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DC TRAIN CRASH ● CUTTING HIGH-RISE GLASS ● BOMB THREATS ● RECENT RESCUES
SEPTEMBER 2009
TRAINING THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 132 YEARS
Visit www.FireEngineering.com
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PENNWELL CORP.
21-00 Route 208 South
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602
Tel.: (973) 251-5040
SEPTEMBER 2009
www.FireEngineering.com
VOLUME 162
NUMBER 9 P.O. Box 1260
TRAINING THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 132 YEARS Tulsa, OK 74101
(918) 835-3161
Features
59 DC METRO TRAIN ACCIDENT POSES ACCESS CHALLENGES
Kevin Sloan—One transit train rear-ends another during eve-
ning rush hour, injuring and killing passengers and presenting
rescuers with many immediate concerns and problems, includ-
ing access and egress; triage, treatment, and transport; and shut-
ting down power to and traffic on the subway system.
73 DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR MANAGING BOMB THREATS?
Brian Bennett—Although most bomb threats your department
responds to prove to be hoaxes, you must have a response plan DC TRAIN ACCIDENT
ACCIDENT, P.
P 59
in place for that eventual threatening phone call or written mes-
sage warning of an impending explosion.
83 TEAMWORK KEY TO MITIGATING TROLLEY COLLISION
Fred Sullivan—A light rail collision in Massachusetts tests the
local mutual-aid response and proves how interagency drills
between the Boston and Newton Fire Departments paid off.
89 PERSONAL HARNESS USE FOR FIREFIGHTER RESCUE
Dan DiRenzo—Wearing the harness is only the beginning. Do
you know how and when to use it? Here are some scenarios in
which the harness will aid or quicken the removal of a downed
firefighter.
TROLLEY COLLISION
COLLISION, P.
P 83
95 HIGH-RISE GLASS REMOVAL OPERATIONS

Thomas Donnelly—Some say do it as a last resort, but there are
many situations in which you may have to remove a window to
effect a rescue in a high-rise building. Learn how to do so safely.
101 RESCUE IS NOT ALWAYS TECHNICAL
Steven Woodworth—A Georgia department puts its training to use
by performing a confined-space rescue without entering the con-
fined space, proving that sometimes the situation calls for plain old
basic firefighting skills rather than specialized training.
105 PREPLANNING BUILDINGS WITH VERTICAL RENOVATIONS
Richard Fuerch—Building owners in many urban areas started a
PERSONAL HARNESS
HARNESS, P
P. 89 new trend some years ago: expanding buildings vertically to meet
the demand for housing in limited space. Your department must
identify such buildings and the features that may impact firefight-
ing operations.
109 IMPLEMENTING A TECHNICAL RESCUE PROGRAM
Christopher Feder—If you already have a rescue company, pur-
chasing technical rescue equipment and seeking additional training
in technical rescue may be the next logical steps to expand the
company’s capabilities.
115 HYDRAULIC RESCUE TOOLS: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Billy Leach Jr.—Some tips on how to achieve maximum perfor-
mance from your tools, including a sample inspection and mainte-
nance schedule and a troubleshooting guide.
HIGH-RISE
HIGH RISE GLASS REMOVAL
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P. 95
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PENNWELL CORP.
21-00 Route 208 South
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602
Tel.: (973) 251-5040
SEPTEMBER 2009
VOLUME 162
NUMBER 9 P.O. Box 1260
TRAINING THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 132 YEARS Tulsa, OK 74101
(918) 835-3161
Departments
8 EDITOR’S OPINION
“Scarface, Easy, Lord Jim, Little Boy, and Butch”
14 VOLUNTEERS CORNER
“Recruitment + Training = Retention”
22 TRAINING NOTEBOOK
“Train for School Bus Emergencies”
30 THE RESCUE COMPANY
“Arm in Folding Machine
Tests Medical and Rescue Skills”
36 FIRE SERVICE EMS ARM IN MACHINE, P. 30
“Innovative Obstetric Birthing Training”
42 ROUNDTABLE 120 FIRE COMMENTARY
“Disaster Response Capabilities” “A Matter of National Security”
44 NEWS IN BRIEF 123 TECHNOLOGY TODAY
“Fire Station Alerting Controllers”
50 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
124 APPARATUS DELIVERIES
54 BRUNO “UNPLUGGED”
“Showtime” 125 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
126 COMING EVENTS
127 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
127 NAMES IN THE NEWS
128 CLASSIFIEDS
132 ON FIRE
“Twice in a Tour”
THE COVER: District of Columbia firefighters faced

numerous challenges when a DC Metro transit train
smashed into the rear of another train at the height
of the Monday evening rush hour. Nine citizens lost
their lives in the worst accident in the rail system in
33 years. Firefighters treated more than 76 people at
the scene, some critical. The challenges the DC Fire
Department faced, including extrication and access,
were similar to those of several rail accidents that have
occurred recently. Firefighters must take stock of the
unusual resources they will need should a rail/train
accident occur in their communities, since these inci-
dents seem to be occurring with more frequency and
severity. (Photo by Elliot J. Goodman.)
Periodicals Postage Paid at Tulsa, OK 74101 and at additional mailing offices.
6 September 2009 FIRE ENGINEERING www.FireEngineering.com
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EDITOR’S OPINION
Scarface, Easy, Lord Jim,

Little Boy, and Butch
BY BOBBY HALTON
I
N THE 1930S, AL “SCARFACE” The citation, read aloud, said, “Lieu- let, and with no hope of surviving the
Capone was running virtually every- tenant James Ellison, acting in the encounter, “Butch” continued the assault
thing in Chicago. He was a violent highest traditions of the fire department, by flying directly at the enemy aircraft,
and evil man. However, the police were willingly placed his own life on the line trying to hit them. The Japanese, frus-
unable to touch him. Scarface was quoted to save that of another person.” In the trated by the suicidal maniac, changed
as saying, “I can get a lot of cooperation crowd that day was Lord Jim’s 11-year- their course and left without discovering
with a smile; I get a lot more cooperation old son. He was proud of his dad and the unprotected American fleet.
with a smile and a gun.” Al was protected what his dad had done. Lord Jim got his The gun-mounted cameras caught the
legally by a highly efficient lawyer whose nickname while working in a house with entire story: “Butch” had destroyed five
nickname was “Easy” Eddie. one of his best friends, “Prince” Pete enemy fighters and became the Navy’s
Easy Eddie was well compensated for Ganci. Jimmy Ellison is a firefighter’s first ace of World War II and the first
his efforts at keeping Scarface out of firefighter, a gentleman, and a true naval aviator to win the Congressional
jail. Scarface made sure Easy Eddie had friend. Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is
everything he wanted: money, property, A few weeks ago, the Ellisons, Lord awarded to a member who distinguishes
power—everything. Easy Eddie also had Jim Ellison and Captain James “Little himself conspicuously by gallantry and
a son, whom he loved more than money Boy” Ellison, were again both at FDNY’s intrepidity at the risk of life above and
or property, more than power. Like all medal day—the 11-year-old boy now beyond the call of duty. The deed per-
dads, he wanted to give his son every- Captain Ellison of Rescue 3. “Little Boy” formed must have been one of personal
thing he needed. Eddie’s son went to the got his nickname because he rescued bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous
best schools and had every luxury, but his lieutenant on his very first run with as to clearly distinguish the individual
the one thing Easy Eddie most wanted to FDNY. At this year’s medal day, Captain from his comrades and must have in-
give his son he couldn’t. Eddie wanted James “Little Boy” Ellison was recog- volved risk of life.
to pass on to his son an honorable and nized for saving the life of a young man “Butch” O’Hare was killed a year
respected name, so he turned on Scarface at a fire in the Bronx. The award, read later in combat. His hometown was so
and gave state’s evidence against him. aloud, said, “Captain James Ellison, act- proud of him that it named an airport
A few months after he testified, Easy ing in the highest traditions of the fire after him. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport will
Eddie was gunned down. In his pockets, department, willingly placed his own forever represent the courage and honor
he had a rosary, a crucifix, a religious life on the line to save that of another of the O’Hare family name. I think that
medallion, and a poem that read: “The person.” His dad, Lord Jim, was very if he had been alive at the time, his dad,
clock of life is wound once, and no proud of what his son had done. The “Easy” Eddie O’Hare, would have been
man has the power to tell just when the Ellison name is a proud and honorable proud of what “Butch” had done.
hands will stop, at late or early hour. one in FDNY. The fire service has a good name, an
Now is the only time you own. Live, Some 66 years ago, a Navy lieutenant honorable and respected name. It is our
love, toil with a will. Place no faith in named “Butch” was flying on a mis- duty to protect that name. All of our ac-
time. For the clock may soon be still.” At sion with his entire squadron. A short tions are important. Though not all great
the funeral, Easy Eddie’s son said he was time into the flight, he realized that his deeds of courage like Lord Jim, Butch,
proud of what his dad had done. fuel had not been topped off. His wing Little Boy, or even Easy, they all mat-
Thirty years ago, a member of the commander ordered him to return to ter. In the end, it is what we “do” that
Fire Department of New York (FDNY) the fleet. As he was returning, he saw a matters.
nicknamed “Lord” Jim was honored in squadron of Japanese aircraft looking Someone is watching you today,
a ceremony for his heroism. Lord Jim for the American fleet. With all the other someone you love. What are you teach-
was known in FDNY for many things. American fighter planes gone and no ing? Who will they be? We can do a lot
He was legendary for his commitment to way to warn the fleet, he decided to take of good with words, but we can do a lot
studying and drilling, sometimes for pro- action by himself. more good with words and good deeds.
motional exams but often just to be the Alone and dramatically outnumbered,
very best firefighter he could be. He was “Butch” attacked the Japanese squadron,
recognized that day, one of many, for relentlessly attacking one plane after
risking his life to save an elderly woman another and breaking up their entire for-
at a fire in Queens. mation. After he had spent his last bul-
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21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602 8▲ ▲ . . .
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Tel.: (973) 251-5040, Fax: (973) 251-5065 7-200
Visit our Web site at: FireEngineering.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton (roberth@pennwell.com)

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Diane Feldman (dianef@pennwell.com)
SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary Jane Dittmar (maryjd@pennwell.com)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Robert J. Maloney (robertm@pennwell.com)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Derek Rosenfeld (derekr@pennwell.com)
PRESENTATION EDITOR Josh Troutman (josht@pennwell.com)
TECHNICAL EDITORS Glenn P. Corbett, P.E. (gcorbet1@ix.netcom.com)
John (Skip) Coleman (ch112ret@yahoo.com)
Mike McEvoy (mcevoymike@aol.com)
PHOTO EDITOR Nate DeMarse (ndemarse.fireeng@gmail.com)
ONLINE EDITOR Peter J. Prochilo (peterp@pennwell.com)
EDITORIAL ADVISORS Anthony Avillo, Alan Brunacini, John M. Buckman, Michael N. Ciampo,
AND CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Paul T. Dansbach, Frank L. Fire, Richard A. Fritz, William Goldfeder,
Bill Gustin, Leigh T. Hollins, Arthur L. Jackson, Steve Kreis, Rick Lasky,
John M. Malecky, David McGrail, John W. Mittendorf, Frank C.
Montagna, Jack J. Murphy Jr., Mike Nasta, Gerard J. Naylis,
Gregory G. Noll, John P. O’Connell, William C. Peters, David Rhodes,
Rob Schnepp, William J. Shouldis, Michael A. Terpak, Jerry Tracy,
Andrea Zaferes
ADVISOR IN MEMORIAM Thomas F. Brennan
VICE PRESIDENT–AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Gloria Adams

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Ron Kalusha
MARKETING MANAGER Johnny Lantz
PRODUCTION MANAGER Rae Lynn Cooper, Tulsa
SUBSCRIPTIONS 800-582-6949 fesub@pennwell.com
PENNWELL CORP. P.O. Box 1260 • Tulsa, OK 74101 • (918) 835-3161

CHAIRMAN Frank T. Lauinger
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Robert F. Biolchini
SR. VICE PRESIDENT–GROUP PUBLISHER, BID Lyle Hoyt
VICE PRESIDENT–GROUP PUBLISHER Eric Schlett
FIRE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE
®
21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602

Tel.: (888) TEL-FDIC, Fax: (888) FAX-FDIC
Visit our Web site at: http://www.fdic.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eric Schlett

EDUCATION DIRECTOR Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton
CONFERENCE DIRECTOR Diane Feldman
CONFERENCE MANAGER Mary Jane Dittmar
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VOLUNTEERS CORNER
Recruitment + Training = Retention

