NEWS
Subterranean Station
What may be the nation’s first earthsheltered fire station is being constructed by members of the Sipsey Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Buhl, Ala.
Earth-sheltered housing is becoming more and more common in Alabama, says Chief L. A. Marlowe, and it is starting to find a niche in communities across the United States. Using the earth’s natural insulation, underground structures are proving a cost-effective means of conserving energy (see Fire Engineering, August 1983).
Construction of the new Sipsey Valley station began in early July and is expected to be completed this month. All 100 fire fighters of the department are volunteering their time to construct the new station.
So the only cost is for materials, says Marlowe, Which is approximately $12,000.”
I he Sipsey Valley Volunteer Fire Department is made up of four fire stations serving six communities, an approximately 30-mile area.
The Buhl tire station is being built into the side of a hill, 7 feet underground, with steel reinforced concrete. There will be three pull up overhead doors with insulated glass for lighting. The station will be centrally located in the department s response area and will house the department’s emergency generator, lighting equipment, SCBA and smoke ejectors. The station will also house a 250-gpm pumper with a 1200gallon tank and a 1500-gallon tanker. Marlowe explains that, with the exception of the Coker community, there are no hydrants in any of his department s response areas, so all water must be carried on the apparatus Fire fighters often have to draft water from swimming pools, cattle ponds and creeks, says Marlowe. Presently, the department s apparatus is housed in a temporary station.
The new station will also serve as a tornado shelter for a nearby elementary school.
Funds permitting, two other earth-sheltered stations will be built in the Elrod area and in Romulus.
Funding Granted
Funding for vital fire protection services has been granted under authority of a recently passed state law in the city of Boston. The Boston Fire Commissioner, George Paul, assessed over $10,000,000 in Augmented Fire Services Availability (AFSA) tees to 2200 of Boston’s largest potential users of tire protection services The funding came out of the belief that owners of high level structures should pay for their extra share of the costs of fire servic es, instead of taxpayers who have no need of such services.
Audio/Visual Program
Scott Aviation, Health/Safety Products,
A Figgie International Company, has completed its fifth audio/visual program entitled “Scott Ska-Pak, Operation and Maintenance.” This program is designed to educate persons in the operation and maintenance of Scott’s emergency escape unit, Ska-Pak. This A/V program covers the two basic configurations of Ska-Pak. The 5minute self-contained air supply for escape only, and a combination 5-minute selfcontained air supply for escape and type C supplied air respirator used for entry into areas immediately dangerous to life or health. Half facepiece and full facepiece models are discussed.
The program consists of eighty, 35mm, colored slides, numbered and inserted in a universal slide tray, a standard cassette tape, pulsed for automatic slide advance and a sixteen page book duplicating the text of the tape. The duration of the audio portion is approximately 17 minutes. The program is designed for use with the Singer Caramate Projection System and is available through all authorized Scott Air-Pak distributors and Scott Aviation Advertising Department, Lancaster, NY 14086.
New Fire Science Curriculum Developed
Approximately 4000 career fire/rescue jobs exist in the three-state metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. For 17 years, 90 percent of Montgomery College Fire Science students have successfully competed for existing vacancies. Only 10 percent have sought private sector fire protection employment. Recognizing that non-fire department fire protection represented untapped employment opportunities, Montgomery College’s Fire Science Advisory Committee developed a fire protection engineering technology curriculum.
Beginning with the freshman class in the fall, 1984, all students will take a common core of studies including english composition, technical writing, speech, chemistry, physics, mathematics, architectural drawing, computer science, psychology, management, a humanities/social science elective, fire protection and prevention organization, hazardous materials, building construction, detection and suppression systems and hydraulics and water supply systems. Fire department oriented students will take an additional package including fire service administration, fire electives, and political science electives. Fire protection engineering technology oriented students will take an alternative package introducing calculus, and including general engineering technology and fire protection engineering technology electives.
The cooperative program designed for qualified students to live in fire/rescue stations for free in return for responding to alarms, and the Maryland fire service tuition reimbursement program will continue.