Oshkosh FIRE TRUCKS AND VEHICLES

Want to know an easy way to judge the quality of a fire department? Look at how much they train. Career, volunteer or combination, fire departments become successful through training. Yet all training is not equal. Focus too much on hands-on training (HOT) and you could be missing important legal and compliance updates. Lean heavily on web-based training and you may fail to identify shortcomings in skills proficiencies. Keep students confined to a classroom and you may lose their interest quickly. Not surprisingly, a balance of all three types of training is needed to produce competent, empowered firefighters. For this article, I was challenged to think about what’s missing from our current fire training programs. As I thought about the varied way we approach fire training, three issues jumped out at me. Base training on facts and statistics Take advantage of new technologies Incorporate policy into your training   Your training program should also be strong in the types of calls you respond to most Base Training On Facts And Statistics If your department has a robust training program, outlined by a calendar of various topics and employing a mix of HOT, online and classroom training, you’re ahead of the curve. But even in departments with well-developed training programs, training is often based on preference or habit, not data. Think about the topics in your training program. Do you know why they’re included? Do they match your call make-up? Are they targeting specific skill shortcomings? (And yes, we all have them!)What’s missing from many fire department training programs is a detailed needs assessment What’s missing from many fire department training programs is a detailed needs assessment that in turn establishes a factual basis for the year’s training topics. The needs assessment should include: Surveying the members to determine the types of training they want or feel they need. Measuring firefighter proficiency on basic tasks, such as NFPA 1403 drills, NFPA 1710 drills and EMS patient assessment skills audits, to assess personnel by mandate or by industry best practice. This will identify skills deficiencies to address through training. Incorporating call volume statistics and details. A significant percentage of the calls fire departments respond to are EMS and vehicle extrication But I’d venture to guess the training programs of most departments don’t match those percentages. Yes, you need to train for the high-risk, low-frequency tasks. But your training program should also be strong in the types of calls you respond to most. Incorporating these “facts and stats” into your training program will help you keep it fresh, relevant and interesting. Firefighters can use their phones and tablets to access department training information and complete training assignments Take Advantage Of New Technologies There is something to be said for back-to-the-basics, keep-it-simple firefighter training. But it’s a mistake to ignore technological advances. From teaching safe apparatus backing procedures to practicing hoseline deployment and Vent/Enter/Isolate/Search (VEIS) tactics, instructors have more options than ever before. Some instructors regard simulators as second-rate to “the real thing.” Certainly, simulation and other forms of technology-driven instruction can’t replace the value of hands-on experience. But they can augment it in important ways. Driver simulators, for example, not only save money because apparatus don’t have to be taken out of service or sustain wear and tear; they also provide an environment where firefighters can learn without risk of injury. If sitting behind a computer isn’t your kind of thing, live-burn simulators, vehicle fire simulators and hazmat simulators are available—and they all significantly boost training efficiency.Technology will never replace hands-on instruction, but it can facilitate it But you don’t need fancy simulators to incorporate technology into your fire training program. Learning management systems (LMS) are another important tool that can increase training program efficiency. Although they’ve been around for a long time, LMS continue to improve. The ability to integrate with mobile devices is huge, allowing firefighters to use their phones and tablets to access department training information and complete training assignments. Leveraging this technology can allow you to more efficiently manage information, schedule training and free up valuable time needed for other important tasks. If you’ve attended some of the larger regional or national fire conferences recently, you may have had the opportunity to see audience response technology in action. By capturing the firefighters’ responses to questions in real-time, instructors can adjust the material to reflect students’ knowledge level. Audience response is also simply a great way to keep firefighters engaged. Technology will never replace hands-on instruction, but it can facilitate it. If you’re using training methods that haven’t changed in decades, something’s missing from your training program.   Without incorporating policy into your training, you’re only giving your firefighters half the equation Incorporate Policy Into Your Training I saved the biggest and best for last. When I work with fire departments across the country, I repeatedly discover the failure to incorporate policy into training. Think about it: Training curricula are almost always designed around procedures—the how of doing something. But isn’t the why just as important? And that’s what policy is all about. Without incorporating policy into your training, you’re only giving your firefighters half the equation.Inevitably firefighters will encounter times when following the procedure isn’t possible Inevitably firefighters will encounter times when following the procedure isn’t possible. That’s when policy training kicks in—firefighters understand the fundamental objective, and they can think on their feet about how to achieve it. Training on policy also helps departments address the issues that so often get