LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Responding to the article I wrote, “What We Didn’t Learn from the Waverly Tragedy," New York Fire Department Deputy Chief Ted Goldfarb wrote a useful letter, noting that “...many fire service professionals do not understand the true mechanism of a BLEVE.” (Goldfarb was the author of a 1977 WNYF magazine article, “The BLEVE.”) Here, we will briefly address the BLEVE phenomenon.
31 min read

Pennsylvania Collapse Kills Four Firefighters

A predawn fire struck a furniture reconditioning business in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, on Friday, December 20, 1991. Four firefighters were killed in a fireground collapse.
21 min read

APPARATUS DELIVERIES

The Brockport (NY) Fire Department protects an area of 90 square miles that has a population of 18,000. Fire Chief Laurence C. Vaughn explains that…
7 min read

ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS

To put out a fire, you have to get to it first. Access for firefighting apparatus, therefore, is an important consideration for the firefighter and…
10 min read

EQUIPMENT DIGEST

Edge Industries Inc. offers the Scrench Holder. The holder allows the combination screwdriver/wrench (“scrench”) that comes with each saw to be attached to the saw.…
7 min read

CHEMICAL DATA NOTEBOOK SERIES #73: EPICHLOROHYDRIN

Epichlorohydrin is a flammable, reactive, polymerizable, toxic, irritating, colorless liquid with a pungent odor that resembles garlic. It is used as a curing agent for…
14 min read

AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY EXTRICATIONS

Responding to agricultural incidents such as one that involves a corn picker/chopper extrication can tax even the most experienced rescuers. Lack of knowledge, experience, and…
9 min read