BY JOE NEDDER
R
ECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ment. Whether you are tax based or self- join an organization that has sporadic
of volunteer and on-call fire- funded, the locals and taxpayers want a schedules, requires them to endanger
fighters are becoming more and return on their investment: a competent themselves, and involves physically
more difficult. There are many reasons fire department. backbreaking work.
for this. This article identifies the ur- These issues result in the following This cultural and socioeconomic clash
gency and need for volunteer training. two volunteer fire service changes that has put the volunteer fire service in a
you must identify. position where getting and retaining
WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS? Population shift. The population members are becoming more and more
If you ask why people volunteer to be shift to more rural areas has put more difficult.
firefighters in their communities, you get demand on the volunteer fire service. We
a variety of answers. For the most part, face a much larger population, used to A NEW RECRUITMENT STRATEGY
the key reasons are the following: urban service levels. Most importantly, In the past, recruiting volunteers was
• To help those in the community. citizens expect us to do our job with unheard of; they came to you. Today, we
• A deep desire to belong to the fire skill when called. They pay taxes and must seek them out. Some departments
service. voted money for all the “fancy” equip- have tried TV and billboard advertising.
• The thrill and excitement of the job. ment they expect us to use. When their But it still seems that most volunteers
• A sense of fulfillment. house is on fire, they don’t want us to come in when they are asked by a friend
• A desire to belong within a recognized say, “Sorry, we are only volunteers.” They or neighbor or if their family is already
group that has social interaction. want us to enter, regardless of how dan- involved. We must increase our base of
Twenty to 30 years ago, volunteer fire gerous the situation, and put the fire out potential members. This means trying to
departments were more social in nature. and save their property. explain who we are, what we do, and
Training was not a hardcore require- White collar vs. blue collar. Tra- why someone should join.
ment, and your social interaction with ditionally, the volunteer fire service is Many young people want to know
the group was usually how you were staffed with a majority of blue-collar what’s in it for them. You must teach
perceived and judged. My company went workers. They come as heavy equip- them a sense of community, to help oth-
to many fires; if things did not go well, ment operators, mill workers, and truck ers, to protect their neighbors, and to
we lost the building. However, the locals’ drivers. But what they all once had in render assistance when neighbors fall ill.
general attitude was, “The lads did the common was that they worked in town Go into the high school systems and help
best they could.” We were not seen as and could respond. This has changed. breed this type of thought; it will bring
professionals—thus, the stigma of volun- Some volunteer firefighters still work in you new members. Work with the school
teer firefighters. their communities; however, the majority administration and offer various classes
Today, all that has changed. Small do not. Response times have increased in the school, such as first responder first
communities have shifted in the socio- and placed a further burden on the few aid, EMT, and basic fire science. If the
economics around them. People are members who live in the town where school sponsors interns, you can offer an
moving in, building very large homes, they actively serve. internship to a high school senior.
grabbing up land, and driving up prices. Firefighting is a hard, get-your-hands- There are cautions when recruit-
Many of these people are seasonal dirty job. It is physically demanding, and ing young people. First, many of these
residents, while others are looking to your response period is not limited to a people will belong to the fire depart-
raise their families in a more rural atmo- set schedule. The families transitioning ment for 10 years or less. They start
sphere. This has changed the fire service into a small community today are less families and look to buy a home. Most
because these people expect the same likely to join a volunteer fire department. cannot afford housing within their com-
quality and level of service they had in They are white-collar workers who travel munities. They move on. Ironically, many
the urban areas from which they came. some distance to their place of employ- join their new community’s volunteer
I have seen towns purchase great fire ment. When they are home, they focus fire department.
apparatus, state-of-the-art turnout gear, on their families and the organizations Second, you must keep the school
and high-quality self-contained breathing they interact with, such as the parent- system recruiting program as an ongoing
apparatus (SCBAs) for its career fire de- teacher association, little league team, project. It proves relevance and provides
partments. Many volunteer organizations dance troupe, and so on. Most white- the community with a pipeline to new
constantly raise money for this equip- collar workers have little or no desire to young members. You may also attract
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VOLUNTEERS CORNER
additional members from the students’ walk through your door but also to cur- is based on attending meetings; fund-
families. Their sons and daughters’ rent members. raisers; community functions; and fire
involvement might, in fact, create an The formula Recruitment + Training = department family functions, such as
awareness of the situation and need. Retention is very powerful and accurate. dances and dinners. All of this is a part
To confirm this formula, review and of belonging to any organization.
RETAINING OLD AND consider the following items. The professional interaction is seen at
NEW MEMBERS Organization dynamics. Anyone emergency calls. This is where a mem-
We have discussed who our volunteers joining an organization wants to be ac- ber’s peers judge people (“Can he do
are, why their ranks are dwindling, and cepted and to fit in; this is undisputable. the job?”). You might be the best fund-
different recruiting strategies. But how The dynamics within a volunteer fire raiser, but if you can’t perform your job
do we retain them? Retention does not department include a lot of social and at a fire or an EMS call, you are looked
only apply to those new members that professional interaction. The social level at as a less-than-equal firefighter. Most
volunteers join to be firefighters, not a
champion fund-raiser. This is a fact of
[FIRE UP YOUR life in the volunteer fire service.

Training. After joining an organiza-
PUBLIC EDUCATION tion, a person is full of energy and has

a desire to jump right in, be socially ac-
PROGRAM cepted, and realize self-esteem. In a fire

EMS setting, the only way to assist him
and have him fit in is by training. How
can you function at an emergency scene
if you have not been trained? Once peo-
ple realize they are not accepted or are
not seen as capable peers, they leave the
organization. Social acceptance and the
feeling of self-esteem will bring the self-
fulfillment that will keep the volunteer
in the organization. Without adequate,
timely training, this cannot happen.
National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) standards. These are nation-
ally recognized fire service standards.
Though not law, they are considered, in
case law, the accepted guidelines of the
U.S. fire service. NFPA 1001, Standard for
Firefighter Professional Qualifications,
for example, identifies and specifies the
minimum job performance requirements
for career and volunteer firefighters
whose duties are primarily structural in
nature. These standards clearly do not
distinguish between training career and
volunteer firefighters. All who respond to
structure fires must be trained properly.
EXTINGUISHER TRAINING WITHOUT THE MESS.
Community safety. As more and more
The Intelligent Training System uses extinguisher training. Trainees learn communities grow in size, the need for
clean-burning propane fed flames and how to effectively use a fire extinguisher quality public safety has increased. The
a quick-recharge air/water training without the cost and clean-up public wants, expects, and needs the ser-
extinguisher to provide a realistic associated with using dry-chemical vices it pays for. This includes quality fire
simulation for trainees while eliminating or CO2 extinguishers. and, in many departments, EMS. Howev-
the hazards of conventional fire er, you must ask the question of how to
FOR MORE INFORMATION and to

view demo videos, visit us online at
www.BullExSafety.com.
SMART TOOLS
FOR REAL TRAINING
provide this service if we do not require
adequate training for recruits and con-
tinued training for existing members? In
most states, by law, all towns providing
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VOLUNTEERS CORNER
EMTs) must train to a standard and pass have few benefits if injured or, worse yet, Many fire departments offer EMS to vary-
a required written and practical exam. killed in the line of duty. Yet, men and ing degrees. The fire service in general is
Further, members must continue to train women have been doing the job for many finding more new members for EMS than
frequently and pass a recertification exam years. With the shift in communities’ so- for firefighting. I’m a firefighter/EMT, but
every few years. This helps us to serve cioeconomics and the larger demands on I know many EMT/firefighters. This is be-
the public as emergency care providers. families, the call for volunteer firefight- coming a fact of life, and it is here to stay.
Why, then, are we not providing the same ers is dwindling. Any active recruitment EMS is where most of the action is. In the
level of training and recertifying to our campaign must have a training aspect volunteer service, this presents another
firefighters with their firefighting skills, in place. Further, to retain new recruits opportunity for recruiting and improving
many of whom are EMTs? The public and existing members, we must continue the community’s EMS abilities.
thinks they are being properly protected to offer up-to-date training. Learning on The opportunity now exists within
when in fact they might not be. the job is how firefighters get killed. The this community to provide more person-
This raises a significant public safety community, usually for fiscal reasons, has nel for EMS. With a new recruitment/
issue. The fire department needs re- chosen to have a volunteer fire depart- retention program comes the ability to
cruits, and recruits need training. You ment. With that comes the moral obliga- show and appeal to prospects not only
must satisfy this need. Your community’s tion to properly train all personnel. about the fire service but also about the
safety depends on your ability to do Human nature shows that whenever urgent need for first responders. An in-
your job. Untrained people cannot fulfill anyone starts a new job or learns a new crease in trained and available members
this obligation. skill for his job, the first question always would significantly increase the quality
Community and moral liability. asked is, “When do I start my training?” To of the community’s EMS.
When we recruit a new member, we as answer “We do not offer training” will only Another often overlooked opportunity
a community have a moral obligation have negative connotations and eventually, is the citizens’ continuing education. By
to quickly and properly train that new if not immediately, cause the recruit to offering first aid classes, CPR classes, and
member in the required skills; to ignore resign. People do not want to fail. Lack of so on, to the general public we can create
this can and has led to legal liability. training is setting people up to fail. a community where trained people take
Volunteers usually are underinsured and Medical response to the community. action to a witnessed medical emergency.
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VOLUNTEERS CORNER
Imagine having a citizen witness a car- of basic EMS skills might save a life. A retaining current members into a more
diac arrest at a restaurant and knowing program like this will generate more regional offering. Have your fire depart-
how to properly perform CPR or, better good publicity for your department. ment take a leadership role by offering
yet, having the skills to use the elec- Regional response and training. the towns with which it shares mutual
tronic defibrillator hanging on the wall. Smaller fire departments rely on mutual- aid an opportunity to participate in a
You can offer this type of community aid response during an emergency. As regional basic training program. This
outreach program at the schools, senior such, you will see a mixed bag of capa- type of training would provide for and
center, town library, or fire station. Many bilities among responders. This type of accomplish the following:
participants may not want to join the fire situation opens the door to injury, death, • Properly and uniformly train person-
department. However, they are looking and poor fire suppression services to nel from various communities.
for a basic and initial outreach during an the property owner. Consider expanding • A safer operation for all involved.
emergency. Having more citizens aware the training needed for new recruits and • Better fire protection for the com-
munity.
• A sense of accomplishment and
fulfillment for department members,
increasing member retention.
HAVE SPECIFIC
• A commitment to the members to
provide standard and adequate fire
and EMS training.
NEEDS?
Today, with fiscal restraints put on all
communities, the use of sharing resources
regionally makes sense. It also proves
that regional resource training can and
does work; it lessens the financial burden
on one community while accomplishing
something that needs to be done.
Many fire departments receive federal
funds to assist in the recruiting and reten-
tion of new members; some have received
training grants. Regardless, we must recog-
nize and accept the fact that we are mor-
ally obligated to provide the best training
possible for our members. The actions and
efforts we take today to properly train and
retain members will have an effect on the
community for perhaps 10 to 20 years.
You must provide recruits who are
willing to step up and join our noble
service with adequate basic and ongoing
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𰁬𰁬𰁬𰀣𰁨𰁘𰁤𰁩𰁩𰁝𰁚𰁖𰁡𰁩𰁝𰁨𰁖𰁛𰁚𰁩𰁮𰀣𰁘𰁤𰁢𰀕𰀕𰀤𰀕𰀕𰀭𰀥𰀥𰀣𰀧𰀩𰀬𰀣𰀬𰀧𰀪𰀬𰀕𰀕𰀤𰀕𰀕𰀶𰁡𰁡𰀕𰁧𰁞𰁜𰁝𰁩𰁨𰀕𰁧𰁚𰁨𰁚𰁧𰁫𰁚𰁙𰀣
________________
𰁈𰀺𰁂𰁈𰀕𰀾𰀾𰀕𰁞𰁨𰀕𰁖𰀕𰁧𰁚𰁜𰁞𰁨𰁩𰁚𰁧𰁚𰁙𰀕𰁩𰁧𰁖𰁙𰁚𰁢𰁖𰁧𰁠𰀕𰁤𰁛𰀕𰁈𰁘𰁤𰁩𰁩𰀕𰀽𰁚𰁖𰁡𰁩𰁝𰀕𰀛𰀕𰁈𰁖𰁛𰁚𰁩𰁮𰀣
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TRAINING NOTEBOOK
Train for School Bus Emergencies

