LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DEPARTMENTS
Rural hitch proves a valuable evolution on both sides of the Mississippi
I’d like to add my support for the rural hitch evolution (“Rural Hitch,” FIRE ENGINEERING, December 1984). It really helps bring order to the fireground and allows operational flexibility.
Our previous standard operating procedure was to have the first-arriving engine and tanker both enter the “country lane” and begin operations. This allowed operation from the booster tank while ensuring that the tanker could be operated with minimum manpower. The second-arriving engine and tanker would then do whatever was required to supply water to the fire scene. Many times, this resulted in time-wasting and dangerous maneuvering of the second engine as it backed into the lane so that it could lay out to the main road. The worst part was that the first tanker was locked in and became the equivalent of a large folding tank.
I hope other departments will try the rural hitch operation in comparison to their present evolutions.
Ernest Schirmer
Chief
Town of Oneonia Volunteer Fire Department
Oneonta, NY
My compliments to Assistant Chief Don Curtis on his article “Rural Hitch” (FIRE ENGINEERING, December 1984) where he describes the use of a clappered Siamese and large diameter hose in supplying water to attack pumpers.
While serving as fire chief in McCloud, CA, our department developed a similar setup (but perhaps a bit more elaborate) that was used for hydrant supply as well as the uses described by Chief Curtis.
Our “hitch” was a clappered Siamese mounted on a stand with a base plate and handle. The base plate was mounted to the rear step using a standard Circle D light mounting bracket. The Siamese outlet was attached to 5inch hose (Storz coupling) and both inlets had 15-foot sections of 3-inch hose with 2 1/2-inch couplings preconnected, coiled, and held together with bands fashioned from an inner tube.
Using D rings, we hung a hydrant wrench, applicable hose spanners, a 2 1/2-inch double male fitting, and a 4 1/2-inch X 5-inch fitting from the stand.
Regardless of our water source, everything was available on the hitch for immediate water flow. The clapper took care of a single 2 1/2 -inch supply connection. If we had a hydrant with two 2 1/2-inch outlets but no steamer fitting, both 3-inch hoses were connected to the outlets to maximize available water flow in forward lays. If the hydrant had a steamer outlet, the 4 1/2-inch NST X 5-inch adapter was connected and the 5-inch hose disconnected from the Siamese to be attached to the steamer outlet. The weight of the hitch and equipment was easily handled by one firefighter, yet heavy enough to hold the hose at the hydrant until the attack pumper could lay about 100 feet of the 5-inch hose. Connections could then be safely made to the water source.
Perhaps this idea can help a few departments in simplifying hose evolutions and reducing the confusion that seems to inevitably occur on the fireground.
Wesley Melo
Firefighter
Turn of River Fire Department
Stamford, CT
Life safely decals are not always current
Decal programs addressing special life safety aspects of occupied structural fires are very popular throughout the nation. Currently, many fire prevention programs emphasize the value of their use.
While advocates of this program for several years, problems recently identified have prompted us to reevaluate our philosophy. Our experience shows that these risks eventually move out; but the decal remains on a now unoccupied room window. Our transient population moves, on an average, every seven years or less, oftentimes making the decals less important.
We advise that a sticker should be on the window, as well as on the appropriate interior door at or near the floor level. Most people refuse to deface their doors with an eight-inch decal. Our rescue efforts are prioritized by searching living and sleeping quarters first. And these decals are difficult to remove after a few years.
We are not speaking against the program, we just wanted to share some thoughts.
R. E. West
Chief
Kitsap County Fire Protection District No. 1
Silverdale, WA
Fire service equipment should be designed, not adopted
In his response to Captain G. J. Naylis’ letter in the December 1984 issue of FIRE ENGINEERING, Paul McFadden stated, “,. . most of the tools were not designed for firefighters, rather, they were adopted by us.” It seems to me that the same thing is true regarding rural fire departments using apparatus designed basically for urban use. For example:
- Why are there no pumps with valve/primer provisions made (possibly behind the pump panel) so that the operator can easily change from the booster tank to a portable drop tank? All the pumpers I have seen require either a rather tricky valve operation (with luck being a major factor in avoiding loss of pump prime or pressure surge) or withdrawing all firefighters and handlines so that the pumper can be shut down while making the changeover.
- Why not use mechanical shaft seals on the pump to eliminate the constant tinkering to maintain the correct number of drops per minute through the pump packings?
- Why do pump panels seem to be laid out to satisfy someone’s sense of artistic symmetry, instead of being based on logical steps in operation or the human dimension? For example, our department has a pumper with an attractive panel that has the pilot valve four feet from the master pressure gauge. An orangutan would find it easy to set the relief valve, but the average human finds it difficult.
I’m sure the manufacturers would be happy to build anything our department might design, but we are too poor to embark on $100,000 experiments. I guess we will continue to try to adapt apparatus to our needs, but it seems that some governmental agency or manufacturer might look at the needs of rural departments with a fresh eye and a blank sheet. Since there are so many rural departments, there just might be a good market for equipment really designed for rural use.
Royce Ballew
Treasurer
Waco Community Volunteer Fire Department
Waco, NC
The 1984 index of articles is available free of charge by writing to;
FIRE ENGINEERING
875 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Automatic fire vents can reduce the safety hazards faced by firefighters
“The Model Incident Command System” (FIRE ENGINEERING, January 1985) raised several points on which I’d like to comment.
The authors confirm the little-recognized potential for fire-caused structural collapse that exists in unprotected, non-combustible construction. Such construction is widely used in factory and storage occupancies.
“Ventilation” of such building fires leads to extreme hazards for firefighters on the roof over a working fire. Manual ventilation by opening industrial roofs is not only dangerous and slow, but is unnecessary since automatic “heat-actuated” ventilation has been available for over 30 years.
The authors’ comment, “While vertical ventilation is important in a fire, with this type of roof construction, extreme caution must be exercised and may have to be avoided altogether,” is clearly based on their concern about structural collapse while firefighters are on the roof with an unknown threat below them. However, automatic fire vents do provide “vertical ventilation” precisely where needed since the vents open only where threatening high temperatures have reached the ventactuating mechanism.
The readers of FIRE ENGINEERING can exercise their influence on the local and regional code-making process to see that all types of factory and storage occupancies are provided with automatic fire vents consistent with the guidelines of the National Fire Academy’s Regulation 204 (smoke and heat venting).
Manual venting will always be a part of firefighting for many fires, but can clearly be avoided in hazardous areas by using modern, proven technology.
Edward S. Naidus
Chairman, Fire Vent Industry Group
Senior Consultant, APC Corporation
Hawthorne, N]
Educational support must start at the top
I’m glad to see FIRE ENGINEERING comment on formal education in the fire service. I personally have completed 2 1/2years of study to be certified as a level III firefighter and have always believed in schooling for the fire service. Unfortunately, formal classroom training has been criticized by some of the very people who should be supporting it.
I’m speaking of some chief level officers who, instead of checking into and becoming involved in these learning programs, make excuses, “Not enough time,” “I’m an administrator, not a firefighter.” However, this is where schooling support has to come from.
I have had a subscription to your fine magazine for about two years, and have picked up some things that have made the fire suppression job a little easier.
So, when you speak of education, remember that the little guys need the backing and support from those who wear the white hats.
Jeff Rolfe
Firefighter
Mukwonago Fire Department
Mukwonago, W1