA belt during fireground operations in conjunction with an integrated or stand-alone PASS device. When the firefighter stops moving for 60 seconds, it sends an electromagnetic distress signal that can be tracked by others on the fireground who are also wearing a Draeger FRT 1000. The signal transmission can also be activated manually by the distressed firefighter while issuing a Mayday. The low frequency distress signal transmits through walls and floors enabling fire fighters inside and outside the structure to rapidly track and rescue the downed firefighter.
The Draeger ETR 1000 is a transmit-
strap webbing through the drum slot to allow slight tension on the webbing. This should equal about three wraps of webbing rolled onto the drum barrel once the ratchet handle has been operated. It allows for a couple of more wraps if further tensioning is required during your extrication procedures.
An important safety point to note is that rescuers must ensure that the ratchet strap handle is in the locked-down position to gain full capacity of the ratchet-strapping assembly, otherwise it could inadvertently become dislodged and system failure could result.
Other applications for strut systems
Struts are not limited to vehicles. They can be used for light structural stabilization, such as keeping overhead garage doors open during a fire situation and for securing fallen trees, utility poles and ceilings. They can also provide temporary shoring of a light building collapse. However, always make sure you are familiar with the load-bearing capacities of your particular strut system before putting it into use.
Terrain, vehicle size, vehicle weight, vehicle condition and other factors may demand additional equipment or alternative techniques. Each situation will dictate unique precautions.
The above methods and procedures are just a few of the ways you can use strut systems. Always refer to the owner’s manual for complete instructions and guidelines for other alternatives, tips and safety procedures.
But consider these options to add to your toolbox!
only unit that can be placed at exits and other points of safety by the fire attack team or incident commander. The Draeger ETR 1000s can be used as “electronic breadcrumbs” by a distressed firefighter attempting reorientation or self-rescue. Each 1000 has one button for locating firefighters wearing Draeger FRT 1000s and one button for locating Draeger ETR 1000s. When switched from standby to search mode, a bright distance display and changing audible signal provide direction to the transmitting Draeger FRT 1000 or Draeger ETR 1000.
Almost 40 U.S. fire departments are already using this technology, originally developed for locating avalanche victims buried in snow.
For more information, visit www.draeger.com.
CFF
names new sales manager
Sales manager
Hope Williamson
Martin McAnulty, publisher of Canadian Firefighter and EMS Quarterly and Fire Fighting in Canada magazines is pleased to announce the appointment of Hope Williamson to the position of sales manager forCanadian Firefighter and Fire Fighting in Canada. Ms. Willamson brings 10 years of advertising sales and marketing experience and looks forward to serving and helping our clients reach their advertising objectives. She can be reached at 800-265-2827 ext. 253 or hwilliamson@annexweb.com.
First responders want better communication: survey
Canada’s first responders have for the first time identified factors including inter-agency interoperability, a unified approach for incorporating best practices and centralized research and testing of technologies as critical to improving their ability to enhance public safety. These findings come from Keeping Canadians Safe: A Technology, Research and Development, and Emergency Preparedness Situational Analysis of Canadian First Responders, released in December by the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) and conducted for the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC).
CPRC commissioned the study in partnership with CATA to improve the level of understanding of the changing patterns in the scale, nature and spatial distribution of Canadian first responder organizations, gain a better understanding of their use and application of information and communications technology and provide recommendations as to how the Canadian Police Research Centre can work with all Canadian first responders.
For the first time in Canada, fire, police, paramedic and emergency response organizations were asked about their use of technology, about emergency preparedness capabilities and to identify a range of services they would like to see available to improve collaboration and co-operation among various jurisdictions. A total of 144
chiefs (or equivalent) from fire, police, paramedic and emergency response organizations responded to the study.
The majority of respondents identified natural disasters, fire, and epidemic/ pandemic events as presenting the top three risks to Canadians’ safety.