B Y PA U L H A S E N M E I E R
H
OW DO WE PREPARE A
community and ourselves for 1
a school bus emergency? As
emergency responders, we bring calm to
chaos and always mitigate the challenges
in front of us. Just like any preplanned
structure or technical rescue that needs
an action plan, a school bus emergency
needs its own plan that must involve the
cooperative efforts of fire, emergency
medical services (EMS), police, school
personnel, and public officials. You may
think that getting all those people to-
gether in one room will be the challenge.
It certainly will be, but we are a powerful
force for public welfare, and resistance
will be minimal once all recognize the
importance of training and planning.
Imagine arriving on-scene to find an
overturned school bus with students
trapped, injured, and screaming for help Photo by Jennifer Kilbury.
(photo 1). Whether you arrive on-scene in
an ambulance or a fire engine, your first bus crash. They should be active partici- bus. Explain the types of buses, their
priorities will be numerous. Initiating the pants at any preplanning meetings. construction, and their weaknesses.
incident command system (ICS); dealing • Law enforcement—traffic control and Show bus stabilization techniques in an
with the walking wounded; and determin- scene security. upright, side, and roof presentation. Dis-
ing the hazards, the number of patients, • EMS—triage, medical treatment, and cuss battery location, fuel systems, and
and entrapments around the scene are transport of the injured. air bag awareness.
all immediate tasks. Once you determine • Bus drivers and school representa- Initial access can be problematic, de-
the incident’s scale to be overwhelming tives—immediate first aid, student pending on the damage to the bus; front
for your organization, you must activate a identification, parent notification, and and rear door entry may be impossible.
mass-casualty incident (MCI) plan. Obtain- cold zone parent updates. You can get inside by using window,
ing enough supplies, tools, personnel, and • Tow truck operators—stabilization and door, sidewall, floor, and roof breaching
transport vehicles can pose a complicated assistance with advanced extrication techniques. Once inside, you must orga-
logistical operation. techniques. nize and establish patient removal flow.
As the incident unfolds, more and more • Public officials—funding for training Dealing with entrapment, seat removal,
people will be responding. Rescuers will and resources at the incidents, criti- and patient immobilization will be time
be en route from every direction. News cal incident stress debriefings (CISD) consuming. By now, students will be
media will attempt to record videos and postincident. itching to practice on a bus using these
write stories for the five o’clock news. technical rescue techniques.
Then every worried and frantic parent CLASSROOM
who hasn’t been able to contact their child The classroom session is literally the HANDS-ON TRAINING
will be inbound on an already chaotic nuts and bolts of school bus extrication Most of us are hands-on learners, and
scene. Dealing with all these people and for your responders. Teach everyone in the skills involved in school bus extrica-
this technical rescue is not impossible, but the class to know what kind of noises, tion are no different. Have the nonrescue
getting responders prepared is critical. challenges, and hazards are around participants, such as the school bus drivers
these types of wrecks. They need to and administrators, watch responders
PLANNING understand school bus characteristics from the cold zone. We recently conducted
The following groups can bring invalu- and how to gain access and systemati- training that included more than 150
able capabilities to the scene of a school cally remove injured patients from the bus drivers, who asked an hour’s worth
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We engineer the
gear.
You provide the
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TRAINING NOTEBOOK
of questions: What if there is fuel leak-
ing? Which passengers should they move 2
immediately? and What do they tell the
dispatchers? are just a few examples.
Have the firefighters start with basic
techniques such as window and door
removal. Then have them advance through
more difficult breaches involving going
through the side walls, floors, and roofs.
Practice rolling the dash and lifting the
roof—both technical procedures they may
need to perform if the school bus crashes
into another big vehicle (photo 2).
Have training culminate with a
realistic training evolution. Roll a bus
down a hill onto a couple of cars with
mannequins inside, and you will have
an action-packed, challenging scenario.
Make the response, initial staffing, and
equipment realistic for the first-in crews.
Add additional resources to the scenario; Photo by Tom Johnson.
involve law enforcement, EMS, school
officials, and public officials. Expand the properly staffed rescue companies, EMS rescue truck should have at least 25
ICS as necessary. units, and air medical units available? nine-inch metal-cutting blades for every
This is the time to determine problems Reciprocating saw blades are important saw. Are surrounding departments’ radios
with equipment, staffing, and communi- for school bus extrication. How many interoperable? Is a mobile command unit
cations. Do you have the right number of were used during the training? Each available?
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TRAINING NOTEBOOK
SCHOOL BUS EMERGENCY • Assist the walking wounded out of the bus. bationary firefighters, debrief everyone
RESCUE PLAN • Protect victims during rescue. within 24 to 72 hours of a critical inci-
Scene Size-Up: • Use fire department training-compliant dent. This is not an operational critique
• Establish command. rescue techniques. or a performance investigation but a way
• Use law enforcement to initiate scene • Extricate and disentangle victims to reduce stress, provide support to each
and traffic control. (package, treat, and remove). other, and improve skills to cope with
• Conduct scene assessment, such as iden- • Transfer victims to EMS. future critical incidents.
tifying potential and immediate hazards • Continuously reassess the action plan Prepare for school bus emergencies to-
and the resources needed; determine and make changes if needed. day. School buses are still the safest way
the location, number, and condition of to transport children to school, but the
victims; ensure proper numbers of per- Postincident Operations: next crash may happen in your town. ●
sonnel and equipment are en route. • Remove equipment.
• Write a personal accountability report. ● PAUL HASENMEIER is a 10-year
Prerescue Operations: • Perform decontamination. fire service veteran and a firefighter
for the Huron (OH) Fire Division.
• Make the general and rescue area safe • Gather information for reports.
He is a paramedic, a fire inspector,
through stabilization and by contain- • Return units to service.
a SCUBA diver, and an instructor.
ing and stopping fuel spills. • Secure the scene. He has an associate degree in fire
• Develop an incident action and • Terminate command. science, has worked in numerous
backup plans. • Check equipment and service if neces- technical rescue disciplines, and is a
• Assign groups, teams, and tasks. sary. member of Ohio’s Region 1 Urban
• Ensure proper personal protective • Hold a critique and offer CISD. Search and Rescue team. He is a
equipment. CISD is important to responder health. contributing author to Fire Engineer-
• Brief rescuers regarding incident-specif- Even after our best professional efforts, ing and School Bus Fleet magazines.
ic hazards and accountability. incidents involving young children cre- He was a classroom presenter at
ate emotional reactions that could impair FDIC 2008, the New York Fire Chiefs
Conference, and the Ohio Fire Chiefs
Rescue Operation: the well-being of everyone involved.
Conference.
• Mark entry and exit points. From the veteran members to the pro-
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REMEMBER FOREVER: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 … AND BEYOND.
The Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation was created to ensure that
we as Americans “Remember Forever” the fallen firefighters of September 11,
and in their memory, recognize other firefighters who demonstrate that same
courage and valor in rescue missions.
For more information visit The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award commemorates the life and career achievements of Deputy Chief
Ray Downey, who lost his life while commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center attack on
www.courageandvalor.org
September 11, 2001. Deputy Chief Downey was chief of rescue operations and a 39-year veteran of the Fire
Department of New York. He was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of FDNY. Deputy Chief
FIRE ENGINEERING Downey commanded rescue operations at many difficult and complex disasters, including the Oklahoma
COURAGE AND VALOR City Bombing, the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing, and many natural disasters worldwide.
FOUNDATION For his lifetime of unparalleled service to firefighters and citizens alike, and in remembrance of the courage
3300 First Place Tower
and valor exemplified many times throughout his life, it is fitting that the Courage and Valor Award, presented
15 East Fifth Street
to one extraordinarily courageous American firefighter each year, bear the name of Ray Downey, a truly
Tulsa, OK 74103
(P) 918.831.9563 extraordinary man.
(F) 918.831.9476
info@courageandvalor.org Keep the tradition alive —
Nominate your candidate for the 2010 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award now.
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RAY DOWNEY COURAGE AND VALOR AWARD

2010 NOMINATION FORM
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PERSON SUBMITTING NOMINATION FORM:
Name:
Address:
city state zip code
Phone:
Email:
Relationship to Nominee:
NOMINEE INFORMATION:
Name:
Title/Rank:
Fire Department:
Years of Service:
Home Address:
city state zip code
Home Phone:
Qualifications/Distinguishable Traits:
1. Please give a brief history of the nominee.

2. Describe the event or circumstance for which you feel the nominee displayed unparalleled courage and valor and is deserving of the 2010 Ray Downey
Courage and Valor Award.
3. Describe in detail why you feel the nominee went above and beyond the call of duty during this event.
Important Details:
• Answers to questions 1-3 should be typed on separate 81/2 x 11 pages and attached to the nomination form.
• The incident/meritorious act described in this nomination form must have occurred between December 1, 2008 - November 30, 2009, and must have
been part of an official fire department response to an emergency incident.
• The award is open to all firefighters in the United States, regardless of rank or department type.
• The recipient of the award may be living or deceased.
• The recipient will receive a medal and a significant financial award.
• The award will be presented at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis, April 21, 2010.
• Nomination forms will be published in Fire Engineering magazine and on its Web site.
• Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.
• Forms must be received by January 15, 2010 for consideration of the 2010 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award.
Signature
In remembrance of Ray Downey and all fallen firefighters, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Fire Engineering
Courage and Valor Foundation.
Please send nomination forms to: Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation Nomination Committee
Attn: Diane Feldman
PennWell Corp.
21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
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THE RESCUE COMPANY
Arm in Folding Machine Tests

Medical and Rescue Skills
B Y T H O M A S F. K E N N E Y
O
N JUNE 30, 2008, AT 1822 result of compression by the rollers, was
hours, the Hyannis (MA) Fire 1 barely visible when we looked down from
Department received a 911 call the top of the machine. Machine compo-
reporting a woman with her arm trapped nents, which included fabric conveyors
in a machine at a commercial laundry and keepers as well as a piece of chan-
service at 95 Airport Road. The initial re- nel iron that ran the length of the top of
sponse dispatched was a paramedic ambu- the machine, obscured the view. A deep
lance and the heavy rescue company. The avulsion, caused by the steel edge of the
ambulance was on the road already, as it face of the machine as she was pulled in
was returning from a previous run, and by the rollers, was present between her
arrived at the address within two minutes. elbow and bicep.
Senior Firefighter/EMT Barry Pina estab- Initial therapy included administer-
lished command and started a size-up. ing high-flow oxygen, bleeding control,
When we arrived on-scene, we encoun- dressing the open wound, initiating two
tered a 36-year-old female employee with large-bore intravenous lines with pres-
her left arm extending deep into a folding sure infusers, and monitoring both her
machine, where it was trapped. She was ECG and pulse oximetry. Command re-
conscious, alert, and in obvious pain. quested a med-flight helicopter, and the
Laundry coworkers were trying to assist paramedic established radio contact with
the trapped woman and to free her. Cape Cod Hospital for medical control.
Pina ordered all nonfire personnel to Photos by Barnstable Police Patrolman A pain management plan was initiated
leave the area and radioed his initial re- Owen Needham. using morphine sulfate intravenously at
port to fire alarm and the incoming heavy The interpreter described how the ac- a starting dose of four milligrams.
rescue. His initial efforts at getting control cident happened and explained that the
of the scene were complicated because “emergency stop” had been activated to EXTRICATION PLAN
only one of the dozen or so employees shut off the machine. The first steps included getting a
present spoke English. An interpreter was On arrival, the heavy rescue company view of the hand and rollers from the
used to communicate with the patient and began to evaluate the entrapment situa- top down. Then a firefighter on top of
other employees. In addition, the prompt tion. Chief Harold Brunelle, now on-site, the machine encountered numerous
arrival of the police took the crowd-con- took command. Members verified that fabric conveyor bands that ran over the
trol problem away from the firefighters. electrical power to the machine had roller system. After ensuring that cutting
been shut down with both emergency them would not result in any unwanted
OPERATIONS stop switches and the breakers in the movement, he cut the bands with crash
Pina and his crew assessed the patient building service panel. Medical and ex- scissors and unscrewed the aluminum
and made sure the machine was locked trication functions continued in unison. keeper strip for the bands. The keepers
out. The patient was initially in a standing were attached to a piece of two-inch
position with her arm extended overhead MEDICAL SITUATION channel iron, which ran over the rollers.
into the machine. You could not see her The patient, now in the reclined posi- This channel also housed control
hand and most of her arm; the face of the tion on the counter, remained alert and cables and a previously unseen com-
machine obscured them. A counter, just was exhibiting signs of hypovolemia, pressed air supply. Our initial lockout/
higher than the patient’s waist, extended including diaphoresis and tachycardia. tagout efforts were directed at electrical
out about 18 inches and ran the entire We could see her forearm if we looked power sources and unwanted movement;
length of the front of the machine. The up under the face of the machine. It was we now had to initiate an immediate “all
patient was lifted onto the counter and evident that her hand had passed, palm stop” until the air supply valve could be
placed in a reclining position (photo up, between two steel rollers that ran the located and locked out. After once again
1). The responding paramedic assumed length of the machine. The rollers, about determining that no unwanted move-
a position on the counter behind the eight inches in diameter, had her pinned ment would result, we cut the cables and
patient and was able to comfort her and at about the level of her wrist; there was air lines with cable cutters and removed
secure her in his lap for the duration of a clearance of about 3⁄8 inch between the the channel iron with a hydraulic cutter.
the operation. rollers. Her hand, clenched into a fist as a We were then able to see the patient’s
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Fire Engineering
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THE RESCUE COMPANY

hand at the point where it came through of the machine. The gears, motors, and
the rollers (photo 2). The hand was chain-drive mechanism were at the op- 2
cyanotic, was cool to the touch, and had posite end. With the relocation of some
no evident capillary refill. The sensory circuitry, we were able to see the main
function was still intact, and there was no axle bolt and slack adjusters. Loosening
evidence of open wounds. the slack adjusters gave us some roller
Morphine sulfate therapy and fluid movement, but a channel iron edge par-
resuscitation were ongoing to help man- tially blocked the main axle bolt.
age the patient’s pain. We used pneu- The degree of compression on the
matic tools to disassemble the end of the patient’s forearm caused the muscles and
machine closest to the patient. Fortu- tendons to retract; the hand formed a
nately, this was the nonpowered end contorted/contracted fist. The size of the
fist necessitated about a two-inch space

