FIRE ENGINEERING
Take the surprise out of building collapse … See page 16
January 1984
Volume 137 No. 1
DEPARTMENTS
6 EDITORIAL
Pocket Maintenance
8 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
Fire Fighters Beget Officers
10 ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Developing Haz-Mat Training Programs
30 DISPATCHES
Illinois
12 LETTERS
38 SCHOOLS
38 COMING EVENTS
50 NEWS
51 APPARATUS
DELIVERIES/INNOVATIONS
54 NAMES IN THE NEWS
57 EQUIPMENT DIGEST
58 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
67 READER SERVICE CARD
CONFERENCE REPORT
14 FIRE CHIEFS—NEW ROLES, NEW IMAGES
Fire chiefs are being challenged to make adjustments to meet the changing needs of the fire service. Whether it’s a positive or negative challenge depends on the individual fire chief.
FIRE FIGHTING BASICS
16 BUILDING COLLAPSE SHOULDN’T BE A SURPRISE
There are many indications of weakening and possible collapse of fire buildings. By recognizing and communicating this information, injuries to personnel can be eliminated or at least lessened.
APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT
24 PORTABLE HOSE TESTING DEVICE
An innovative and inexpensive piece of equipment permits safe quality hose testing at relatively high pressures in the field without the use of a pumper.
28 ARKANSAS’ FORESTRY FIRE TRUCK PROGRAM
A program of refurbishing surplus military vehicles is proving a cost effective means of supplying rural communities with needed fire fighting equipment.
MAINTENANCE
52 AIR BAG MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
For air bag systems to remain in safe and ready operating order, a scheduled, thorough maintenance program is mandatory.
HEALTH
32 FITNESS—AN OVERLOOKED MAINTENANCE AREA
A well-maintained human body will give the same optimum performance as a well-maintained apparatus.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
34 RESOURCE MANUAL NEED CITED AFTER SPILL
Alaskan geography complicated the handling of a hazardous material incident with the closest acid pump being 500 miles away.
FIRE REPORTS
41 WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RAMADA INN
The fire in the Fort Worth, Tex., hotel thrived on many elements, including human error and inadequate building codes.
48 LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION CURBS DISASTER
Noncombustible construction provides “explosion venting,” allowing 52 occupants to escape from a supermarket explosion.