The survey then identified a number of significant concerns inhibiting the ability of first responders to deliver the best possible service in any emergency situation.
These include:
Interoperability – Issues related to technology, jurisdictions and on-theground chain of command challenges were identified as the primary threat to emergency response abilities;
Funding – Funds for the appropriate testing and use of equipment and technology was a significant concern; fewer than half of respondents agreed there is sufficient funding in this area. When probed about their satisfaction with products and services available to first
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responders, the compatibility of communications devices received the lowest rating;
Centralized research facility –Respondents agreed that there is a strong need for a range of services that would be offered through a centralized research facility including access to knowledge and expertise across the first responder community, development of product and service standards, evaluation of products in an operational setting and providing access to market intelligence and trends.
Work is already under way to bring together the collective wisdom of public safety and communications leaders and experts. A number of initiatives have been identified as necessary as a result of this study, including:
• Ongoing support to the Canadian Interoperability Technology interest group, bringing together representatives from public safety, industry, academia and government to help shape the direction of research and development related to interoperability among Canadian public safety providers;
•Ongoing research, including the creation of a public safety stakeholder map;
•An interoperability town hall;
•Creation of a first responder/industry collaboration and procurement portal –a centralized online community allowing both first responders and vendors to better engage one another;
•A major-event security-management conference that would bring together leaders in major-event security management, including global security experts and Canadian experts
Immediately following the release of the report, CATA is hosting a Lunch With Leaders, at which attendees from industry and first responder groups will have an opportunity to discuss a number of topics with CPRC staff, including the interoperability between First Responders, products and services, concern over funding levels for training and equipment testing, and the top three risks being faced by First Responders. The CPRC will be reviewing the report and considering the recommendations in its future plans.
Fort Garry begins expansion
Fort Garry Fire Trucks Ltd. has signed a contract to begin expansion of the offices and plant at its existing location in
Winnipeg. Fort Garry president Rick Suche said the expansion will allow for increased production in the Winnipeg plant and will facilitate Fort Garry’s move into modular manufacturing. The new space will also increase Fort Garry’s service and warehouse space. Fort Garry Fire Trucks is Canada’s largest fire truck builder with its manufacturing roots dating back to 1919.
CEO joins safety board
Industrial Scientific Corp. chairman and CEO Kent McElhattan has been elected to the National Safety Council’s board of directors. During his two-year term, McElhattan will serve on the board’s finance and audit and strategic planning committees.
McElhattan named to National Safety Council
“Mr. McElhattan’s passion for safety, evident in Industrial Scientific’s mission to preserve human life, brings a level of industry expertise and leadership to the board,” said National Safety Council chairman Joseph Ucciferro. “His global experience and manufacturing background will be valuable in his board responsibilities.”
Founded in 1913 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the National Safety Council is a nonprofit, international public service organization committed to preventing accidental injuries in the workplace, on roads and highways, and in homes and communities.
As chairman and chief executive officer of Industrial Scientific, McElhattan drives corporate strategy, leading three corporate divisions that were established following the acquisition of Oldham S.A. in 2006.
Sperian reorganizes as Sperian Fire
Sperian Protection, formerly Bacou-Dalloz, has reorganized its Survivair, Securitex and BioSystems brands under the newly created brand, Sperian Fire. Sperian said the launch of the Sperian Fire brand represents an opportunity for the company to re-focus its core business units.
Sperian said that at the core of its vision is a three-part platform for product development and innovation that includes: Feedback battalion: The Sperian feedback
battalion is the first online advisory panel of firefighters. The feedback battalion puts firefighters in the center of the design process, serving as a channel for the company to communicate directly with those in the field. With more than 700 panelists, the battalion formalizes a history of interaction and exchange that has resulted in innovative products like the forthcoming Warrior SCBA and will serve as a forum to suggest new product ideas, debut concepts and investigate industry trends and behaviours.