between the rollers for the hand to clear.
With the slack adjusters loosened, we
now had about a half inch of space. We
inserted small air-lifting bags on either
side of the hand between the rollers and
inflated them to get the clearance we
needed. With the adz end of a halligan
bar inserted between the rollers and
__________________
pulled sideways, we had enough of a
gap to slide in the air bags. Once we po-
sitioned the air bags, we slowly inflated
them to see the action on the rollers.
The result wasn’t satisfactory; in fact,
because the surface contact was small,
__________________ the roller started to turn and would have
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THE RESCUE COMPANY

pulled in the patient’s arm more deeply. LESSONS LEARNED/REINFORCED our only option was to replace volume.
We then set wedges between the face • It is imperative that you identify all • Have a rescue plan B. In this case, add-
of the machine and the top roller to pre- sources of power and that you follow ing wedges to pin the top roller still while
vent the roller from turning. We placed lockout, tagout, and blankout procedures. the air bags lifted was a quick solution. And
a larger air bag further in between the Consider the many types of power used if you are using plan B, you had better be
rollers (photo 3). With the fork of the in machinery, and continuously reassess thinking about plan C. Plan C should in-
halligan, we pried and reshaped the your extrication plan to prevent unwanted clude the possibility that a field amputation
channel iron so we could get the impact movement. may be necessary if the patient’s vital signs
socket on the axle bolt. Once the axle • Size matters. In this case, because the are deteriorating; loss of life may be a con-
bolt was spun out, we slowly inflated shape of the object to be lifted was round sequence if extrication cannot be completed
the air bags. The wedges kept the roller and the support was also round, a larger any other way. Request a Hospital Emergen-
from turning, and the bags lifted the air bag was the right choice. It was able cy Response Team of whatever field surgical
rollers beyond the height we needed. to “pillow” around both of the rollers and intervention may be available in your area to
We slid the patient’s hand and arm had enough surface area to make the lift. stand by in case a field amputation or other
out and immobilized them in a padded • Anticipate patient changes during advanced care may become necessary. This
trauma box splint. We then packaged the the rescue. Closely monitor vital signs, is a standard protocol for “man in machine”
patient and placed her in the ambulance and treat for the potential of hypovolemia calls for many departments. ●
for a less than one-mile ride to the air- with fluid replacement. Pain management
port. She was flown to Boston Medical during the operation is an invaluable tool ● THOMAS F. KENNEY is a lieu-
Center and underwent nine hours of as well. It helps promote patient comfort tenant with the Hyannis (MA) Fire
surgery, including five open reductions and stability and allows rescuers to con- Department, with which he has served
of fractures, pin and rod placement, centrate on the task at hand. This patient 27 years. He is a rescue team manager
and vascular repair. She underwent oc- received 16 milligrams of morphine and SCT instructor with DHS FEMA
cupational therapy and was discharged sulfate during the 42-minute procedure. and Massachusetts USAR Task Force 1.
Kenney is an FDIC HOT instructor and
five days post-accident. The continuing Pressure infusers are also necessary. This
a partner in Heavy Rescue Incorporat-
therapy most likely will result in little or patient could not be placed supine; there-
ed, a fire service training company.
no deficit to the hand. fore, in this case of sudden hypotension,
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FIRE SERVICE EMS
Innovative Obstetric Birthing Training

B Y J O N AT H A N L . P E N N I N G T O N , N I C O L E P E N N I N G T O N ,
B E T H D E L A N E Y, A N D M A R Y B E T H B L A N K E N S H I P
W
HAT DO MATERNITY than leave it to the chance occurrence The instructional methodologies used
nurses and first respond- of learning during everyday patient care. in simulation-based training programs
ers have in common? Both Performance-based simulation provides are more in line with the tenets of adult
need to respond immediately to birthing repeated practice of a wide range of learning. It is often difficult to provide
babies. What better way to prepare than clinical scenarios. Because simulated first responders with experiences that
training and practicing on a maternity scenarios are completely replicable and match classroom content. Performance-
simulation mannequin that actually gives highly standardized, it is much easier based simulations of real-life care that
birth? That is exactly how firefighter to review and evaluate performance. relate directly to classroom material
emergency medical technicians trained You can videotape and review trainees’ allow students to build patient care skills
during a certification refresher course at simulation experiences to further facili- while applying theoretical knowledge in
the Ashland (KY) Fire Department (AFD). tate learning and permit assessment of a controlled setting. Such simulations re-
The Ohio University-Southern Campus process, style, and outcome. inforce material learned in lectures and
(OUSC) associate degree nursing program When students experience good promote an active learning environment.
and the AFD collaborated on perfor- simulation before real-life experiences, The birthing simulator provides
mance-based training for firefighter/ they develop self-confidence. To achieve students with a complete firsthand
EMTs. The collaboration allowed firefight- this, simulation works best with real-life birthing experience before, during, and
The birthing simulator provides students with a

complete firsthand birthing experience before,
during, and after delivery with the ability to
endure related complications.
ers to don gloves and assist a simulation experiences. Advances in simulation and after delivery with the ability to endure
mom through birthing. Participants felt virtual technology now offer excellent related complications.3 With this particu-
the training provided hands-on clinical adjuncts to “live” education, reducing the lar simulator, responders get hands-on
experience that better prepared them to barriers associated with limited experi- experience in auscultating fetal heart
deliver a baby in the field as well as deal ences. Technology provides efficient, tones, assisting with the birth, assessing
with possible complications, such as a safe, and effective alternatives to expand the newborn in transitioning to extra-
prolapsed cord and breech presentation. clinical teaching opportunities. uterine life, and providing care to mom
Performance-based simulation training after delivery.
WHY PERFORMANCE-BASED is a novel approach that uses higher- Using realistic high-fidelity interac-
TRAINING? order thinking skills. Simulation-based tive patient simulators was pioneered in
The educational approach of maternity- training challenges emergency medical anesthesia in the mid-1980s.4 However,
newborn simulation focuses on using technicians and firefighters to develop only recently has simulation technol-
mid- to high-fidelity simulation scenarios. cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills ogy become more widespread, and its
Maternity simulation is a technique of by using mannequins, working medical full educational potential has not yet
reenacting or replicating routine or criti- equipment, and humans. been realized. Real educational innova-
cal clinical events involving a pregnant During scenarios, students must use tions don’t come along too often. In the
woman or recently delivered newborn. their knowledge, analyze and synthesize mid-17th century, Moravian educational
Obstetrical simulation’s overarching goal factors contributing to the crises, and reformer John Comenius decided that
is to improve the quality and safety of evaluate their actions’ effects. Feedback a picture truly was worth a thousand
care for women and newborns.1 indicates that simulation-based train- words and added illustrations to text-
You can specify and schedule curri- ing programs are more pertinent to and books. It took another two centuries for
cula in advance when it makes the most better accepted by adult learners than distance learning, when the Chautauqua
sense in the continuum of training rather traditional programs.2 Methodist School instituted mail-course
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instruction. And now, two cen- based on curriculum objec-
turies later, virtual reality may Table 1 tives for emergency respond-
become the next educational ers and firefighters. The 88
Pretest Subject Area......................................Pretest Scores
innovation.(4) percent score for a refresher
Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy .................................92
Research regarding good Complications of Pregnancy ..................................................84
course was not surprising be-
teaching shows the impor- Labor and Delivery .................................................................86 cause training in this area is
tance of incorporating educa- Immediate Postpartum Care of Mother .................................90 required biannually. The goal
tional practices with certain Immediate Care of the Newborn ..........................................88 of a refresher course using
pedagogical principles that, advanced teaching modali-
when used consistently, result ties is to increase retention
in increased learning and Table 2 of content delivered and
satisfaction. Overall studies provide performance-based
Posttest Subject Area .................................. Posttest Scores
show that simulation activi- learning to increase skills
Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy .................................96
ties tend to increase students’ Complications of Pregnancy ..................................................96
performance.
self-confidence in their critical Labor and Delivery ...............................................................100 Following analysis of the
thinking and problem-solving Immediate Postpartum Care of Mother ...............................100 pretest results, the OUSC
abilities.5 Immediate Care of the Newborn ........................................100 nursing faculty created the
didactic instruction specific
COLLABORATION gram to provide instruction delivery and to the learning needs of firefighters and
AND METHODOLOGY to use a birthing simulator for didactic emergency medical technicians, which
The training developed for the AFD and hands-on training. included lecture content delivered by
followed the 1994 curriculum for EMT-B A pretest was administered prior to a nursing professor using both Power-
refresher training established by the U.S. the training to assess responders’ cur- Point® and a classroom response system
Department of Transportation and the rent knowledge level; the overall aver- to engage class participants. The lecture
National Highway Traffic Safety Admin- age score was 88 percent. The pretest included specific information covering
istration. The AFD collaborated with consisted of multiple choice questions anatomy, physiology, labor, birth, and
OUSC’s associate degree nursing pro- created by the OUSC nursing faculty birthing complications. Integrated into
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the lecture, all participants used a device called a “classroom
responder” when prompted.
A classroom response system (also referred to as “audience
feedback” or “clickers”) provides students with a handheld
remote to respond to the instructor’s questions. This technol-
ogy is becoming especially popular among instructors of large
lecture classes.6 Research indicates that students find this type of
technology easy to use and perceive it as enjoyable, beneficial to
learning, and encouraging to class attendance.
Throughout the instruction, the instructor presents questions
on the screen; the participants answer them by entering their
choice with the classroom responder. This provides immediate
feedback as to whether the delivered content is being under-
stood by all. The instructor then shows a bar graph of correct
answers following each question. When the score was below
100 percent, the instructor reemphasized the point with further
discussion. Participants stayed engaged throughout the lecture
portion knowing that if they did not respond to a question,
they could be identified through the software reporting system.
It became a very competitive process as participants competed
to see who had the highest score on the report.
Following the didactic portion of the training, the perfor-
mance-based skills were initiated. The instructor divided the
class by their engine companies. Each engine company was
given a scenario to review and then perform with the birth-
ing simulator. While one engine company worked with the
simulator, the other participants critiqued each simulation and
provided feedback after each simulation was completed. Sce-
narios included emergency responses where the birth would
not wait until they could transport to the hospital and delivery
had to take place in the field. Each engine company was given
very different situations, including delivering twins, assisting
a precipitous delivery, dealing with excess bleeding following
delivery, and resuscitating the newborn following delivery.
Responders indicated that even though they previously
had learned the procedure to deal with all of these situations,
actually performing these skills helped them tremendously.
All reported that they felt that they could deliver a baby in an
emergency situation if needed and felt better prepared since
they had now delivered a baby, even if it was not real. Each
engine company delivered and named a “baby” following each
simulation. Some of the firefighters commented that it seemed
most of their interactions with obstetrics in the field came from
mothers who did not know how far along they were, had not
been taking prenatal vitamins, and had not been to a physician
for regular checkups. The designed simulations allowed them
to have a controlled experience in assessing the situation’s true
nature and to apply different acceptable techniques to solu-
tions for the mother and the baby.
A posttest was administered at the end of the class. There
was a 98.4 percent proficiency level and overwhelming sat- _________________________________
isfactory skills performance by every engine company. The

participants’ engagement in the training was incredible.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Simulation plays an increasingly important role in perfor-
mance-based education and in the competency evaluation of
www.FireEngineering.com Enter 126 at fireeng.hotims.com
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emergency medical technicians and can give firefighter/EMTs additional performance-based simulation in the fire
firefighters. There is a need to develop educational experiences. Other ex- service with other simulators such as
theory-based simulation protocols that fo- amples of patient simulation include emergency apparatus driving, incident
cus on critical components of emergency adult, neonatal, and pediatric simula- command, and hazardous materials re-
responders; the development of rigorous tors. Collaborating and using simulators sponse. Providing firefighters and emer-
and reproducible performance-based from community partners is a win-win gency responders with more real-life
protocols allow their use for competency situation. Current simulation technology situations better prepare them for the
evaluation and educational research.7 is sufficiently realistic as a surrogate for responses that they will have to make.
Partnering with other community actual patient care.8 Our communities expect well-trained,
agencies is one strategy to increase The training the AFD provided can educated responders. ●
opportunities for performance-based easily be replicated by other emer-
simulation training. Resource sharing gency response institutions. You can use ENDNOTES
1. Gardner, R., “Simulation and simulator technol-
ogy in obstetrics: past, present and future. Expert
Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology.” Arcadia
Search Complete Database, 2007.
2. Bartlett, C., et al, “Does simulation training
improve communication with a simulated patient
during an obstetric emergency?” Journal of the
Society for Simulation in Healthcare; 2006 1(3),
191.
3. Yaeger, K., and J. Arafeh, “Making the
move: from traditional neonatal education to
simulation-based training.” Journal of Perinatal &
Neonatal Nursing. 2008; 22(2); 154-158.
4. Benner, P., “Using the Dreyfus model of skill
acquisition to describe and interpret skill acquisi-
tion and clinical judgment in nursing practice and
education.” Bulletin of Science, Technology &
Society, 2004; 24; 188-199.
5. Chickering, A., and Z. Gamson, “Seven
principles of good practice in undergraduate
education.” The Wingspread Journal, 1987.
6. MacGeorge, E., et al, “Student evaluation of
audience response technology in large lecture
classes.” Education Technology Research &
Development; 2008, 56(2), 158-145.
7. Kinkaid, J., J. Donovan, and B. Pettitt,
“Simulation techniques for training emergency
responders.” International Journal of Emergency
Management; 2003; 1(3) 238-246.
8. Grossman, C.C., and D.B. Hudson, “Rating
students’ technology generated clinical decision
making scores.” Nurse Educator; 2001; 26(1), 5-6.
● JONATHAN L. PENNINGTON,
CFO, MIFireE, CSP, is a battalion
chief with the Ashland (KY) Fire
Department and coordinates the
department’s special operations and
EMT programs.
● NICOLE PENNINGTON, MSN,
RNC, is an assistant professor and
the associate director of the nursing
program at Ohio University-Southern
Campus (OUSC).
● BETH DELANEY, RN, MSN, ARNP,
is an assistant professor of nursing at
OUSC.
● MARY BETH BLANKENSHIP,
________________
RNC, MSN, ARNP, is an assistant
professor of nursing at OUSC.

