FIRE ENGINEERING

FIRE ENGINEERING

Improving public support for the fire service through EMS … See page 55

DEPARTMENTS

4 FROM THE PUBLISHER

Introducing our new editor

6 VOLUNTEERS CORNER

Four styles of command

8 ON HAZARDOUS

MATERIALS

Pipelines: potential for a major incident

10 EMS

For fire officers: shifting gears in EMS operations

12 DISPATCHES

Alabama, Virginia

57 BUYERS’ GUIDE

A listing of rescue and EMS equipment and manufacturers.

9 LETTERS 27 NEWS

62 EQUIPMENT DIGEST 27 SCHOOLS

66 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

67 READER SERVICE CARD

November 1383

Volume 136 No. 11

RESCUE/EMS

14 LEO R. SCHWARTZ: THE ESSENCE OF EMS

The past chief of NHTSA’s EMS Division traces the history of EMS, from its roots in field intervention medicine to its present position after hardearned national public acceptance.

24 COMPETITION VS COOPERATION

Here’s how one district resolved the friction between its emergency services and produced more efficient response teams.

28 FARM MACHINERY EXTRICATION

Hydraulic rescue tools, sufficiently effective for motor vehicle accidents may prove totally ineffective for a farm machinery accident.

36 BRIDGE RESCUE—160 FEET OFF THE GROUND

Despite the lack of proper equipment, specialized training or a specific plan of action, past training and innovations enabled emergency personnel to successfully tackle a new situation.

40 PARAMEDIC ENGINES—A PROVEN PROGRAM

Paramedic units are providing effective mobile intensive care services, irregardless of jurisdictional boundaries.

52 PARAMEDICS/FIRE FIGHTERS AMBULANCE SERVICE

This combination ambulance service is proving an innovative and cost effective means of improving emergency services and public relations.

55 FIRE SERVICE GAINS PUBLIC SUPPORT VIA EMS

With increasing demands for good EMS systems, it may be beneficial for fire fighters to explore the benefits of getting involved in EMS.

TRAINING

16 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY—NEEDS MORE TRAINING

Unless proper safety precautions are exercised, the hazard potential in confined spaces is great. Background information and guidelines to develop a confined spaces training program is offered here.

39 AUDIOVISUAL TEAM FOCUSES ON BETTER TRAINING

The Newark, N.J., Fire Department is providing better training for its fire fighters by relying on the tools of modern technology.

FIRE REPORTS

30 LIGHTNING BOLT TRIGGERS MAJOR INCIDENT

A delayed alarm and automatic fire door failures contributed to a distribution center fire that took more than seven hours to bring under control.

ADMINISTRATION

44 MEMO: TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

A reply to a city official’s memo to a fire chief (that ran in our August issue) gives the fire fighter’s side of added expenses, cliques, the annual bean supper, etc.

West Hurley explosion

Two Dead in West Hurley (NY) House Explosion, Police Say

Two people died Wednesday when a house on Brueckner Lane exploded, state police said.

Los Angeles Has Fixed the Vast Majority of Fire Hydrants Flagged for Repairs

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has fixed or replaced the vast majority of fire hydrants flagged for repairs in last year's inspections after a…