ActionReady: Sperian is committed to making high-performing products that let firefighters perform at their best. This focus on high performance is captured by the new ActionReady designator, which indicates that products are high performing while being rugged and easy to use. Stressing mobility and integration, the ActionReady designator builds a performance promise into Sperian’s line of turnout gear, gas detectors and SCBAs.
ProvenTested: Sperian Fire has launched a new quality assurance program to ensure that products are ProvenTested. Products bearing the ProvenTested seal are tested internally in Sperian Fire’s labs, factories and facilities before being sent out to be externally tested by a third-party company. Finally, products are used in the field by real firefighters, ensuring that the process begins and ends with input and approval from the individuals who rely on this equipment every day.
To learn more visit www.sperianfire.com.
Code changes
Continued from page 40
be included on a panel in a building with fewer floors.
You should not find some of landing buttons under the firefighter panel that are not on the main panel. If there is a separate panel under the locked cover, it should contain all the landings, including landings which, for security reasons, are not shown or are locked out on the main panel.
The code committees believed that having the floor buttons in different locations in the car might be confusing during fire operations so all landing buttons used by firefighters are required to be together for safety reasons.
The issue of interruption of power is certainly important to firefighters, since it was permissible for the car to move in an upward direction under previous codes. It would be a good idea to talk to the manufacturer or the maintenance contractor at any high-rise buildings in your response area to find out what the car does when in phase II operation during a power failure. If the car does not level by moving toward the recall floor, find out what happens and include it in your pre-planning information for the building.
As yet, there has been no addition to the code on how firefighters are supposed to identify an elevator equipped with a counterweight displacement switch. This switch is in addition to the seismic switch, which will shut down the elevator when there is an earthquake but will allow it to run at a reduced speed in emergency service operation. The displacement switch, or “ring on a string”, will not allow the car to run if there is a possibility of a car and counterweight collision, even in emergency service operation. The problem is that there is no way to know whether the car is equipped with a displacement switch. Hopefully, there will be an amendment to the code soon to rectify this situation. In the interim, those in seismic zones may want to work with the local contractors and identify cars with displacement switches.
The CSA B-44 committee is looking for a firefighter representative to replace Dan Cook, who stepped down in September.
Preventing back injuries
The two most common types of injuries that happen around a fire hall are slip-and-fall injuries and improper lifting injuries. The fourth edition of The Essentials of Fire Fighting says, “Back injuries have been statistically proven to be the most expensive single type of accident in terms of worker’s compensation, and they occur with surprising frequency.” Back injuries can be frustrating as sufferers are restricted in their mobility during rehab and full recovery can take a long time. It is important that you take care of your back by being proactive in prevention.
Improper lifting techniques not only put unnecessary strain on muscle but can also lead to damage of expensive equipment. Here are some rules to live by when lifting:
• Always get extra help when an object is too heavy.
• Do not attempt to lift heavy or awkward items by yourself.
•Plan the lift ahead of time. Knowing who is going where and how you are going to lift will make the carry that much easier and safer. When counting to three for the lift, knowing whether you are lifting on three or after three will prevent potential injury.
•If you feel the object starting to slip, stop and put it down to readjust your grip. Do not try to be a hero and carry it all the way. If the object drops you risk damaging it, injuries to feet and possibly hurting the others carrying the object as they fall over.
Most back injuries are not the result of a single event; they are the result of regular improper lifting over time. By consistently putting unnecessary strain on your back you are slowly building up to a major injury. Every time you lift an object, use proper lifting techniques no matter how heavy or light the item may be. The buildup of previous improper lifting may finally set off a major injury when you pick up a small item.
Things to remember when you are required to carry heavy objects:
•Keep the item close to your body – this will put less stress on your back and shoulder muscles;
•When you need to change directions, move your feet first then your back (don’t twist your back to make a direction change);
•Use your knees when lifting;
•Keep your back straight.
AARON BROUWER Instructor Canwest Fire, B.C.
Most back injuries are not the result of a single event; they are the result of regular improper lifting over time.