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ROUNDTABLE
OPINIONS FROM
Disaster Response AROUND THE COUNTRY
Capabilities
BY JOHN “SKIP” COLEMAN
O
NE OF THE BASIC RULES OF
the fire service for most of us is QUESTION: If a disaster occurred in your community, would you be
“Prepare for the usual, and have able to call on your department’s USAR team/capabilities, or would
contingencies for the unusual.” I emphasize you have to rely on mutual aid?
“most of us” because there are some de-
partments that, for whatever reason, usually Oklahoma has the equipment cache of dition, neighboring fire districts maintain
size, have the resources to fund and pre- two Type I USAR Task Forces: one in the additional significant capabilities similar
pare for the most unusual event that could Oklahoma City Metro Area and one in the to those of our team that may be used
happen in their community. In today’s fire Tulsa Metro Area. We are self-sufficient for through mutual aid.
service, with economic and staffing issues 72 hours, from food and water to force Gary Seidel, chief, Hillsboro (OR) Fire
as they are, it’s hard enough to properly protection and communications. Department: Any effort to strengthen our
staff and support fire and rescue protection Thomas Dunne, deputy chief, Fire mutual-aid, automatic-aid, and state-aid
for the community you serve, let alone take Department of New York: USAR Task agreements in specialized disciplines is a
on “technical” specialties that require vast Forces from all over the country responded win for all departments and the citizens we
amounts of staffing, tools, and training that to New York City and provided vital sup- serve.
almost always equate to money. Most of us port when the terrorist attacks occurred on Jeffrey Schwering, captain, Crestwood
do not have the resources and have to have 9/11. The experience reinforced the fact (MO) Department of Fire Services: If
contingencies. that no community is entirely self-sufficient the event affects only a certain part of the
All of us—regardless of our department’s when dealing with manmade or natural county, everyone plays a part, if necessary.
size, number of trained personnel, and catastrophic events. In a large-scale event, we would be on our
amount of specialized equipment—must Michael T. Metro, assistant chief, Los own—no USAR capabilities—for as long as
realize one thing: In a real disaster, we Angeles County (CA) Fire Department: it takes.
will have to respond and stand alone for We have two USAR teams—one in the Rick Lasky, chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire
a period of time. The question is, “How South County and one in the North County. Department: We do not have our own
long can we stand alone, and what are we We also have a Type I deployable team USAR team; however, we are big believers
capable of until help arrives?” with a full second roster and a number of in the USAR concept. If the need arises for
This month, I was only a little surprised at regional USAR vehicles we can call on for a USAR response within our community,
the results. I thought that more departments mutual aid if needed. we have TX-TF1 and TX-TF2 on which
would have to rely totally on mutual aid in Kevin Galt, firefighter/paramedic, Fort we can rely. TX-TF2 runs primarily out of
a disaster in their community. Only seven of Lauderdale (FL) Fire Rescue: Granted, Dallas and can be here quickly. The team
the 22 respondents stated that they had no our skill level meets only the NFPA 1670 members are highly experienced and well
capabilities at hand; 15 stated that they had Operations level training overall, and our trained. If we had an incident or a disaster
the capability of urban search and rescue equipment cache is much smaller. We also and needed their response, we could count
(USAR) response but would most assuredly have a fully staffed technical rescue and a on them.
have to receive assistance in a disaster. Sev- hazmat team to assist. These teams, along To read all the responses, go to _______
www.fireen-
eral respondents were from large cities; all with the equipment caches, emergency gineering.com.
________
said they had specific capabilities but would operations plan, and our own emergency
have to rely on mutual aid. operations center within the city, make us ● JOHN “SKIP” COLEMAN retired
capable of handling a significant portion of as assistant chief from the Toledo
“BIGGER” DEPARTMENTS the initial response to any disaster. (OH) Department of Fire and Res-
cue. He is a technical editor of Fire
RESPOND
Engineering; a member of the FDIC
Richard Kelley, battalion chief, Okla- “SMALLER” DEPARTMENTS
Educational Advisory Board; and
homa City (OK) Fire Department: In a RESPOND author of Incident Management for
disaster, our department has worked with Robert Metzger, chief, Golden Gate the Street-Smart Fire Officer (Fire
the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security (FL) Fire Control and Rescue District: In Engineering, 1997), Managing Major
and approximately 30 other fire depart- southwest Florida, disaster potential exists Fires (Fire Engineering, 2000), and
ments, law enforcement agencies, public with every hurricane season. We maintain Incident Management for the Street-
works, and private subject matter experts a state-certified Type II USAR team, which Smart Fire Officer, Second Edition
in the state to provide USAR response. is deployable locally and statewide. In ad- (Fire Engineering, 2008).

__________________
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CMC’s New MPD Eliminates

the Need for Other Rigging
Hardware in a Typical Rope
Rescue System
The MPD (Multi-Purpose Device) is a
major advance in technical hardware
for rope rescue professionals. It
performs all functions for 1/2-inch
main lines, belay and safety lines, tag
lines, and hoisting lines. The MPD can
also be used to tension high lines and
guide lines. In addition, it functions as
both a lowering device and a ratcheting
pulley for raising systems, allowing main
line and belay line rigging to be mirror
images. Request the CMC catalog online or
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contact your CMC Rescue Dealer or
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Quality and
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NEWS IN BRIEF
FOR MORE NEWS, VISIT
WWW.FIREENGINEERING.COM
______________________________
U.S. Supreme Court rules

on CT firefighter promotions Line-of-Duty Deaths
T he following is summarized from Le- June 26. Captain Brett Stearns, 29, Bureau of Land Management, Craig, CO: struck by a
gal Briefings for Fire Chiefs, SPECIAL falling tree.
June 30. Assistant Chief Allan LePage, 67, Kingston (RI) Fire District: head injury suffered
BULLETIN, RICCI et al. v. DESTEFANO et
while working on a ladder truck; incident under investigation.
al. (“The New Haven Case”). Citation: July 4. Assistant Chief Dale Elliott Haddix, 70, Schell City (MO) Fire Department: cause
Frank Ricci, et al. v. John DeStefano, et under investigation.
al, Nos. 07-1428 and 08-328. Supreme July 5. Firefighter Robert Johnson, 75, Mahopac Falls (NY) Volunteer Fire Department:
Court of the United States. (2009) head injury sustained in an October 2008 fall while retrieving an SCBA from a fire appara-
tus during a fire safety demonstration.
By a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court
July 6. Firefighter Ryan Wingard, 28, Strattanville (PA) Volunteer Fire Company No. 1:
overturned a ruling that the New Haven cause under investigation.
promotional tests were racially biased. July 8. Firefighter David Grass Jr., 34, Ste. Genevieve (MO) Fire Department: apparent
Background. The city charter governs brain injury.
the promotion process when the City of July 10. Apparatus Operator Joseph T. Grace, 47, Saint Tammany Fire Protection District
#4—Mandeville (LA) Fire Department: cause under investigation.
New Haven, Connecticut, fills vacant posi-
tions in its fire department. The charter Source: USFA Firefighters Memorial Database
establishes a merit system that requires

the City to fill vacancies with the most Hispanic candidates from opportunity un- engage in intentional discrimination for the
qualified individuals as determined by job- der the “rule of three,” as applied to the asserted purpose of avoiding or remedying
related examinations. After each examina- existing captain and lieutenant vacancies. an unintentional disparate impact, the em-
tion, The New Haven Civil Service Board The CSB ultimately voted not to cer- ployer must have a strong basis in evidence
(CSB) certifies a ranked list of applicants tify the results, denying the 17 Caucasian to believe it will be subject to disparate-
who passed the test. Under the charter’s firefighters and one Hispanic firefighter impact liability if it fails to take the race-
“rule of three,” the relevant hiring author- (“Petitioners”) who passed the examina- conscious, discriminatory action.
ity must fill each vacancy by choosing one tions a chance at promotions. An employer cannot discard a test to
candidate from the top three scorers on Petitioners’ suit. The petitioners filed achieve a more desirable racial distribu-
the list. Certified promotional lists remain suit, alleging that when the CSB refused tion of promotion-eligible candidates
validated for three years. to verify the captain and lieutenant exam absent a strong basis in evidence that
Test results. In 2003, 118 New Haven results, the CSB discriminated against the test was deficient and that discarding
firefighters took examinations to qualify them in violation of the Title VII disparate- the results was necessary to avoid violat-
for promotion to the rank of lieutenant or treatment provision. The City defended its ing the disparate impact provision.
captain. Eight lieutenant and seven captain decision, arguing that if it had certified the The Supreme Court saw no evidence
positions were vacant at the time of the results, it could have faced liability under in this case that the tests were flawed be-
examinations. Of the 77 candidates who Title VII for adopting a practice that has a cause they were not job-related or because
completed the lieutenant examination, the disparate impact on the minority firefight- other, equally valid and less discriminatory
top 10 scorers eligible for immediate pro- ers who did not score as well. tests were available to the City. Fear of
motion by operation of the “rule of three” Original ruling. The District Court litigation alone cannot justify an employ-
were Caucasian. Of the 41 candidates who granted summary judgment in favor of the er’s reliance on race to the detriment of
completed the captain’s exam, the top City, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. individuals who passed the examinations
nine scorers eligible for immediate promo- The Supreme Court then granted Certiorari. and qualified for promotions. Therefore,
tion by operation of the “rule of three” Ruling reversed. The decision was re- the City’s discarding the test results was
were Caucasian and Hispanic. versed and remanded. Title VII prohibits impermissible under Title VII.
New Haven reaction. Officials both intentional discrimination (known as Lesson learned. The lesson to be
expressed concern that the tests dis- “disparate treatment”) as well as practices learned from this case, according to the
criminated against minorities. The CSB that are not intended to discriminate but BULLETIN, is the following: “For purposes
began meeting in early 2004 to consider in fact have a disproportionately adverse of promotional examinations, employers
whether to certify the results. The City’s effect on minorities (known as “disparate need a strong basis in evidence that an
chief administrative officer argued against impact”). exam is deficient before discarding the
certification, saying the results dispropor- The Supreme Court held in this case that, results. Discarding the results of a promo-
tionately excluded African-American and under Title VII, before an employer can tional examination on a race-conscious
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NEWS IN BRIEF
basis is especially perilous. Cities, towns,
and fire departments should do every- Central Texas College Offers Homeland
thing they can to establish bulletproof Security/Emergency Management Degree
selection criteria before any exam is ad- Central Texas College is offering an associate of applied science degree in homeland security
ministered. Source: EDM Publishers Inc. (www.
___ and emergency management. The program is for individuals interested in entering the field of
edmpublishers.com) Duxbury, MA. ● emergency management planning and homeland security, as well as those in an emergency
response profession seeking to update or broaden their skills. The degree will prepare students
for decision making; problem solving; and planning, implementing, and coordinating resources
FDA approves vaccine for necessary for preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery from disasters. A number of the
2009-2010 seasonal influenza courses are preapproved equivalents of courses offered by the Texas Department of Emergency
T he vaccine approved by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) in late July for the 2009-2010 sea-
Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The course program, offered
completely online, includes the following components:
First Year, First Semester

