NFPA Conference 2010

Dayna Hilton

Tue, 06/08/2010 - 18:01

• Fire Prevention and Investigation

One of my favorite things to do is to be among, what I call, "my own kind." Residing in a small rural community, I don't often have the opportunity to visit with other fire safety educators personally, and  each year I look forward to the NFPA Conference.

This week I had the opportunity to be with members of NFPA's "Public Educator's Network" at the conference held in Las Vegas. This network, comprised of individuals from across the country (one representative from each state), attended a day long session of various informative workshops provided by the Public Education Division. Over the next few days, I look forward to sharing some exciting initiatives, tricks of the trade, and other information that is current and up-to-date that you will hopefully find useful. My notebook is jam packed full of ideas for fire safety programming ideas and activities that I learned during these workshops and I look forward to sharing.

Congratulations to Beverly Thompson, Public Education Specialist with DeKalb County Fire Rescue, (Tucker, Ga.) for being awarded The NFPA Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award. This award recognizes a fire and life safety educator, who works for a local fire department, uses NFPA's materials in consistent and creative ways, demonstrates excellence and innovation in reaching out to the community, and views NFPA as the source for safety information. Congratulations, Beverly!

And finally, for all you out there gearing up for this year's Fire Prevention Week in October (it will be here before we know it!), the theme for NFPA's Fire Prevention Week is, "Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with."

Stay safe and have a great day!

The Principles of Battle (Part 6)

Ed Hadfield

Mon, 06/07/2010 - 22:24

• Strategy and Tactics

Unity of Command: Unity of command is best achieved by vesting a single commander with requisite authority.

—Principles of War 1954

 In part six (6) of Principles of Fireground Battle, we will discuss and give insight into the sixth of the nine (9) tenets of battle.  The sixth tenet in the original works from General Fuller would be Unity of Command. Yet, as we take into consideration the Fire Service terms of those particular tents we capture Unity of Command in the term of Command Structure. 

 Colonel Ian Hope of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry wrote in his works, Unity of Command in Afghanistan, A Forsaken Principle of War, "Failure to address the current problems of unity of command will result in the failure of the alliance—and the coalition—in Afghanistan".

 When Carl von Clauswitz wrote the Principles of War, he knew the absolute importance that Fuller spoken to about the Unity of Command, in the fire service we see Unity of Command and the Command Structure as one.  There is no denying the absolute need for a Command Structure.  Time has proven over and over the failure to establish a Command Structure has terrible and tragic results.

 The same failure Colonel Hope discusses in Afghanistan is the same failure the American Fire Service will face unless people embrace and utilize the Command Structure for which it was created and intended to do.  That's to have a functional, simplistic, expandable system to manage the incident in which all personnel know their roles, to whom they are responsible or accountable to, and lastly for whom is in charge of the overall incident.  Simple stated, its ICS.

 I recently said awhile back, "ICS is like a condom, it does no good to put it on halfway through the event".  Although said somewhat tongue in cheek, there is a lot of truth in the matter.  An incident must have a Commander.  No matter how much we discuss and argue about the functions of the fireground, the biggest failure I continue to see is the lack of command.  Just recently I witnessed a commercial structure fire where the the arriving Battalion Chief failed to notify all units on scene and the command center that he was assuming command from the first arriving company officer. The may seem to be a small piece of the pie, but if you're the Captain leading a fire attack team and you need to relay some vital intelligence to the IC, you sure as hell ant to know who it is!

 Part of the problem I hear all the time is, "ICS doesn't put out fires".  Give that man a lolli-pop.  No kidding, but failure to establish a Command Structure and no one will know who is suppose to put the damn fire out.  Which gets into the whole SOG/SOP thing.  I personally have operated my entire career with strong SOP/SOG'S established in effective fireground behaviors.  Equally, I have grown up in a culture of strong command structure with ICS.  With that said, I can safely say the ability to couple good fundamental SOP/SOG's on the fireground with a command structure is a force multiplier.  ICS or a command structure does not take away for the use or implementation of SOP/SOG's, just as SOP/SOG's do not take away from ICS.  In fact, if anything they compliment one another. The problem with attempting to establish any incident structure with just SOP/SOG's is simple.

 If you fail to have one central authority figure determining the placement and actions of resources, and you rely upon a written policy where your ASSUME all personnel will follow those policies and you don't take into account the changing dynamics of the incident, you will in fact find yourself on an incident with freelancing, counterproductive actions and uncoordinated tactics taking place.  Hence, CHAOS!!!