•There is never just one way to lift an object. Use the safest method. This could mean stopping and changing positions depending on the terrain, for example, your technique will be different on flat floors than on stairs.
If you suffer from acute low back pain, here are some things you can do on your own to go alongside of what your doctor recommends.
Find a comfortable position: www.backpainreliefonline.com recommends the 90-90 position. To get into the 90-90 position, lie on your back with your legs on top of a footstool, chair or other surface so that your hips and knees are bent at 90 degrees (right angles). This position will relieve some of the pressure put on your back.
Ice will help reduce inflammation around the area by slowing down the pain nerve’s transmission signals. The website www.webmd.com defines inflammation as the process by which the body's white blood cells and chemicals protect our bodies from infection by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses. If inflammation runs unchecked it can lead to a host of diseases, such as
PHOTOS COURTESY DARRIN MEIER
Knee to chest – bent
Knee to chest – straight Butterfly stretch
atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ice your injury for 15 to 20 minutes but never longer than that and then allow at least an hour before icing again. Lisa James compares inflammation to a campfire in her article The Hidden Fire found at www.nutricentre.com. “Inflammation that continues unchecked can, like a campfireturned-wildfire, wreak widespread havoc on your health.” Remember to ice regularly during the first few days of your injury.
Here are four stretches you can do to help prevent back injuries:
Knee to chest – bent knee (stretches gluteus, lower back, hamstrings, and quadriceps)
•Lay flat on back with knees bent.
•Grab under right thigh and pull knee toward chest until you feel mild tension.
•Hold for 10 seconds, and then pull slightly farther until you feel slightly more tension.
•Hold this position for 10 seconds.
•Repeat with other leg.
Knee to chest – leg straight (stretches gluteus, lower back, hamstrings, and quadriceps)
•Lay flat on back with knees bent.
•Grab under right thigh and straighten right leg. Do not lock knee.
•Hold for 10 seconds, and then pull slightly farther until you feel slightly more tension.
•Hold this position for 10 seconds.
•Repeat with other leg.
Butterfly stretch (stretches groin and lower back)
• Sit upright with the bottoms of your feet touching each other.
•Bend forward at the waist to a position where you feel mild tension.
•Elbows can be used to push down on thighs if you want more stretch.
•Hold for 10 seconds, and then pull slightly farther until you feel slightly more tension.
•Hold this position for 10 seconds. Upper back stretch (stretches upper back and posterior deltoids)
•Sit with legs straight in front.
•Twist your upper back crossing left arm across chest and place your right hand on the floor.
•Slowly twist until you feel mild tension.
•Hold for 10 seconds, and then pull slightly farther until you feel slightly more tension.
•Hold this position for 10 seconds.
•Return to starting position and twist to the other side.
The Home Depot back injury prevention program says “back-injury prevention is a lifestyle, not a one-time event.” Firefighters need to adopt this kind of mentality. There are several ways to prevent back injuries: working your core (abs, back and thighs) muscles; stretching; and using proper lifting techniques. Remember that most back injuries are not the result of a single event, so make back-injury prevention your lifestyle at work and at home.
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5th Essentials of Fire Fighting
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Completelyrevisedtoincludethelatestfactsonsafeandproperbasic firefightingtechniques,thisupdatedtrainingmanualincludesallofthe informationneededtomeetthefirefightingrequirementsforthe2008 NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.Twentychapterscoveritallfrom buildingconstruction,PPE,andrescueandextricationtowatersupply,firecontrol, protectingfiresceneevidence,andmuchmore.
New features include:
•Full-colourphotographsandillustrations
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The Ray Downey Video Collection on DVD
Thisseriesisatimelystatementthatconsidersnationallypublicizedcollapses,includingthose causedbynaturaldisasters,terrorism,andfire.Originallyreleasedasseparatevideotapesin 1994,thiscollectioncoversconstructionandcollapseknowledge,aswellasincidentplanning andoperationalprocedures.TheseriesisconsistentwithNFPA1470,outliningcurrent techniquesandprocedures.
