FIRE ENGINEERING

FIRE ENGINEERING

May 1987

Volume 140 No. 5

DEPARTMENTS

EDITORIAL 6

Shelved humanity

VOLUNTEERS CORNER 8

Residence fires

TRAINING NOTEBOOK 10

Vertical foam insulation

DISPATCHES 14

Ground ladder test

Peter Pirsch finds new owners

Praises for Portland’s ECHO

Safe inns are in demand

Emmitsburg and Capitol Hill

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 13

EQUIPMENT DIGEST 64

COURSES/COMING EVENTS 72

APPARATUS DELIVERIES 77

MANUFACTURERS’ LITERATURE 79 CLASSIFIEDS 81

READER SERVICE CARD 83

FEATURES

FIREGROUND COMMAND

COMMAND PRESENCE 16

Eight take-charge actions reflect the attitudes that will help you become a more effective—and respected—fireground commander.

BY VINCENT DUNN

RESCUE

COLLAPSE ON ADELPHI STREET 23

The immediate aftermath of a building collapse is usually a time of confusion and pandemonium. A recent New York City building collapse called for firefighters to quickly discern the information at hand and come up with a successful and safe rescue plan. BY RAY DOWNEY

SAFETY

SAFE CELEBRATIONS 33

It’s the fire department’s job to prevent fireworks-related mishaps within its district. To do that, you must know about the classifications, regulations, local powers, and procedures involved, BY RONALD E. KANTERMAN

APPARATUS SAFETY FROM FRONT TO BACK 45

Apprentice firefighters are rarely introduced to emergency driving procedures until their first day on the job. The best way to get firefighters to the scene safely is to train for emergency driving. BY KEVIN G. KROGER

DEFENSIVE RIDING 47

Two apparatus accidents involving firefighters riding on the tailboard demonstrated the need for a new standard safety procedure.

BY LOUIS R. SCLAFANI, JR.

VISUAL AID 61

Poor eyesight can keep you from firefighting or handicap you if you do get the job. A nonsurgical procedure—called orthokeratology—combats nearsightedness. BY GLORIA STURZENACKER

HEALTH

HEPATITIS-B: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE 41

When you come to the aid of an injured person, you may be in danger of contracting the hepatitis-B virus. Vaccination is the only protection, and the San Jose (Calif.) Fire Department is making sure that protection is available to its members. BY TOM RICHARDSON

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

CALCIUM CARBIDE 52

Calcium carbide itself poses only one real hazard—it’s water-reactive. But when the reaction does take place, it generates highly unstable, explosive acetylene gas. BY FRANK L FIRE

Four Firefighters Hurt in Fire in Abandoned Harlem (NY) Building

Four firefighters were injured battling a massive fire that tore through an abandoned Harlem building where jazz icon Billie Holiday reportedly once lived.