firefighters into trouble. How many of your firefighters really understand your department’s social media policy? What about the rules surrounding sick time usage? These are things that trip up firefighters time and time again. If you’re not training on policies, it’s unlikely firefighters remember them. How many of your firefighters really understand your department’s social media policy? In addition, normalization of deviance is a risk to every organization. When personnel fail to follow policies and no negative repercussions result, it can quickly establish a new normal. Policy-based training resets the “normal” and makes sure that members of the organization comply with the policy and not what they think the policy says.Most line-of-duty death reports cite failure to comply with policy or lack of adequate policy Fire instructors often avoid training on policy because they regard it as boring or unrelated to what really matters—firefighter safety and survival. Yet most line-of-duty death reports cite failure to comply with policy or lack of adequate policy as contributing factors in the incident. If you’re worried that policy will make your training program dry and uninteresting, link it to real-world events. An online search provides lots of examples of when things went wrong and how adherence to policy might have produced a different outcome. And limit policy training to small chunks. Take out a 10-page policy and go through it line by line, and your students’ eyes will glaze over in seconds. Instead, look for ways to enrich your current training by bringing relevant pieces of policy into it. Your firefighters will be learning the department’s policies without even realizing it! Focus On Continuous Improvement Fire chiefs and fire instructors have a challenging job. Budgets are tight, and training is often one of the first things to be cut. Yet we need firefighters to be proficient in all-hazards response. Every department has a long training wish list. But if we focus on continuous quality improvement, we can get a little better each year. Looking for opportunities to incorporate statistics, technology and policy into our training is a good place to start.

Within traditional commercial and industrial firefighting systems, engineers have primarily focused on permanent installation designs rather than entertaining alternative or supplemental mobile firefighting systems. Permanent installation design is typically better understood, supported, and supplied throughout the fire protection engineering and manufacturing community. However, mobile firefighting systems provide unique solutions and advantages compared to their permanent installation cousins such as flexible deployment, simpler servicing, improved economy, and much higher performance availability. The combination of both systems is frequently the most strategic solution for the facility operator. Limitations of fixed installation systems Permanent installation (fixed) systems include everything from sprinklers, foam systems, primary watermain pumps, and the plethora of piping in between. A large refinery complex will need to address various hazard mitigation and control problems that span both hardware and personnel needs. In the event standard hazard mitigation safety procedures and equipment have failed, the facility immediately initiates a hazard control operation. Passive fixed systems automatically engage the hazard through an array of sensors, mechanical triggers, and control algorithms. A properly designed system with adequate hazard coverage, preplanning, preventative maintenance, and testing will successfully terminate the hazard, while firefighting personnel respond and ensure no further hazards develop. This conceptual approach relies on hardware and personnel all operating as planned…. Combining permanent and mobile apparatus “According to plan” would never have any failures or fires, but history has a different script. In the worst-case petrochemical scenario, fixed systems fail to extinguish a hazard putting the entire response on human and mobile hardware resources. This would include but is not limited to firetrucks, mobile high-flow pumping systems, large mobile monitors, foam proportioning units, and large diameter layflat hose. This type of response escalates into a larger scale operation, sometimes involving agencies beyond the facility operator itself. Although a low probability event, the risk to life and property is significantly substantial. Fixed systems may be rendered inoperable due to the loss of electrical power or actual physical damage Reducing fire-related expenditureMore typical than the worst-case scenario, facilities experience both maintenance-related system downtimes and natural phenomena damage such as extreme weather and seismic events. In this case, fixed systems may be rendered inoperable due to the loss of electrical power or actual physical damage. In any of these situations, mobile fire apparatus may fill the gap requirements of the facility as their flexible storage and deployment would protect them from everything but the worst natural disasters. Their further benefit is that a smaller set of mobile apparatus resources may be used to protect a larger amount of infrastructure, especially while in use in a mutual-aid program between facilities and communities. According to the NFPA’s report “Total Cost of Fire in the United States”, fire-related damages and expenditures from 1980 to 2014 have risen from roughly $200B (adjusted for inflation to 2014) to nearly $330B. The greatest expenditure is in fire safety costs in building construction, amounting to $57.4B. Although the overall losses per year as a ratio to protection expenditures has dropped by roughly 70% over the past 30 years, petrochemical facility losses have continued to rise over the same time. In the worst-case petrochemical scenario, fixed systems fail to extinguish a hazard  Petrochemical facility challenges According to the NFPA, refineries or natural gas plants had reported an average of 228 fires or explosions per year through the 1990s. Furthering