Chapter 6 Fire Department Resources

Introduction Facilities described in this chapter are not available at every fire department due to need and budget constraints Described facilities represent a sample of the facilities at fire departments across the country Apparatus and equipment have evolved over a period of many years Not all available apparatus and equipment is listed in this chapter

HEADQUARTERS Purpose  Location of department managerial staff Advantage  Keeps a finger on pulse of organization  Firefighters more informed about station activity Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY Purpose  Maintaining apparatus and other equipment Mechanics  Experts in working with apparatus Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

TRAINING CENTER Purpose  Training personnel Drill tower Burn building Classrooms Cont. Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

TRAINING CENTER Storage area or engine house Hydrants Driver training/testing course Props Video/CD/DVD training Training staff offices Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

WAREHOUSE/CENTRAL STORES Purpose  Designed to stock day-to-day needs of the fire department administration, fire stations, and firefighters Can also serve as facility for SCBA repair Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER Purpose  Receives calls for emergency assistance system Enhanced system  Programmed with address of the land-line phone Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

FIRE STATION Purpose  Many functions for firefighters and apparatus Changes to fire station to accommodate women and handicap access Modern fire station amenities Learning Objectives 1 through 3 Fire Department Facilities Advantages and Purposes

FIRE APPARATUS Cab and chassis Motor Modular apparatus Pumper/engine Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE APPARATUS Foam systems Pumps Aerial ladder and elevating platform apparatus Quint Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE APPARATUS Squads  Specialty vehicle Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Apparatus (ARFF)  Also called crash fire rescue apparatus (CRF)  Specially designed for airport firefighting Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Hose  Construction  Couplings  Hose load  Attack lines Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES  Supply lines  Wildland firefighting hose  Hose reel  Hose for static water source Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Nozzles  Made of chrome-plated brass or pyrolite  Combination nozzles  Straight stream nozzles  Automatic nozzles Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES  Low back pressure nozzle  Appearance and performance  Master stream appliance on apparatus  Monitor nozzle  Foam nozzle  In-line foam eductor Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Fittings  Reducers  Increasers  Wye  Siamese Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Ladders  NFPA Standard 1901, Automotive Fire Apparatus Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)  Consists of backpack, air bottle, face mask, and regulator Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Hand tools  Fire engines equipped with specially designed tools  General firefighting tools  Vehicle extrication tools  Air bag system Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES  Roof ventilation tools  Salvage covers  Fire extinguisher  Medical aid equipment  Generator and detachable lights Cont. Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Thermal imaging camera  Used to find heat sources  Battery operated  Effective at locating victims  Can also be used to find fire hidden in walls Cont.

FIRE TOOLS AND APPLIANCES Wildland firefighting hand tools  McLeod  Pulaski  Shovel  Combi  Chain saw Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

HEAVY EQUIPMENT Bulldozers Heavy transports  Used to get heavy equipment to the fire Foam unit  Has firefighting capability away from water source Learning Objectives 4 through 6 Types of Apparatus, Tools, and Equipment Uses of Tool and Equipment

STRUCTURE FIRE PPE Helmet Eye protection Turnout coat Pants Gloves Boots Extras in pockets Learning Objective 7 Types of Personal Protective Equipment

PERSONAL ALARM/PERSONAL ALERT SAFETY SYSTEM Emits loud alarm when not moved for 30 seconds Helps others find you if you become trapped PROXIMITY SUITS Worn primarily by aircraft firefighters Made of aluminized material Learning Objective 7 Types of Personal Protective Equipment

WILDLAND PPE Hard-hat-type helmet Compass and canteens of water Fire shelter EMERGENCY MEDICAL PPE Disposable shirt, latex gloves, eye protection Learning Objective 7 Types of Personal Protective Equipment

ADVANTAGE OF AIRCRAFT FIREFIGHTING Deliver retardant or water to inaccessible areas FIXED WING Can be used to transport crews ROTARY WING Can sling load supplies to and from the fire line Learning Objective 7 Types of Personal Protective Equipment

Summary New tools and equipment are constantly being developed or adapted to firefighting use to make the job safer, faster, and more efficient Without intelligent, trained, aggressive firefighters, the facilities, apparatus, and equipment are worth nothing The best firefighters are capable not only of using all of the tools available to them, but also adapting those tools to new uses and performing in their absence