1ST Responder Newspaper - PA
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
July, 2020
PAGE 19
PENNSYLVANIA
Vacuum Units Deserve A Serious Look The universal challenge to Fire Departments today remains - adequate personnel and water for fire extinguishment. This is especially true in non-hydrant areas.
RAINMAN14
Firefighters operate outside the house as crews made the push to extinguish fire in the attic.
Firefighters Respond to House Fire in Muhlenberg Twp. Muhlenberg Twp., PA - On June 12th at 2:52 P.M., Muhlenberg Twp. Fire Rescue, Laureldale Engine 13, Township of Spring Rescue 85 for RIT and Muhlenberg EMS were dispatched to 4111 6th Avenue in Muhlenberg Twp. for a reported structure fire. Berks DES notified responding crews the additional that a carport attached to the house was on fire. Captain 66 arrived within minutes and found heavy fire showing from the rear of a house. After declaring a working fire, Captain 66 took command and requested the first-in engine to lay into the scene. Captain 66 stated that everyone was reported out of the house. Engine 66 laid in from the hydrant at S. Temple Blvd. and 6th Ave. As crews stretched lines to the rear of the house, Engine 13 connected the five-inch line to the hydrant and supplied Engine 66. Shortly after arrival crews had two lines in service knocking down the fire. Both Leesport and West Reading’s Rescues were dispatched to the scene as cover units. As additional manpower ar-
JUMP TO FILE #062020102 rived, crews began searches and stretched an additional line to take inside the house. Firefighters found the fire made it into the house and began shooting out of the eaves on the 'Delta' side. Crews brought the line up to the second floor where the line was charged. Crews were able to knock down the fire in the cockloft area as firefighters on the roof began vertical ventilation. FM 66 was requested to the scene to investigate. The fire was placed under control with overhaul at 3:32 P.M. Firefighters continued to work for over 30 minutes before command started releasing units. This incident was the first working structure fire in Muhlenberg Twp. since the merger of the Goodwill Fire Co. and Temple Fire Co. to form a new department, Muhlenberg Twp. Fire Rescue. - LUCAS RICHARDSON
Departments are fast discovering the savings in personnel, equipment and time with Firovac™ vacuum fire apparatus. The vacuum system works by air movement (like a primer pump), drafting water into the tank at 1,000-1,500 GPM. Discharging water out of the tank under pressure results in a complete empty and ISO rating of “zero” (no deduction for water left in tank). Loss of prime is not a problem in self-loading and freezing is greatly reduced as no water goes through the vacuum system. Versatility in self-loading from long hose lays up to 180’ and vertical lifts up to 28’ is can result in securing water from nearby water sources thereby saving
valuable time driving to a hydrant. They can do anything a non-vacuum unit can but go beyond to new evolutions of speed and versatility.
Firovac™ did not set out just to make another fire truck. A local Department noticed how efficiently and easily vacuum units could supply water, which resulted in a “better way” as discovered by firefighters in hands on situations. Designed specifically for fire service use, they “fit in” any water shuttle system even enhancing it by self-loading from its own water source. They can also increase the flow rate of a hydrant or supply source by running an extra line to a portable tank a safe distance away for the vacuum units to self-load from the portable tank.
The units are built to meet each specific Department’s needs.They can be constructed as a tanker/tender, tanker/pumper, pumper/tanker, res-
cue/pumper/tanker or wildland unit with features like any other unit. They have nurse, pump and roll, and pump and dump capability. Items like fire pumps, foam, hose reels, bumper turrets, deck guns, large volume floating and transfer strainers and power fold down brackets capable of containing two tanks are available. The advantages of vacuum units are obvious. Superior fill and flow rates using less tankers and less people means more people on the fireground fighting the fire, less equipment means cheaper maintenance and more equipment on the fire ground, the fill pumper now becomes the backup pumper on the scene, A win-win situation. Vacuum units deserve a serious look. www.firovac.com
FIROVAC
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