this data with Marsh’s “100 Largest Losses, 25th edition”, refinery losses have continually expanded throughout the last two decades with 11 of the top 20 largest losses of the past 40 years happening during or after the year 2000. Two primary drivers of this trend are the advanced age of petrochemical facilities and their staggering complexity. As oil margins fall, upstream operational businesses are detrimentally affected by reduced investment in everything to new equipment, maintenance and passive safety systems. There is an observable correlation between a major oil price drop followed by upstream facility fire losses. Even with reduced investment and oil throughput growth rates, US refinery utilisation at the end 2017 was at 96.7%, the highest since 2005 (Marsh, The Impact of the Price of Oil). The short story is that systems and personnel are being asked to do more with less with each passing year. Cost-effective mobile apparatus systems  Mobile fire apparatus is generally more cost-effective to procure when using standardised designs and application methodology. They can access open water sources by either drafting (when in close proximity to the water) or using floating source pumps (for variable level or difficult access water sources). Mobile fire apparatus is generally more cost-effective to procure when using standardized designs and application methodology With this open water access, they can provide significantly more water (upwards of 10,000 GPM or more per system if necessary) than any typical fixed fire pumping solution. Moreover, as their primary benefit, they are easy to move and deploy. This benefit allows them to be utilised at the point of hazard as needed while being easily accessible for service. While fixed systems are installed at “every known” hazard and must be continually maintained to operate effectively, mobile systems may be used sitewide or across facilities. This flexibility reduces overall capital expenditure requirements and establishes a valuable primary and secondary firefighting system depending on the hazard and facility resources. Combining fixed and mobile systems Permanent installation fire suppression systems are a mainstay of modern day firefighting. They provide immediate passive response with little human intervention. However, as facility utilisation is pushed to maximum capacity while fixed systems continually age out without adequate replacement or maintenance, mobile systems will need to both fill the response gap and provide a final wall to total loss incidents. The reality is that both fixed and mobile systems need to work together to provide the safest possible operation. Service and training requirements need to also be maintained to manage an adequate, or even better, exemplary response to hazard control incidents. Managing major facility uptime requires continuous oversight and to drive hazard mitigation standards throughout the organisation, including executive management. A safe, reliable and fully-functional plant is also a profitable and cost-effective plant much like a healthy worker is a better worker. Protect your people and property and you will protecting your company’s future.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that Firematic Supply Company, Pierce’s dealer for Eastern New York and Connecticut, has commemorated the company’s 50th anniversary with the opening of a state-of-the-art showroom and service center in Patterson, New York, and the acceptance of Pierce’s distinguished 2019 Dealer of the Year Award. Sell And Service Fire Extinguishers Originally established in 1961 to sell and service fire extinguishers and fire department supplies, Firematic was purchased by Mike Hanratty in 1969 with a focus on expansion and service. When the company began selling Pierce apparatus in 1980, territory coverage and product sales began to expand substantially. Continuing Firematic’s long legacy, Peter Hanratty took the reigns as a second-generation President in 2005. Firematic technicians offer specialized diagnosis, repairs, and parts inventory" “Opening our new showroom and service center in conjunction with the company’s 50th anniversary is just one representation of our team’s long-standing, continued commitment to broadening resources and support for our customers,” said Peter Hanratty, president of Firematic Supply Company. “The blue floor of our showroom emulates the first-class presentation of the latest fire apparatus products that customers experience on the Blue Floor at Pierce’s factory in Appleton, Wisconsin. Additionally, Firematic technicians offer specialized diagnosis, repairs, and parts inventory to aid area departments with reducing apparatus downtime.” Firematic’s service center offerings include: Service to these New York counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency service available Factory-trained Pierce technicians Pump maintenance, repair, testing, and overhaul Factory-authorized Waterous & Hale pump service Indoor apparatus storage 60,000-pound lift Fabrication and design Aerial device inspection and testing Certified welding service Application of Carwell Corrosion Protection System Mobile service units State-of-the-art, on-site pump test pit 2019 Dealer Of The Year Award In addition to the opening of a new showroom and service center, Firematic was chosen among all dealers in North America to receive Pierce’s 2019 Dealer of the Year award. The award is based on a dealership’s outstanding client service, their growth as a company, and sales of apparatus and new products. As a company, in recent years, Firematic increased facility square footage by 30,000 square feet and added more than 20 new employees. “It was a pleasure to honor such a deserving company with the 2019 Dealer of the Year award, and I commend the Firematic team for the remarkable service provided to Pierce customers in the Northeast for the last 50 years,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Regardless if they are working with customers, employees, or partners, Firematic always provides an exceptional experience.”