sonal influenza in the United States will • Introduction to Homeland Security, 3 credits
not protect against the 2009-2010 H1N1 • Principles of Basic Emergency Management, 4 credits
• Military and National Security Legal Issues, 3 credits
influenza virus, according to the FDA.
• Business Writing, 3 credits
The H1N1 virus had moved the World • American Government I, 3 credits
Health Organization (WHO) to declare a • Physical Activity Course, 1 credit
pandemic on June 11, 2009.
Second Semester
The FDA is working with manufactur- • Integrated Software Applications I, 4 credits
ers, international partners, and other • Homeland Security Emergency Communications Management, 3 credits
government agencies to expedite the • Homeland Security Intelligence Operations, 3 credits
availability of a safe and effective vaccine • Critical Infrastructure Protection, 3 credits
• Understanding and Combating Terrorism, 3 credits
against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.
The FDA says that although this year’s Second Year, First Semester
seasonal vaccine is aimed against other • Physical Activity Course, 1 credit
• Humanities/Fine Arts Selection, 3 credits
strains of influenza expected to be in
• MATH 1332, 1342, or higher level, 3 credits
circulation, and not the 2009 H1N1 virus, • Elective, 3 credits
those Americans for whom the seasonal • Social/Behavior Science Selection, 3 credits
influenza vaccine is recommended should • Disaster Recovery OR Principles of Management, 3 credits
still receive it. • Homeland Security Emergency Contingency Planning, 3 credits
Experts from the FDA, the WHO, the Second Semester
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and • Developing Volunteer Resources and Decision Making, 3 credits
Prevention, and other institutions study • Leadership and Effective Communication, 3 credits
• Managing Mass Casualty and Fatality Incidents, 3 credits
virus samples and patterns collected
• Managing a Unified Incident Command, 3 credits
from around the world to identify strains • Final Project in Homeland Security and Emergency Management OR Internship-Home-
that may cause the most illness in the land Security and Emergency Management, 4 credits
upcoming season. The vaccine for the
2009-2010 seasonal influenza contains an Total Hours: 68 credits
A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus, an For additional information, contact Dr. Gene Silverblatt; Central Texas College; PO Box
A/Braisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus, 1800; Killeen, TX 76549. Phone: (254)-526-1460; E-mail: gene.silverblatt@ctcd.edu/. Addition-
and a B/Brisbane60/2008-like virus. Ad- al Information is available at: http://www.ctcd.edu/catalogs/2008_2009_TX/hsem_aas.pdf/.
ditional information is at www.fda.gov/
BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceCompli-
___________________________ emergency managers; educators; and ternal Revenue Code of 1986. According to
anceRegulatoryInformation/Post-Market-
__________________________ others together with the nation’s public the USASFA, the current code “provides a
Activities/LotReleases/ucm162050.htm/.
_________________________ health experts to build on and tailor disincentive for adding building safety im-
Relative to the H1N1 flu, Health and states’ existing pandemic plans and to provement, such as sprinkler systems.” The
Human Services Secretary Kathleen share lessons learned and best practices proposed bill, sponsored by Rep. James R.
Sebelius, Homeland Security Secretary during the spring and summer H1N1 Langevin (RI), would “amend the Internal
Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary wave and discuss preparedness priori- Revenue Code of 1986 to classify auto-
Arne Duncan, and Homeland Security ties. www.continuitycentral.com/news04652. matic fire sprinkler systems as five-year
Advisor John Brennan hosted an all-day __ July 6, 2009. ●
html/, property for purposes of depreciation.”
H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit on July Under the current tax system, sprinklers
9 with states to prepare for the possibil- USASFA works to amend are viewed as “straight-line deprecia-
ity of a more severe outbreak of H1N1 1986 IRS code re sprinklers tion” items and return a low rate on the
flu in the fall. The Summit’s goal was to
launch a national influenza campaign by
bringing federal, state, and local officials;
T he USA Sprinkler Fitter Association
(USASFA) is lobbying for the passage
of H.R. 1194, which would amend the In-
investment. The USASFA recently joined
the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s
National Advisory Committee. ●
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𰀨𰁏𰁒𰁔𰁏𰁎
𰀲𰁅𰁓𰁃𰁕𰁅
𰀴𰁈𰁉𰁓𰀀𰀑𰀘𰀇𰀀𰁃𰁏𰁍𰁍𰁁𰁎𰁄𰀀𰁃𰁅𰁎𰁔𰁅𰁒𰀀𰁖𰁅𰁈𰁉𰁃𰁌𰁅𰀀
𰁆𰁅𰁁𰁔𰁕𰁒𰁅𰁓𰀀𰁁𰀀𰁃𰁏𰁌𰁌𰁁𰁐𰁓𰁁𰁂𰁌𰁅𰀀𰁃𰁏𰁎𰁆𰁅𰁒𰁅𰁎𰁃𰁅𰀀
𰁔𰁁𰁂𰁌𰁅𰀌𰀀𰁁𰀀𰁃𰁏𰁔𰀀𰁁𰁎𰁄𰀀𰁍𰁕𰁌𰁔𰁉𰁐𰁌𰁅𰀀𰁗𰁏𰁒𰁋𰁓𰁔𰁁𰀍
𰁔𰁉𰁏𰁎𰁓𰀀𰁁𰁓𰀀𰁗𰁅𰁌𰁌𰀀𰁁𰁓𰀀𰁁𰀀𰁌𰁁𰁒𰁇𰁅𰀀𰀬𰀣𰀤𰀀𰁓𰁃𰁒𰁅𰁅𰁎𰀀
𰁗𰁉𰁔𰁈𰀀𰁉𰁎𰁐𰁕𰁔𰀀𰁆𰁒𰁏𰁍𰀀𰁁𰁎𰀀𰁅𰁘𰁔𰁅𰁒𰁉𰁏𰁒𰀀𰁃𰁁𰁍𰁅𰁒𰁁𰀎𰀀
+- / * 1') *3

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NEWS IN BRIEF
Sprinkler ordinances do impede housing development starts,” households, local documents, and news
not jeopardize construction says Jim Shannon, NFPA president. “This reports released before and after the adop-
T he existence of sprinkler ordinances

do not negatively affect the cost
and number of homes built in an area
report is another point to make the case
for enacting life-saving sprinkler require-
ments in local communities.”
tion of the residential sprinkler require-
ments. Also, the research included reviews
of other housing regulations and inter-
in comparison with areas that do not Montgomery and Prince George’s views with key builders, trade association
have such ordinances, according to a Counties had ordinances implemented in staff, and local government officials.
new study conducted for the National several stages beginning in the late 1980s. In interviews, builders and staff of
Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The None were introduced in Fairfax County. the Maryland-National Capital Building
study, Comparative Analysis of Housing Anne Arundel County adopted a require- Industry Association indicated that the
Cost and Supply Impacts of Sprinkler ment for single-family detached residences sprinkler requirements did not signifi-
Ordinances at the Community Level, was this year. This study assessed Anne cantly affect the volume, character, or
conducted by Newport Partners. Arundel County housing starts prior to price of new homes.
The study compared residential the ordinance and found no reduction in All model safety codes now require
construction in Montgomery County, the number of single-family homes built the use of fire sprinklers in new one- and
Maryland, vs. Fairfax County, Virginia, in either Montgomery County or Prince two-family homes. The report may be
and Prince George’s County, Mary- George’s County compared with the other reviewed at the Fire Sprinkler Initiative’s
land, vs. Anne Arundel County, Mary- two counties in the study that do not Web site at www.fi resprinklerinitiative.
_________________
land. Montgomery County and Prince have sprinkler ordinances. On the con- __ under “Research and Reports.” ●
org/
George’s County have sprinkler require- trary, Montgomery and Prince George’s
ments; Fairfax County and Anne Arundel Counties saw larger relative increases in Emergency physicians issue
County do not. The selected areas are all construction in the year after the ordi- H1N1 strategic plan
developmentally mature, cover a wide
geographic area, and contain a variety of
housing stock and income levels.
nances went into effect, compared with
the other two counties, according to the
researchers.
T he American College of Emergency
Physicians (ACEP) has released a
National Strategic Plan for Emergency
“This study clearly demonstrates that The study analyzed annual single-family Department Management of Outbreaks of
home fire sprinkler requirements do not building permits, surveys of housing and Novel H1N1 Influenza. These guidelines
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NEWS IN BRIEF
will help the nation’s emergency depart- and will place added strains on the emer- “NENA’s proposal gives back scarce
ments and first responders plan for and gency care system,” says Jouriles. “Emer- public safety spectrum and undermines
manage the surge in H1N1 flu cases that gency medical and hospital planning for an progress made during recent meetings
may arrive as early as September. H1N1 pandemic will be successful only if among major public safety organizations
ACEP President Nicholas Jouriles ex- there is cooperation between first respond- to further address matters related to the
plains: “When H1N1 first hit the United ers and public health officials. ACEP will development of a nationwide interoper-
States this spring, we saw big surges in work with relevant groups and the federal able broadband network,” says APCO
patients, many of whom had been sent to government to dispense information to its International President Chris Fischer.
us by their primary care physicians. We members on how best to handle a potential- Even though APCO International under-
know the emergency room is the place ly dangerous and unpredictable flu season.” stands NENA’s perspective on this issue
people turn to in a medical crisis, and we The Plan was produced under contract as it relates to how a national broadband
are dedicated to being prepared for the to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for network may eventually be used for 911
worst-case scenarios, even as we hope they Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and networks, Fischer explains that APCO is
will not occur.” the Emergency Care Coordination Center concerned that the NENA proposal “does
Threat awareness, protection and pre- (ECCC) and represents a collaboration not provide for the controls needed by
vention, surveillance and detection, and among ASPR, ECCC, and ACEP. ● public safety to ensure a nationwide de-
response and recovery are the key compo- ployment and network reliability.”
nents of the strategy for managing the threat APCO opposes NENA’s Fischer explains that the NENA pro-
of widespread influenza infection. The stra- broadband network position posal is contrary to APCO International’s
tegic plan was developed to define critical
capabilities and suggest actions to achieve
them. It is intended to guide emergency
T he Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials (APCO)
International, in June, announced that
position and that of many other public
safety organizations. “Public safety fought
long and hard for a clear, dedicated spec-
departments; hospitals; and local, state, and it opposes a proposal from the National trum, and it would be a huge mistake to
federal governments as they make tactical Emergency Number Association (NENA) give that up in exchange for discounted
and operational plans for the fall flu season. to auction both the 700-MHz band D- service from a commercial provider that
“While H1N1’s virulence is not predict- block and adjacent 10 MHz of public- will not meet mission-critical communica-
able, it is expected to be highly contagious safety spectrum for commercial use. tions requirements,” cautions Fischer. ●
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
(September 2009)
On Fire
I was blown away by Michael N.

Ciampo’s “Who had the Nozzle?”
(On Fire, May 2009). In his column, he
stepped outside of the stereotype many
have of him as a “truck” guy and wrote
about engine work. He made the “back
page” not just about the Fire Department
of New York (FDNY) but about some-
thing every firefighter across the nation
could relate to.
Ciampo made us think about the
big picture of teamwork in placing the
nozzle into operation. He helped us un-
derstand this important tactic from both
the engine and truck points of view.
And the small points he interjected (i.e.,
“reminding the chauffeur to pull past”
and “stretching up to the next landing or
into an adjacent apartment”) may help
someone make his job a little better, a
little easier, and a little safer. Ciampo ___________
was able to accomplish this because he
doesn’t have the ego that so many that Job losses 700. However, the average age of first
reach his level in the fire service seem
to have. He is the guy who will talk
with the same respect to the guy in the
P aul Combs’ illustration “This will
stop the budget’s bleeding” (Let-
ters to the Editor, June 2009) is a very
response engine company personnel
rose from 35 to 52. The retirement age
for Spanish firefighters at that time was
middle of nowhere who does 100 runs accurate depiction of what is happen- 65 (now it’s 62 and dropping to 59). We
a year as he does to the guy working in ing all over the country. Perhaps we are oldies apparently can do the same as
the ghettos of the big city. He maintains fortunate here in Spain, where fire and you youngsters.
an open mind regardless of what region local police are public service employees Public service employees are sup-
of the United States you come from who have their positions guaranteed by posed to be exactly that, personnel
when it comes to strategy and tactics. law. About the only way anyone can be involved in activities that serve their
He’s one of the most well-rounded fired is by having committed some very fellow citizens. In the United States, the
firefighters I know because of his career serious offense. One way Spanish munic- public servant who does not comply
path and from the experiences he has ipalities have found to “reduce” staffing with that objective, or whose position is
gained teaching and talking with fire- is by not replacing retired or disabled found to be redundant, or for whatever
fighters from around the country. It is personnel. This happened several years other reason can be subject to “removal
a pleasure to see an article that teaches ago in the country’s second municipal from the payroll” can likely expect to be
the nuts-and-bolts firefighting we so des- fire brigade when a “creative thinking removed from the payroll. Here in Spain,
perately need to learn in the fire service head” consultant convinced the city however, vast numbers of young people,
today. authorities that by eliminating a couple whether they be high school gradu-
Jamie Morelock of stations and cutting back on staffing ates or have a university-level educa-
Firefighter by not replacing retiring firefighters, the tion, strive to meet the rather stringent
Toledo (OH) Department city could save millions. In eight years, requirements for participation in the
of Fire and Rescue staffing dropped from 1,010 to just over frequent municipal, regional, or national
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LETTERS
examination processes to become public
service employees, which give them
literally guaranteed lifetime employment.
Although starting salaries may be lower
than in similar positions in the private
sector, perks and benefits abound: ac-
cumulation of seniority (three-year pe-
riods) with salary bonus, approximately
30 days of vacation annually, “bridges”
when public holidays fall on Tuesdays or
Thursdays (Monday or Friday off with no
discounts), public health care, and a host
of other benefits—the most important
being the near impossibility of losing
their jobs.
Public service
employees are
supposed to be
____________________ exactly that,
personnel
involved in
activities that
serve their
fellow citizens.
The vast majority of Spanish fire-

fighters are public employees, with the
curious situation that their annual hourly
work schedules are the same as office
personnel, some 1,700 hours. Some allot-
ments for overtime are tolerated, but so
as not to exceed those 1,700 hours, the
Spanish fire departments must sustain
five or six shifts that make 24 hours
on duty 96 hours (four days) common
scheduling. This makes the fire service
an extremely attractive career—working
one out of five days, especially in depart-
ments with few responses.
George Potter
Fire Safety Instructor
Madrid, Spain
_____________