 Recently I taught the Mission Focused Command course where we had approximately 35 students.  As part of the program we did our typical simulations.  A group of students who are getting ready for a Captains test and prided themselves on the fact there department, "Just puts the fire out, we don't worry about ICS".  In knew where this would go as they sat down for the simulation. 

 This was an easy multi-story commercial strip mall with multiple exposures simulation.  Upon arrival the first in company officer assigned his entire 1st alarm to task based upon single view of the simulation. To make matters worse, I asked if the 1st alarm was on-scene and he stated no! (This is typical for this organization) He further went on to assign himself and his crew to "Quick Attack Mode".  Again I asked who would take command and he responded the Battalion Chief who usually arrived 5 Minutes into the incident after other units have arrived and gone to work based upon his assignments.  Well, as we played the simulation out and we showed the Bravo, Charlie, and Delta Divisions the entire group went white and silent.  The reason was simple, they had all gone straight to the fire and set-up a huge RIC team.  Nobody was assigned to check for extension or capture exposure control, nobody was performing search, and nobody was providing ventilation support to the interior companies as the situation worsened. Guess what, built into the simulations was a rapidly spreading fire into the Bravo and Delta Units with rescues above the fire. In the end, we discussed the merits of there actions and worked to broaden their ability to use a command structure early on into the incident to be more effective and meet the needs of the incidnet.

 The reason this went so bad was equally as simple, they assign resources based upon some loosely followed SOP/SOG's that works on most single room and content fires in one story homes.   You know the bread and butter fire. RIGHT!!!! Well when you step out of the box and bit and follow that same horse back to the stable you might not like what you find there.  To illustrate the point, about three weeks later I got a phone call from one of the guys, he told me the department lost a large L shaped strip mall in there city.  He said all the guys who had taken the class where telling their Captains they needed to change gears and do the things we had discussed in class, but to no avail, they were stuck in neutral!  

 Bottom line is this, Unity of command is best achieved by vesting a single commander with requisite authority to organize and assign the resources based upon incident driven needs and principles.  Supplement his ability by establishing good fundamental and sound SOP/SOG's which are know, trained to and train on often.  Develop personnel to understand the need for and follow the principle of Unity of Command which operating under the Command Structure of ICS and we and a fire service will see more efficiency and effectiveness s within and upon the fireground.

Until the next time…Sit back and have a Cuppa.

Enhancing Fireground Communications

By Quinn MacLeod, For Firehouse.com


Enhancing Fireground Communications

In a previous article entitled "Communicating in the Wildland Interface," Rick Lynsky and I identified communication problems and solutions targeted at the equipment or the ways we use the equipment. Unfortunately equipment problems are probably only related to less than half of our overarching fireline communication shortcomings.

Situational awareness (SA) requires all individuals to pay closer attention to everything on the fireline, which is no easy chore. Therefore improved communications leads to a higher level of SA. All firefighters have an obligation to themselves and others to provide the best exchange of information possible. Improving our speaking and listening skills takes us one step closer to enhancing fireline communications.

Speaking & Listening Skills Required

Speaking skills consist of using common terminology, spoken with the appropriate volume, word enunciation, and with a moderate pace. Direct eye contact and a respectful tone of voice will also help to keep the listeners focused on the conversation, even when "cut to the chase," firm language is used. Casual conversation may be appropriate in all but the most intense situations, at which point firm statements will need to be employed. The goal is to get the information across without creating an atmosphere where the listener feels they cannot ask a question or make a comment. Try to remove as many distractions as possible such as moving away from engine noises and turning the radio speaker away from the group.

Listening skills should be used constantly. If you normally are a speaker, this can be challenging. Actively listening helps to update your situational awareness of the fireground itself and the personnel you are interacting with. Focus your attention on the speaker and watch for the nonverbal indicators which could point to an underlying issue. If the speaker is obviously stressed, for instance, inquire in a helpful way so the issue can be discussed. Low situational awareness could be the root of the problem; open discussions help to increase SA.

Basic guidelines of a good listener:
• Remove distractions.
• Stop talking and focus on the speaker.
• Make sure that you are listening, not just waiting to talk.
• You may already have a perception of the conversation. Try to keep it neutral.
• Don't interrupt; let the speaker finish their thoughts.
• If information is unclear, ask for it to be rephrased.
• Be a team player. What can you do to help the speaker be successful?
• Don't walk away until the conversation is finished.