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announces that Pierce dealer, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, acquires Superior Equipment expanding its territory to include Utah and Nevada. The expansion excludes Clark County, Nevada which will continue to be served by Hughes Fire Equipment Inc. As one of the largest emergency vehicle dealerships in North America, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group adds the new territory to its existing regions served, which include Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Expanding resources and service offerings For more than thirty years, Ron Jensen and the Superior Equipment team have shown exceptional dedication" “For more than thirty years, Ron Jensen and the Superior Equipment team have shown exceptional dedication to providing fire departments throughout Utah and Nevada with quality apparatus and service,” said Pat Siddons, president of sales, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. “We congratulate Ron on his retirement and look forward to our teams joining forces to expand resources and service offerings that will be instituted in the coming months.” With the acquisition of Superior Equipment, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group has retained all employees, and operations will continue to be conducted out of the existing facilities. Lifesaving Work Of Firefighters “We’re not only transitioning into a new decade but a new era for the Superior Equipment team as we align with one of the most highly regarded and trusted dealerships in the country,” said Ron Jensen, president of Superior Equipment. Our customers can be assured that in conjunction with our Siddons-Martin colleagues" “Siddons-Martin has committed to bringing its service-first model to the fire departments and regions we’ve served for many years. Our customers can be assured that in conjunction with our Siddons-Martin colleagues, our team will put the lifesaving work of firefighters at the forefront of everything we do.” Expanding Sales And Service Capabilities As Siddons-Martin expands its territory to Utah and Nevada, plans for the addition of more significant sales and service support are underway including: The opening of an additional service center in the Reno, Nevada area will take place by late 2020 Planning for the opening of up to two additional service centers will take place over the next 24 – 36 months Providing EVT and Pierce Master Technicians to the region served Expanded field capabilities will begin in 2020 with continued expansion over the next 24 months Recruitment initiatives to increase the workforce in the area and expand sales and service capabilities Enhancing Fire Apparatus “We are thrilled to welcome team members from Superior Equipment as we develop new relationships and offer our collaborative expertise and dedication to a newly expanded territory,” said Leon Martin Jr., president of service, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. “As the Pierce dealer with the most service centers, our sales and service philosophies will remain a priority as we grow our team to enhance fire apparatus support in Utah and Nevada.” With a newly structured employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and a focus on expanded sales and service offerings, Siddons-Martin will place emphasis on recruitment in the coming months. Additionally, the company will continue the representation of Skeeter Brush Trucks in the territory.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announces that it has secured an order for 11 custom apparatus for the Indianapolis Fire Department in Indiana. Placed through Indianapolis-based Pierce dealer, Global Emergency Products, the order is made up of six Pierce® Saber® Pumpers, two Enforcer™ Ascendant® 110’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platforms, one Enforcer™ 105’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder, one Velocity® Heavy-Duty Walk-In Rescue, and one Ford® F-550 Tactical Support Unit. Quality Of The Equipment The Indianapolis Fire Department has 43 fire stations serving 278 square miles “I am excited to be able to purchase our apparatus through Global Emergency Products and Pierce. They have always gone above and beyond to assist us in any way,” said Ernest V. Malone, Chief of Fire for the Indianapolis Fire Department. “While the quality of the equipment that the department receives continues to meet our high level of expectations, it is the relationship and trust we have built with Global and Pierce that makes the Indianapolis Fire Department want to continue to work with them as our apparatus manufacturer.” The Indianapolis Fire Department has 43 fire stations serving 278 square miles in the most populated area in Indiana. Fire Apparatus And Equipment Specifications The apparatus order is part of a 10-year apparatus acquisition plan that will replace aging frontline equipment, while allowing the department to improve the quality of its reserve fleet. It’s been a true honor to work alongside Chief Malone and his team" “The City of Indianapolis allows its fire department representatives the opportunity to select fire apparatus and equipment specifications that will best meet their needs. Together, we designed vehicles that have proven to meet their particular needs,” said Mike Mikoola, President of Global Emergency Products. “It’s been a true honor to work alongside Chief Malone and his team. We remain committed to providing the Indianapolis Fire Department superior quality and customization options, as well as convenient access to service support and parts replacement.” Rescue and Ford unit The delivery of the Indianapolis Fire Department’s six pumpers is scheduled for November 2019, and the aerials will follow in January 2020. The rescue and Ford unit are expected to arrive in Indianapolis in April 2020. Chief Malone continued, “What we ask our firefighters to do is very dangerous. The needs of our communities are multidimensional and continue to grow in complexity, hazard, and risk. Our firefighters must be up to this challenge every day, every shift, every time. Through fire suppression, emergency medical, special operations, and many other calls for service, the new apparatus will help us continue to meet that mission, protect our firefighters, and keep our promise to our community.”