FIRE ENGINEERING

FIRE ENGINEERING

March 1984

Volume 137 No. 3

SCBA training gallery … See page 46

DEPARTMENTS

6 EDITORIAL

Sometimes pressure in the fire service comes from political or self interest factions. In this one case, the firefighter can learn lessons from either side.

8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER

Teamwork vs. Prima Donna

10 ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Marine Incidents II

42 DISPATCHES

Rescue/containment hose Bowling alley fire Portable air supply

13 LETTERS

40 COMPANY NEWS

49 NEWS

54 COMING EVENTS

54 SCHOOLS

56 CLASSIFIEDS

58 EQUIPMENT DIGEST

58 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

59 READER SERVICE CARD

LAWS AND LEGISLATION

14 FIREFIGHTER SAFETY—A LEGAL DIRECTION

Firefighters have a legal right to a safe work environment and to information regarding substances found in these environments. Firefighters, as well as other public workers, must protect their rights as citizens. What happened in one state can happen in others.

TRAINING

24 RESCUE TECHNIQUES FORM BASIS OF TRAINING

A standardized training program for rope rescue that has been accepted throughout the entire Rocky Mountain area stresses safety as the primary consideration in all operations.

46 SCBA TRAINING GALLERY

Regardless of the type of SCBA a fire department may be equipped with, training firefighters in its proper use is an absolute necessity. Giving all firefighters the experience to effectively operate with SCBA in a variety of controlled situations is the purpose of a unique training maze.

FIREFIGHTING BASICS

26 TAXPAYERS—AN OVERVIEW

Taxpayers are often associated with rapid fire spread and heavy fire losses. They all have common identifiable characteristics and construction features that contribute to the unique fire problem these buildings present.

RESCUE

50 FIRE SERVICE HARNESSES

Harnesses are one of the most depended upon pieces of equipment the fire service has. Yet, there are no criteria for their safety and use. Perhaps firefighters should consider setting their own standards for harnesses.

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS

53 EVALUATING HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCBA

To give its firefighters the best SCBA protection available, the Los Angeles City, CA, Fire Department embarked on an extensive SCBA evaluation and modification process. Firefighters themselves tested the equipment and determined what changes were needed to make the SCBA more comfortable and easier to use.

Second class postage paid at New York, N.Y. 10001, and at additional mailing offices.

Craig Nelson and Tailboard Talk crew on NFA

Tailboard Talk: The Importance of the National Fire Academy

Hosts Craig Nelson, Jeff Wallin, and Chris Rasmussen discuss the critical role of the National Fire Academy.

Fireworks Likely to Blame for an Explosion at CA Home That Critically Injured One

One person was critically injured and a home partially collapsed after an explosion rocked a Pacoima neighborhood Thursday morning, officials said.