When messages are passed from one individual to another, it is important to acknowledge that the information was received. Safe and effective fireline communications is a two-way process. Formal acknowledgments should be required for every message. While this may seem excessive, use of acknowledgments is vital when communicating critical messages. By doing this all the time, even during routine communications, it will become second nature. When speaking to more than one person, be sure to request a confirmation that the message was received by all parties. If this is over the radio, take the extra air time to verify.

Receivers have the responsibility to acknowledge messages and to request clarification if they did not completely understand. Saying "copy" or "got it" is not sufficient when acknowledging critical messages. Take the time to repeat it back to the speaker. This may seem like a lengthy process when time is short, but that is when all messages must be fully understood. Furthermore, if this process begins to degrade and co-workers regularly start to "drop" acknowledging the messages, factors such as stress and fatigue may soon become issues.

Communicating Under Pressure

Even with the best speaking and listening skills, we may still have trouble communicating, especially when the subject gets emotionally charged. According to Lark McDonald, CEO of Mission Centered Solutions, who has co-developed numerous nationally recognized fire leadership courses with a heavy emphasis on human factors, emotionally-charged subjects can activate defense mechanisms that try to keep us from looking foolish, but inhibit clear communication, thus affecting situational awareness.

When we communicate under these situations we tend to:
• Resist changing our initial perception when confronted with new information.
• Support our opinion even when we know it may not be totally correct.
• Shift blame when our message is misunderstood.

These are natural human tendencies which everyone exhibits from time to time. The key is to recognize that these "barriers" will affect the communication process. The true professional, whether paid or volunteer, will strive to keep these barriers from creating obstacles and devote full attention to the job at hand.

Loss of situational awareness is a contributing factor in most fire fatality and injury reports. The underlying benefit of conducting a briefing is that of increasing our situational awareness. Whenever implemented, all types of incidents benefit from these briefings. The perceived drawback is that they take too much time. A 60-second, or less, briefing can make a world of difference and is especially powerful when a known format is used every time so that the important information is always addressed.

An Effective Briefing

A properly conducted briefing is designed to inform all personnel of what is going on and why. Fully informed personnel will be better able to make sense out of the known versus unknown, which reduces stress, increases situational awareness, allows for better decision making, and ultimately leads to the proper amount of risk being taken.

Assertiveness is an important aspect of crew communications. In aviation research, the need for assertive behavior in more junior members has been found. Furthermore, voice recordings from the so-called "black boxes" have revealed the lack of assertiveness to be a contributing factor in more than one airline crash. More recent studies in other high-stake professions found that status differences in groups affects communication behaviors, such as speaking up or challenging a superior's position. This same effect can be seen within the fire service.

Assertiveness lies between a passive and aggressive emphasis in communications, which can be viewed as standing up for one's self in such a way as not to disregard the other person's opinion. This should yield a more open line of communication, but it takes practice and confidence if this is undertaken by a subordinate. Assertiveness may take some investigating to break through any decision making barriers that the speaker may be influenced by. In the end assertiveness may require persistence and objectivity to stay focused on the assignment while advocating your position. Remember, having a different opinion is not about who is right and who is wrong; it is about how best to undertake the assignment.

Another thought worth mentioning before starting a briefing is just how much information can a person actually remember? Research has shown that the average person can really only remember five to nine things at any given time. Throw in some stress and that number gets alarmingly low. When briefing, keep in mind that the individual may use different techniques to remember, so if someone asks you to repeat or rephrase, take the time to do it. This is a fine example of why two-way communication is so important: by repeating back the information, you are helping to keep it in memory...for a short time anyway.

A 60-second briefing cannot possibly cover everything. The key is to use a format that becomes ingrained. Remember all consecutive briefings will cover the hazards that are still present and focus on what's new. This is a skill that must be mastered by all firefighters regardless of rank, which ultimately leads to added crew cohesion.

A five-step briefing format should be used. Remember it is just the critical information you are conveying. If practiced and used on incidents and trainings, officers and firefighters should be able to touch on the five topic areas in as little as 30 seconds. Take more time to facilitate a more thorough briefing when necessary.