Featuring Collapse Rescue for the Fire Service: Part1-BuildingConstruction(approx.17mins.)
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RapidInterventionisatwo-partseriesonfirefighterrescueatstructurefires. Whilepresentingmanyoftheprerequisiteknowledgeandskillrequirementsof NFPA1500andOSHA29CFR1910.134,itisbasedoninformationfroma varietyofthelatestreferences.RapidInterventiongoesbeyondtextbooktheory andincludesinformationgleanedfromactualdownedfirefighterincidents. Firefightersareaccustomedtorespondingtocallsfromthepublic,buttheyarenot accustomedtorespondingtocallsforhelpfromfellowfirefighters.WhenaMayday isdeclaredonthefireground,itistoolatetostartmakinguparapidintervention team.Theselife-savingcrewsmustbetrained,equipped,andreadytorespondtoa Maydaycallinstantly.Afellowfirefighter’slifemaydependonit!
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Opening case-hardened locks
Cheap, case-hardened padlocks are found everywhere today. The most common locations for these locks are on roll-down security gates, scissor gates, chained fences and on slide bolts at the rear of commercial buildings. These locks have been made to look like the American 700 series locks, highsecurity locks that are very popular because they look substantial and appear difficult to break open (photo 1). To an unprepared firefighter, these types of locks can hold up quite well to traditional forcible-entry methods. These locks have a hardened shackle that can withstand even the largest pair of bolt cutters. Also, these locks are made with heel and toe construction, so driving the body of the lock off the shackle with the irons can be difficult but entry can usually be forced in a matter of seconds with just a screwdriver. There are four telltale signs that you are dealing with a casehardened padlock:
• These padlocks have a chrome finish whereas the American 700 series locks have a brushed satin finish;
• The word “hardened” will be stamped somewhere on the body of the lock, usually on the back;
• The manufacturer name on the locks is usually Camel, Guard Dawg, Guard, Matrix, Can Pro or Lion.
• The words Made in Taiwan or Made in China are stamped on the lock body or by the key way.
Once you have established that you are dealing with a cheap, case-hardened padlock you will need to get a good-quality slot screwdriver. If you try to use a cheap screwdriver you may break it while attempting to force entry. This can lead to serious injuries so, as always, be sure that you are wearing all appropriate personal protective equipment.
To an unprepared firefighter, these types of locks can hold up quite well to traditional forcible-entry methods.
The thing that makes this type of lock susceptible to a quick forcible entry is the cheap cylinder guard on the bottom of the lock (photo 2). This cylinder guard is easily removable so the lock owner can replace the cylinder in the lock if the key is lost. Firefighters forcing entry are going to manipulate the cylinder guard to gain entry. Simply place the end of the screwdriver under the cylinder guard (photo 3). Once the screwdriver is in place, pry the guard out of the lock (photo 4). You will be amazed at how easy it is to remove the cylinder guard. After the cylinder guard has been pried, give the lock body a light tap with the screwdriver and the cylinder will fall out (photo 5). Once the cylinder is out you will see the brass, pie-shaped locking mechanism inside the locking body. Use the screwdriver that was used to pry the guard out to turn the locking mechanism 180 degrees, opening the lock. Be aware that this method does not work on all casehardened padlocks but is an excellent trick to keep in your back pocket and will be a huge time saver when the situation presents itself on the fire ground.
Andrew Brassard is a career firefighter in Milton, Ont. He also is an instructor with DART Rescue Inc. and Conestoga Pre-service program. In 2007, he was one of two Milton firefighters awarded the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery and the MSA Fireslayer of the Year Award for heroism. Brassard’s company, Phoenix Fire Ground Training, specializes in forcible entry training. Contact him at forcethedoor@hotmail.com or 416-557-4366.
ANDREW BRASSARD
Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