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BRUNO “UNPLUGGED”
Showtime
BY ALAN BRUNACINI
O
UR JOURNEY THROUGH THE Developing effective, realistic proce- of leadership. The application part of
basic five-step performance dures requires the participation of the the model is “showtime”—this is where
model has so far described street guys/gals. It’s one of those “pay me we get to do what we do, and doing this
how standard operating procedures now or pay me later” deals. It is a lot bet- defines what we are.
(SOPs) outline how a particular opera- ter to get the input of the folks who must If the essence of leadership is the per-
tional activity is performed and then execute the procedure while it is being formance required to serve Mrs. Smith,
translated into the training component developed than to hear how messed up it then the model creates and integrates
that prepares the players for doing what is in the critique after the workers try to the context of performance with the
is described in the procedure. We dis- somehow make it work in the street. context of leadership. This leadership-
cussed how the SOP-training connection The training component (the second performance context is expressed in
creates a very practical organizational part of the model) is another place very practical terms in the physical work
context that supports the capability to where we get to refine the procedure by we do to solve Mrs. Smith’s problem.
perform the work required to deliver explaining the details that create under- This must become the focus of bosses; it
effective and safe service. The SOP-train- standing and then physically training/ separates the baloney from the beef.
ing combination occurs in the front end drilling on those details so the students The most important reason bosses
of the model and serves as the launch- develop the capability to execute the come to work is to create a continual
ing pad for the application part, which is procedure. Trainers must be aware that fit-for-duty readiness in the workers.
the objective of the whole process. drilling creates an excellent practice- Although the organization must do a
The strength of our service is the natu- based chance to “debug” procedural gazillion things to get ready (to deliver
ral inclination of firefighters to do the details that we missed in the develop- service), effective leaders must send the
physical parts of the job. We become fire- ment process—sometimes, writing and never-ending message throughout the
fighters because we are attracted to doing doing can be very different. Doing all organization that the “moment of truth”
work (combat) that is episodic, exciting, the development involved in produc- is when Engine 1 pulls up in front of the
and action oriented. We want a job where ing procedures and then managing the Smith residence with smoke showing.
they ring the bell and we slide the pole, initial and ongoing application of those This moment of organizational “truth”
get on Big Red, haul ourselves to Mrs. directives inside the department is a big creates a critical challenge for every fire
Smith’s place, and submerge her burn- part of how real leaders lead. service boss. Can you and the people
ing kitchen. No waiting around to fill out Since the beginning of time, there has under your command perform the most
forms, no applications, no mindless bu- been enough material produced in the difficult parts of the job? Too many fire
reaucrats or stupid time-wasting commit- pursuit of teaching, learning, selling, officers have defined themselves by
tees. We don’t do double-blind, seasonally packaging, understanding, creating, and inspecting the length of a firefighter’s
adjusted studies on the medium-range ef- doing what we call leadership that it mustache, chasing down dust bunnies in
fects of elevated temperatures—we make would overfill Yankee Stadium. Some of the day room, or lecturing on the evils of
those elevated temperatures go away as it is beef; a lot of it is baloney. In spite tattoos. They then cannot effectively take
quickly as possible. We (thankfully) have of all this effort, there is not even a uni- command of a room-and-contents fire
a very vocational approach to how we do versally agreed on definition of leader- in a 1,200-square-foot house, much less
our job; there are not a lot of maybes in ship (a smart guy said, “I can’t define it, manage going from offense to defense in
how we operate. but I know it when I see it!”). a fast-moving interior fire in an actively
Our action-oriented strength (like We have a special opportunity to burning commercial building.
many other strengths) can create a create our own understanding of (and In our business, showtime is very
weakness when it causes us to skip the reaction to) leadership. Bosses (read unforgiving, and it does not take long
preparation part of the performance leaders) on every level must understand when watching firefighting operations to
process. Sitting in a planning meeting that our existence as an organization see how far along that system is in the
discussing, arguing, and trying to decide revolves around our consistent readiness five-step model. ●
on the details of an operational pro- to deliver fast, effective, caring service to
cedure generally causes our troops to Mrs. Smith when she needs us. For us, ● Retired Chief ALAN BRUNACINI
is a fire service author and speaker.
mentally wish for a working fire that will doing whatever it takes organizationally
He and his sons own the fire service
save them from an another hour and a and operationally to maintain this street-
Web site bshifter.com.
half of committee blab. response capability becomes the essence
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Photo is courtesy of the Phoenix Fire Department
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DC Metro Train
Accident Poses
Access Challenges
BY KEVIN SLOAN carry hundreds of commuters to and from the city at peak
speeds of 50 to 55 miles per hour on the surface-level tracks.
S
HORTLY AFTER 1700 HOURS ON JUNE 22, 2009, A RESPONSE
Metro Station Box was sounded for the report of a The initial response for a station incident such as this is
train derailment at the Takoma Park Station. This is five engines, two trucks, one heavy rescue squad, two bat-
not an unusual incident for a large metro-area transit system talion chiefs (BCs), the Special Operations BC, one basic life
slightly more than 30 years old, and the District of Colum- support ambulance, one advanced life support ambulance, an
bia Fire/EMS Department (DCFD) responds to a variety of EMS supervisor, and the safety officer. The first BC responds
incidents involving the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit to the scene as the incident commander (IC), the second BC
Authority (Metro) subway system and its millions of riders responds to the Metro Operations Center as a liaison officer,
annually. and the Special Operations BC handles operations within the
The system consists of surface, subsurface, and aerial sta- station or at the track/platform level.
tions with connecting service yards and large maintenance fa- Almost immediately, responding units began to get mobile
cilities. The tracks run in secured right-of-ways that are either data terminal updates of additional injuries, as the passen-
dedicated or shared with commercial rail right-of-ways that gers began calling 911 on their cell phones. Communications
run along one side or both sides of the Metro rails. then began receiving conflicting information of the derail-
The trains are powered by an electrified third rail carrying ment being farther south, between the Takoma Park Station
750 volts of direct current. Each train consists of three “mar- and the Fort Totten Station. Then reports came of an actual
ried pairs,” or six individual cars, for a combined length of train collision, followed by the reports of one train on top of
approximately 450 feet. During peak hours, these trains can another.
Photo 1 courtesy of Google Earth; photos 2-14 by Elliot J. Goodman.
www.FireEngineering.com FIRE ENGINEERING September 2009 59
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● TRAIN ACCIDENT
2 3
4 5
Responders began to feel a sense of urgency. As a precau- of-way and another security fence with intermittent access
tion, the alarm was upgraded to a response for an incident gates separating the Metro rails from the commercial railroad.
between stations. That brought an additional two engines, one The point of the impact was directly adjacent to a traction
truck, and one BC to the Fort Totten Station. power substation at the dead end of 2nd Street (photo 2).
As the first units arrived at the initial station, other units re- Crews accessing the site from the east had to make their way
sponding from the south located the accident site and updated between the buildings, up the embankment, and through the
the IC that the actual location was just north of the Fort Totten fences to the impact site.
Station and confirmed that a Metro train had run into the rear
of another, causing the first car of the striking train to override OPERATIONS
the last car of the train, which was not moving (photo 1). Reports continued to come in from Communications and the
responding units that had located the incident site. Reports of
INCIDENT SCENE smoke and fire as well as numerous serious injuries prompted
The incident site itself would prove to be one of the big- specialty units, fire/EMS senior staff, and the Operations
gest challenges the firefighters had to face that day. The deputy chief to respond to the incident. Both of DCFD’s Mass
collision occurred just south of the New Hampshire Avenue Casualty Task Forces were requested, which consist of spe-
overpass, although the length of both trains would cover cially trained fire units and medical ambulance buses. A full
nearly 1,000 feet of track. The site was bordered on the west second alarm was sounded to bring additional resources and
by a 40-foot wooded uphill embankment and to the east by a a full complement of the department’s heavy rescue squads,
row of commercial warehouses, on 2nd Street, at the bottom which included the collapse/confined space rescue team. The
of a 30-foot downhill embankment. The Fort Totten Station Fire Operations Center was activated and run by senior staff
was a quarter-mile south, with no viable access points to the as a clearinghouse for resource management, logistical sup-
right-of-way; however, there was an “at-grade” access point port, and emergency recall of off-duty personnel.
approximately 100 yards north of the train at the dead end Although several of the initial responding units reported
of Oglethorpe Street. to the access point at Oglethorpe Street and began making
The surface right-of-way was configured so that the com- their way to the impact site, the units on the secondary station
mercial rails (CSX) ran on either side of the Metro tracks. assignment that arrived at the 2nd Street access point made
There was a security fence along the outside of the CSX right- entry to the right-of way first. The Special Operations BC noti-
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● TRAIN ACCIDENT
fied Command of the best access and that any additional units The IC and several of the initial responding units were out
should stage on the 2nd Street side of the incident. of position, others were self-deploying to the scene, and criti-
Metro Transit Police officers had arrived with the fire units cal decisions needed to be made immediately. The best course
and began to use bolt cutters to access the CSX right-of-way. of action was for BC 1 to assume command at the impact site,
Battalion 1, the BC assigned to the secondary station, reached to oversee all track level operations, while the Special Opera-
the impact site along with the Special Operations BC and tions BC assumed the Rescue Branch to direct the extrication
several units including Rescue Squad 2, which had entered at and recovery of the trapped or pinned passengers.
Oglethorpe and carried heavy rescue tools some 300 yards to
the impact site. Initial Actions
The scene that met rescuers was dramatic. The front car Initial actions included the following:
of the striking train had impacted the last car of a “parked” Establish a command post. The New Hampshire Avenue
train. The “anti-climb” or comb plates interlocked, preventing Bridge was recommended to the IC and the Operations
the cars from running over the stationary train; however, the deputy chief as the best place to set up a unified command
forward momentum of the striking train caused the floor to post. It was immediately above the incident site and provided
separate from the metal skin of the car. The skin, which con- adequate space for security, access for agency heads, represen-
sisted of the walls and ceiling, began moving up and over the tatives of the press, and political figures (photo 7).
stationary car while all of the heavy equipment that normally Ensure incident scene safety. The initial action at all Metro
hangs beneath the floor was pushed up into the passenger incidents is to ensure the third rail power is down. Although
compartment (photos 3, 4, and 5). that was verified by our liaison BC at the Metro Operations
Those passengers sitting forward of the front truck assem- Center, units still deployed warning strobe alarm devices
bly in the striking car were crushed in place or pinned in the (WSADs) (photo 8) on all electrified rail sections within 1,000
wreckage against the top rear of the stationary train. Those or so feet of the trains. These devices monitor third-rail power
sitting between the trucks or wheels rode up with the floor and sound an audible/visual alarm if power returns unexpect-
and seats and were thrown out on top of the stationary car or edly. In fact, fire and police personnel had to deploy four of
to the track bed inside the security fence on the west side of these devices to cover all sections of the rail involved.
the train (photo 6). Those sitting over or behind the rear truck The CSX Rail Emergency Center was immediately contacted
assembly were not as seriously injured. and advised to stop all traffic along the Metropolitan Sub-
6 7
8 9
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● TRAIN ACCIDENT
Division, which includes freight
10
service and passenger/commuter
traffic. Other units were deployed
far north and south of the incident
site as flagging companies, to stop
and report any train movement.
Implement accountability.
Our standard operating guidelines
mandate level III accountability on
all Metro incidents, whether above
or below ground. This is accom-
plished by a designated company
using an entry control point. The
Metro right-of-way was accessed by
a sliding gate in the security fence.
The track operations command
post was set up inside the gate,
and instructions were given to not
cut or breach the security fence
on the east side. This provided a
single point of access to control unit deployment, account for striking car were thrown onto and inside the security fence on
personnel entering the work site, deny entry to unauthorized the west side of the train, units had to cut through the security
personnel, and keep any passengers from wandering away fence in several locations (photo 9). Transit officers were de-
without being triaged. ployed to secure the perimeter, keep passengers from wander-
Ensure incident scene security. A transit police official ing away before triage, and ultimately assist in the evacuation.
was requested at the scene and reported to the access control The transit police were tasked with keeping the ambulatory
point quickly. The Metro police remained there throughout the passengers on the train but away from the two cars involved in
incident to assist in deploying and coordinating officer activity, the collision. They were to keep the passengers together until a
provide scene security, and check credentials of other police fire department member could triage them.
agencies reporting at the entry control point. It was decided First-in engine and truck companies were deployed based
early on that transit police would handle securing the incident on their unit assets and order of arrival to the Triage, Sup-
site (the area within the railroad right-of-way) and the Metro- pression, and Evacuation Branches. Their location and activity
politan Police would handle all other police functions outside were then reported to Command when they arrived and set up
of the incident site. The senior police command officers were the Operations Section at the unified command post.
directed to the unified command post. The first-arriving engine deployed a charged hoseline in
Because most of the seriously injured passengers from the the event of a fire. Second-alarm companies were tasked with
logistical support to the Rescue
11 and Evacuation Branches. Their
primary function was to haul in
extrication equipment, stokes lit-
ters, shoring, and ladders. They
also performed the arduous task
of victim evacuation, sometimes
carrying victims long distances
over difficult terrain (photo 10).
EMS Response
The primary function of the
initial firefighting units was tri-
age. Several paramedic engine
companies played a vital role in
the survival of the most critical pa-
tients. Fire and EMS members used
triage ribbons to prioritize injuries
(photo 11). The initial treatment
area was set up at the 2nd Street
location, where members treated
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__________________
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● TRAIN ACCIDENT
12 13
six critically injured patients. DCFD ambulances staged at that treated and transported from that site. To accommodate the
location immediately transported the patients. large number of patients, additional medical ambulance buses
As the evacuation effort began, it became apparent that were requested from surrounding jurisdictions along with two
rescue personnel would not be able to effectively move the medivac helicopters and mutual-aid relief companies. All pa-
more than 100 passengers through a hole in a fence and down tients were treated, accounted for, and transported to medical
a steep embankment to a street with little or no drive-through facilities within 90 minutes following the collision.
access. The decision was made to establish a west treatment Following the evacuation of the last ambulatory passengers,
area at the Oglethorpe access location. It was better suited to teams of transit officers and the battalion aide conducted a
handle a large number of patients because of its large, open detailed search inside, under, and in the areas surrounding
area and grade-level access to the railbed. Transport units the trains to ensure that no one was left behind. A short while
were easily staged, and egress was facilitated by larger traffic later, a third and final search was conducted using Metropoli-
arteries to and from the scene. In the end, 80 patients were tan Police teams.
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TRAIN ACCIDENT ●
Secondary Actions
Secondary actions included the following:
Preliminary investigation meeting. Within the first 60 min-
utes, all of the investigating agencies were on-scene and anxious
to begin the preliminary accident investigation. An initial meet-
ing with representatives of these agencies was organized at the
track operations command post. A list of each agency’s needs
and objectives was recorded and a preliminary plan of action
was developed that would allow the investigation to begin while
allowing the rescue personnel to continue the recovery effort.
Each operated in support of the others’ missions. Rescue would
stop to allow for the collection of evidence and documentation
of the scene before it was altered or destroyed, and investigative
agencies would stand down to allow the recovery operation to
proceed. At one point, the operation was stopped so CSX could
move five stranded commuter rail trains past the site in a con-
trolled manner. The agencies represented were the Metro Transit
Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board, the
Federal Transit Administration, CSX, the Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, and the DC Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lighting. By the end of the evacuation process, it became
obvious that this would be an extended operation. Our Com-
munity Service Units and supervising lieutenant were enlisted
to reach out to various agencies for lighting resources. In the
end, the DC Department of Transportation, Public Works,
and the DC National Guard responded with portable lighting
and generators. A temporary road was built at the end of 2nd
Street, and trees were cut down to facilitate access for light
towers. The DCFD’s heavy rescue crane was even able to hoist/
lower a light tower down to the track bed (photo 12).
CISD and relief. The DCFD chaplain reported to the scene
to administer last rites to the deceased and provide initial criti-
cal incident stress debriefing (CISD) as units reported to rehab.
Later the chaplain was on hand to comfort relatives who came
to the scene looking for loved ones who were believed to have
been on the train that evening.
Coordination with rail safety personnel. Contact was
The Second Generation
made with transit safety personnel. A designee remained at the of EMS/Station Boots!
track operations command post for the duration to provide in-
Certified NFPA 1999-2008
valuable assistance with institutional knowledge and access to
CAN/CSA Z195-2002, ASTM F 2413-05
authority. He coordinated the permanent take down of power
𰁳𰃤𰃤𰁳𰃤𰁈𰁅𰁁𰁔𰃤𰁒𰁅𰁓𰁉𰁓𰁔𰁁𰁎𰁔𰃤𰁓𰁏𰁌𰁅𰀌𰃤𰁅𰁘𰁔𰁒𰁅𰁍𰁅𰁌𰁙𰃤𰁓𰁌𰁉𰁐𰃤𰁒𰁅𰁓𰁉𰁓𰁔𰁁𰁎𰁔
or “tag out” so power could not be brought back unintention- 𰁳𰃤𰁗𰁁𰁔𰁅𰁒𰁐𰁒𰁏𰁏𰁆𰀏𰁂𰁒𰁅𰁁𰁔𰁈𰁁𰁂𰁌𰁅
ally. The power grid was physically disconnected by a transit 𰁳𰃤𰁂𰁌𰁏𰁏𰁄𰁂𰁏𰁒𰁎𰁅𰃤𰁐𰁁𰁔𰁈𰁏𰁇𰁅𰁎𰃤𰁒𰁅𰁓𰁉𰁓𰁔𰁁𰁎𰁃𰁅𰃤𰁁𰁎𰁄𰃤𰁃𰁈𰁅𰁍𰁉𰁃𰁁𰁌𰃤𰁒𰁅𰁓𰁉𰁓𰁔𰁁𰁎𰁃𰁅
electrician at the Tie-Breaker Station. This is a must for any 𰁳𰃤𰁒𰁅𰁭𰁅𰁃𰁔𰁉𰁖𰁅𰃤𰁅𰁌𰁅𰁍𰁅𰁎𰁔𰁓
prolonged rescue/recovery or repair operation. 𰁳𰃤𰁐𰁕𰁎𰁃𰁔𰁕𰁒𰁅𰃤𰁐𰁒𰁏𰁔𰁅𰁃𰁔𰁉𰁏𰁎𰃤𰁓𰁏𰁌𰁅𰃤𰁁𰁎𰁄𰃤𰁐𰁒𰁏𰁔𰁅𰁃𰁔𰁉𰁖𰁅𰃤𰁔𰁏𰁅𰃤𰁃𰁁𰁐
Rescue
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pinned in the stacked wreckage of the striking car near the top
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● TRAIN ACCIDENT
14
The rescue effort took less than an hour to remove all viable • Identify hazards early, and reduce personal protective equip-
patients. The search and recovery of the remaining five victims ment as soon as possible to limit heat stress and fatigue.
took much longer to accomplish. With the use of urban search • Having a localized site/track operations commander was
and rescue equipment, including the department’s search dog, effective in controlling the arrival, deployment, and account-
rescuers were able to locate the last five victims severely pinned ability of initial resources. Although staging and tactically
within the wreckage. It would take until 1000 hours the next day deploying resources in a controlled manner are optimum,
to free them and required the use of a 150,000-ton crane brought the arrival and self-deployment of units at the scene of a rail
in from Richmond. The crane drove to the Alexandria, Virginia, rail collision may necessitate a more rapid method of strategic
yards, where it was able to then “high-rail” up to the accident site. command and control.
Crews then used torches to detach the metal skin of the train and • Contact a police official (if the incident is in a transit system,
lift it away (photo 14). Only then could rescue crews cut away the contact a transit officer or an officer having jurisdiction at
heavy metal machinery and free the final victims. the accident scene). A supervisor can facilitate communica-
tions, direct actions of officers, and secure the site and keep
LESSONS LEARNED passengers from leaving. Direct senior police officials to the
• Remain alert when responding to rail incidents. Locations IC or unified command post.
and information are often vague, especially when called • Set up a hard perimeter around the work area, and maintain
in by passengers who are not aware of their surroundings. control using a single point of access.
Check updates on mobile data terminals often. • Maintain contact numbers for all rail operator control cen-
• The initial stages of a mass-casualty rail event can be confus- ters or emergency centers in your jurisdiction. Contacting
ing and chaotic. Individual units should refrain from calling them directly is more efficient than relaying through a com-
Command once a chief officer has reached the incident site. munications or dispatch center.
Location and size-up information is best updated from a • Call for additional resources as early as possible. Initial re-
single source. sponders will be overwhelmed or exhausted and need relief
• Preplanning of railroad facilities and right-of-way famil- sooner than you expect.
iarization in your local alarm district are the best ways to • If heavy lift cranes are required for rescue or recovery, keep in
minimize response times. mind they may have to come from a distance and will be slow to
• Ensure scene safety first. Do not get caught up in obvious deploy because of railroad access limitations and regulations.
rescues until a size-up and risk assessment are complete and • Triage methods vary, but fire units and treatment crews
all departmental safety procedures and guidelines have been remarked that making “necklaces” out of the ribbons was
followed, especially in electrified rail right-of-ways. expeditious and worked extremely well.
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TRAIN ACCIDENT ●
• Ambulance transport unit crew without the dynamics of mass transpor-
members should resist going to the tation. The smallest event will involve
incident site. Ambulance crews should multiple agencies and, in all likelihood,
remain in the treatment area and allow require a multijurisdictional response.
firefighters or designated police offi- This incident was largely successful
cers to lead or bring victims to them. because the DCFD, in conjunction with
• Announce to passengers at the time of its regional partners and the Washington
triage that they may voluntarily refuse Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, has
treatment and be released to continue tirelessly worked on standard operating
on their way in buses provided by the guidelines, familiarization, skills train-
transit or rail authority. ing, and mass-casualty simulations. In
• Allow only authorized transport vehicles the end, it was the selfless dedication to
in the Transport Area. Responding of- duty and the tireless efforts of the first
ficials and rail workers will congest ac- responders that proved to be the great-
cess/egress routes with service vehicles. est assets in this operation. ●
• Designate apparatus staging and park-
ing areas where they will not hinder ● KEVIN SLOAN is a member
operations.
• Initiate a permanent take down or “tag
out” of the power grid supplying the
of the District of Columbia Fire
Department with 30 years of fire
service experience. He is a battalion
T he most important part
of your intercom system
is the company that built it.
chief assigned to the Operations
electrified rail or catenary, and coordi-
Division, 1st Battalion. He has an With 35 years of experience
nate with rail safety personnel as early
associate degree in fire science from
into the incident as possible. Montgomery College in Rockville, and thousands of systems
••• Maryland, and a B.S. degree in fire in service, Sigtronics is the
Response to rail collisions or emer- service management from the Uni- company you can depend on.
gencies can be one of the most challeng- versity of Maryland in College Park.
ing incidents to command and control
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Do You Have a Plan