Five-Step Briefing Format

1. Current situation (this updates everyone's situational awareness)
• Critical life safety information; ex: fire is making a run, LCES is compromised.
• The overall strategy and tactics are made known.
• Other; supervisor, trigger points / disengagement procedures.
• Note: All crew members must communicate hazards they observe.

2. The assignment
• The assignment is described along with the intent (task, purpose, end-state).
• Specific task or tasks to complete the assignment are discussed.
• Hazards associated with the assignment are identified.
• Contingency plans.

3. How to make the assignment safe
• Recognition of the hazards by all crewmembers.
• Risk management; Should we be here? Can it be made safe?
• Ways to mitigate the hazards. i.e. LCES, Downhill line guidelines.
• Medevac plan.

4. How to support the assignment
• Safety support.
• Logistical support.
• Tools you need to accomplish the tactic/task.

5. Questions/concerns?
• Question: Does everyone know what we're doing and why?
• Concerns: What are we overlooking?

Note: This list is not all-inclusive. You can download it below.

Preparation And Planning

Briefings take practice. It is not feasible for most people to read this article and then conduct the perfect 60-second briefing. Remember to brush up on your speaking and active listening skills beforehand. Incorporate the briefing into incidents, trainings, and station life. Ask for feedback of your briefings and coach others on theirs.

Another good habit to get into is to write it down. For the 60-second version that may consist of just "buzz" words (a sticky note pad can be used; keep them everywhere). For longer briefings a written format is likely essential for keeping your train of thought going. Longer briefings almost always have distractions and interruptions.

Debriefing your actions immediately after completing a crew assignment is a good way of "spot checking" how the flow of information is being assimilated. This can literally be done in 30 seconds, and it ensures everyone still understands why they are doing what they are doing. If requested actions still don't make sense, situational awareness is low and a more defined intent will need to be verbalized from above.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, speaking and listening skills are used every day: work to increase their effectiveness. Acknowledge all messages and require the same of others. Be aware that you and those you converse with may build up barriers to solid communications. You must work to keep these obstacles to a minimum. Strive to improve your situational awareness and look for every opportunity to increase it, the five-step briefing format will assist you with that. Everyone possesses the ability to initiate and maintain excellent communications which ultimately helps to identify and mitigate life-threatening situations.

QUINN MacLEOD, owner and lead instructor of  Integrated Fire Solutions, has been in the fire service since 1985 which includes 20 years on the line with the Parker, CO, Fire District. He is NWCG qualified as a wildfire Division Supervisor and holds an Associates Degree in Fire Science along with numerous state and national certifications, including Fire Officer and Fire Instructor. Quinn has delivered and received hundreds of briefings lasting from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. You can contact Quinn by e-mail at: quinnmacleod@msn.com.

Apparatus Roundup: New Technologies and Designs Unveiled at FDIC 2010

By Ed Ballam, Firehouse.com News


Apparatus Roundup: New Technologies and Designs Unveiled at FDIC 2010

Related resources
Podcast: Apparatus Architects: Innovations and Finds at FDIC

With only about six weeks between the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis and the Interschutz international show in Leipzig, Germany, which is arguably the largest fire show in the world, some manufacturers were saving their big unveilings for the show in Germany, which happens only every five years. Therefore, there weren't as many product debuts at FDIC as there have been in years past. Although the numbers were diminished, the apparatus unveilings at FDIC were still impressive.

Crimson Fire Transformer and FRAC

Crimson Fire introduced an apparatus at the show called the Transformer, which really is a transformative apparatus in the fire service.

Lately, there's been stiff industry competition on how best to preserve valuable compartment space. When it came time for Crimson Fire, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, to try its hand at playing with the pump location, Paul Cressman, a shop foreman for Crimson Fire, had an idea.

"I went to management and said, 'I've got an idea that's a little out of the box,'" he said. "They asked how far out and I told them, 'in the neighbor's front yard.'"

Cressman had come up with an idea to locate a PTO pump just in front of the left rear tire, in an area that is often wasted with wheel wells and dead space.

Crimson and its engineers determined that it was an appropriate place for a 1,500-gpm Darley pump. The geometry of the drive shafts actually worked better with a gradual angle to the left of the transmission.

Crimson Fire refined an idea for the pump valve controls too, employing hydraulic valves actuated by cranks on the control panel that pump fluid to the valves. The new system allows the control panel to be located above the rear wheels on the driver's side in a compartment that is often underutilized. The configuration preserves all the space in the cab as well as the all-important first cabinet, which can be configured in any way a department desires, including transverse.

