FIRE ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENTS
EDITORIAL 6
VOLUNTEERS CORNER 8
Residential attic fires
TRAINING NOTEBOOK 10
Safety and loss control for the fire service
DISPATCHES 16
Volunteer firefighters meet at UN Physiological effects of firefighting Safety notice on cabinet heater use Haz-mat accident report issued
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 12
EQUIPMENT DIGEST 60
MANUFACTURERS’ LITERATURE 61
COURSES AND COMING EVENTS 62
APPARATUS DELIVERIES 63
NAMES IN THE NEWS 65
TRAINING AIDS 65
CLASSIFIEDS 66
READER SERVICE CARDS 67
FEATURES
PESTICIDE STORAGE FIRE 20
A fire involving highly toxic materials caused $500,000 worth of damage at a Goleta, CA, commercial greenhouse complex. The storage of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers within the building caused a “routine” fire incident to become a potential catastrophe.
BY A.L. MESKIMEN AND K.D. CULLOM
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE 24
This colorless liquid has an acute irritating odor and sharp taste, and is totally soluble in water. Although hydrogen peroxide does not burn, as an oxidizing agent, it will support combustion. BY FRANK L. FIRE
CHICAGO CONFLAGRATION 30
Chicago, IL, firefighters battled this spectacular multiple-alarm inferno that extended into the city’s busy manufacturing district. There was only one minor injury due to effective pre-planning. BY KENNETH WOOD
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IN FIREFIGHTING 38
Perhaps the greatest hazard posed by many of the toxic chemicals which firefighters face is that they accumulate in the body and can cause extensive damage. Clinics are now offering detoxification programs to treat the negative effects of these chemicals. BY GERALD LIONELLI
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRAINING AIDS 44
The proper use of training aids can make classroom and practical training sessions more interesting and successful. BY NORMAN R. HATCHER, JR.
STUDYING FOR PROMOTIONAL EXAMS, PART I 48
Many firefighters will have to achieve a relatively high score on an extremely competitive examination in order to be promoted to a higher rank. Part I of this article discusses how we process and retain information. BY MIGUEL ROIG
Rx FOR YOUR FD 54
Does your fire department suffer from tired organizational blood? This article discusses the three parts of an organization and describes how you can revitalize them to breathe new life into your department.
BY HARRY CARTER
AN ECONOMICAL AIR TRAILER 58
The Sandy Fire District, outside of Portland, OR, constructed a portable system air trailer to solve the problem of transporting air bottles for refilling over rocky terrain. BY CHARLES K. HANSON