Crimson also introduced a new configuration of its First Response All Calls (FRAC).

The new vehicle also incorporates Crimson's new pump location - in front of the left rear wheel - to provide more space for compartments and other equipment needs.

As shown, the FRAC was equipped with a 1,250-gpm PTO pump, a 250-gallon water tank, a 125-cfm compressed air foam system and a walk-in command center in the rear of the apparatus.

It can be configured as an ambulance or patient transport vehicle, a hazmat vehicle, and also as a lighting, equipment support, and rescue vehicle. The space can also be used for ATV transport. It was built on a Furion cab and a chassis built by Spartan Motors.

Jim Salmi, Chief Operating Officer of Crimson Fire, is considered a guru when it comes to aerials and he did not disappoint when he came up with a new hydraulic hosebed called the HydraLoad. The new device, developed by Salmi, lowers the hosebed of an aerial to 20 inches off the ground and deploys from a place previously unusable in the aerial torque box.

It deploys less than 35 inches from the side of the body and features an interlock with the aerial outriggers to prevent the hosebed from colliding with the stabilizing device. It can accommodate 1,000 feet of 5-inch hose or up to 1,500 pounds of hose in any configuration. It deploys in 20 seconds.

"And it's just as smooth as can be through its full range of motion," Salmi said.

Oshkosh Corporation Striker

Oshkosh made a splash of its own with a new Striker Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle.

The 6-wheel drive vehicle is a product of many "voice of the customer" conferences and discussions, according to Oshkosh representatives.

One of the things Oshkosh heard, and answered, was the need for accessible crosslays to give firefighters alternate, and perhaps more traditional, ways to fight fire.

Two mid-drift height crosslays, accessible from both sides of the apparatus, flow water and water/foam combinations.

Firefighters and ARFF users repeatedly requested a centralized access spot for all filters, fluids and maintenance items. Oshkosh answered that request by creating a walk-in service port at the rear of the apparatus. All fluids and filters can be checked and changed from that one spot, according to the manufacturer.

Oshkosh is particularly proud of the improved visibility the new Striker offers and redesigned ergonomics for the driver and occupants, including things like cup holders. Oshkosh representatives said that little detail is more than a convenience considering ARFF firefighters are often asked to stand by for hours as aviation emergencies unfold.

The Striker was unveiled with much fanfare at a pre-show reception with indoor pyrotechnics, lights and music.

"We believe we have developed the most advanced firefighting apparatus in the world," said Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of Pierce.

"We did not do this alone," Jones told the hundreds of people who jammed the booth. "Using the voice of the customer strategy, this new Striker was designed with the help of firefighters from around the world. We are serious about voice of the customer."

The Striker is the product of three years of work and interaction with the customer, Jones said, telling the gathered audience to "see for themselves."

Pierce Manufacturing Engines

Also at the show was Pierce's redesigned Detroit Diesel engine exclusively for fire apparatus and available only through Pierce.

A few years ago, the engine manufacturer decided it wasn't going to offer Detroit Diesel products for fire service use. Pierce, which had been using Detroit Diesel engines as power plants for its apparatus for years, wasn't about to take that lying down.

Detroit Diesel engines would not physically fit into fire apparatus and the fuel intake and emissions systems needed to be relocated to improve clearances. Because the Detroit Diesel engine was so important to Pierce's product offering, it dedicated its own resources and engineering staff to make the modifications to the engine for use exclusively in Pierce apparatus.

The modifications resulted in a 2010 EPA compliant engine based on the DD13 platform which is exclusively for Pierce apparatus.

The new engine configuration improves fuel economy by five percent while delivering up to 500 hp and 1,650 foot pounds of torque on demand. More importantly, the new engine package doesn't require any additional wheelbase length, or adversely affect cab and compartment space.

KME Ultra-High Pressure Pump

High pressure pumps have been around for a long time, but recently, they've made a resurgence.

KME Fire Apparatus unveiled a pumper with an HMA Fire ultra-high pressure suppression system at the show.

According to Phil Gerace, KME's director of sales and marketing, the high pressure pump saves water and reduces water damage. He also said it's different from other high pressure pumps because it is even higher pressure than the old John Bean pumps. The ultra high pressure, boosting it to up to 1,200 to 1,400 psi, makes the difference.

The system, which is mounted in a compartment on one of KME's pumpers, is said to be more effective and efficient in fire suppression, using less water with smaller droplets. According to HMA, the system has a constant output from 16 to 22 gpm at ultra high pressures. The system can deliver foam or straight water and is three times more efficient than traditional systems, according to KME and HMA.

KME's show pumper featured both the traditional midship pump and the HMA ultra high pressure pump.

KME Aerial Platform

KME also used the 2010 FDIC show to release its newest aerial platform design for both rear and midmount aerials.

The new platform offers 25 percent more room for occupants and is now 20.8 square feet, according to the maker, comfortably accommodating four firefighters with SCBAs and equipment.

The platform corners are angled to avoid interfering with the front or rear turning radius. The new platform is also equipped with a new push-type latch allowing firefighters hands-free access to the platform.

KME also substantially increased visibility on the platform and the rungs with "Pathfinders" LED illumination lights on the ladder rails and the platform floor. NiteSafety photo luminescent covers have been installed on ladder rungs and on the platform floor for improved visibility.

E-ONE Severe Service Cab

E-ONE debuted its severe duty cab at the show in the Lucas Oil Stadium.

The interior has virtually no formed and molded plastic which is prone to cracking when slammed by firefighters and their gear.

Nearly all surfaces are either painted with Zolatone or covered with aluminum or even stainless steel plating, said Amanda Davis Gummer, E-ONE's marketing and communications manager.

"This is for departments that are tough on their trucks," she said, pointing out the features.

According to the manufacturer, the new interior uses .125-inch aluminum with Zolatone paint for the center dash, officer's side dash and the "A" post covers.

The engine cover has a .125-inch WearTrak cover with .375-inch foam insulation to dampen noise.

The concept is to eliminate the ABS interior trim adopted about 25 years ago that allowed for automotive styling, but did not stand up as well to the rigors of fire apparatus.

The new cab interior also features a recessed mobile data terminal (MDT) provision for the officer, an officer's glove box with hinged door, barrier style doors, and door panels constructed of 14-gauge brushed finish stainless steel or .125-inch aluminum painted to match the cab interior.

According to E-ONE, the severe service cab also offers more options for equipment mounting, such as radios, speakers, monitors, chargers and other items.

HME Ahrens-Fox Compressed Natural Gas Powered Engine

One apparatus that generated a buzz was the compressed natural gas powered engine unveiled by HME Ahrens-Fox, and it wasn't just the green rainforest tree frog decals adorning the apparatus that caused the buzz.

According to Dave Fornell, HME's director of marketing, the apparatus was the first of its kind to be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

"We're getting a lot of interest in this," Fornell said as show goers swarmed over the apparatus, checking under the cab to see how it ran and how the CNG tanks were stored.

"This is a very quiet apparatus with a lot of power," said Fornell.

The biggest advantage of the Cummins Westport engine-powered apparatus is it meets the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2010 emission requirements without Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems that are required on diesel engines. Its exhaust system is comprised of a simple, three-way catalyst that meets the EPA useful-life requirement and is maintenance-free.

Rosenbauer America Green Star

If it weren't for the green lights under the apparatus, a showgoer might not have even noticed Rosenbauer's new Green Star apparatus.

That's a good thing - it's not supposed to be noticed. Its true value is supposed to be seamless integration of a generator into the apparatus's electrical systems to reduce emissions by shutting off the large apparatus engine. The power is replaced by electricity generated by a small, diesel-fired generator instead of maintaining power by letting the apparatus's large diesel engine idle.

A big-block diesel-powered engine found in many apparatus consumes fuel at the rate of 1 gallon per hour at idle, while the APU system burns fuel at the rate of one quart per hour, a savings of up to 75 percent, Rosenbauer said.

By shutting off the main engine, fire departments can not only save fuel, they can save on diesel particulate filters and components and emission system maintenance. Rosenbauer says its APU system can also work as a gen-set to power scene lighting and all other electrical components required at a typical fire scene.

There is no need for a secondary generator for those components and the APU gen-set can be started from inside the cabin or at the pump control, as customarily found on apparatus equipped with generators. Therefore, the APU Green Star adds very little cost to apparatus that have generators specified.

Should demand for power exceed the APU's ability to produce power, the system will automatically restart the apparatus chassis mounted engine and resume idle to produce the power without any interruption.