for Managing
Bomb Threats?
BY BRIAN BENNETT manufacturing production. Although many bomb threats origi-
nate with children, you cannot automatically discount them.
Y 2
OUR DISPATCH CENTER RECEIVES A PHONE CALL Economic loss. A disgruntled employee, a business
reporting that a bomb has been planted at the local competitor, or someone with a grudge against a business
school. A custodian finds a message scrawled on a owner may report a bomb threat to cause a loss of business.
restroom mirror stating a bomb has been planted in the shop-
ping center. A note is found on a subway car threatening an
impending explosion. Are these scenarios hoaxes or the real
3 Knowledge of the device. In some cases, the individual
who planted the explosive device may provide warning
so as to limit the number of casualties. This tactic is often used
thing? Can we afford to take chances and not be prepared? when the intent is to send a message or simply to cause prop-
Almost every department will respond to a bomb threat erty damage. In some cases, an accomplice, a family member,
at one time or another. Although we have learned through an acquaintance, or another individual may become aware of
experience that a great majority of the bomb threats turn out an impending attack and does not agree with the perpetrator’s
to be hoaxes, we must have a response plan for these calls to use of an explosive device and will report the information to
ensure our personnel’s safety and that of the general public. the authorities in hopes of preventing the attack or at least
In today’s world, we must maintain situational awareness and minimizing casualties and property damage.
always analyze each specific situation thoroughly to determine
the proper response. 4 Start rumors. A perpetrator may want to start rumors
that an organization cannot adequately secure a facility
or ensure the safety of its occupants. This tactic can lead to a
WHAT IS THE THREAT? host of problems, including decreased business, lost produc-
The perpetrator of a bomb threat can be anyone: a child tivity, and the inability to attract employees or customers.
looking to disrupt routine activities at a school, a disgruntled
employee, domestic terrorist groups such as violent factions of
animal rights or right-to-life activists, or international terrorist
5 Instill fear. This goal is directly related to the definition
of terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence to foster
change, get people to change their daily routine, and instill
organizations such as al Qaeda. fear in a population. The September 11, 2001, World Trade
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sta- Center attacks are one example of how to effectively instill
tistics, more than 70 percent of all terrorist attacks involve the fear in a population. The general public was fearful of travel-
use of explosives. Yet, the number of unfounded bomb threats ing in airplanes because they were worried about additional
is significantly higher than the number of actual explosive hijackings and the subsequent use of the aircraft as a weapon
detonations. of mass destruction. When the U.S. airlines started flying again
on September 13, air travel had decreased by approximately
WHY A BOMB THREAT? 20 percent. This situation was attributed directly to fear in-
Why would someone report a bomb threat? Basically, there stilled by the terrorists.
are five reasons: A bomb threat may not be a hoax or lead to an immediate
1 Disruption of normal activity. The most common reason

a bomb threat is reported is to disrupt normal activ-
ity. There are many motives for wanting to disrupt normal
detonation. It could have a more sinister purpose. An adver-
sary may use the bomb threat as a surveillance and planning
tool to execute an attack at a later time. For example, an
activity—for example, students may not want to take an adversary could report a bomb threat to determine the target’s
examination, an employee may want to add more time to a response to the threat. The bomb threat could be used as a
long weekend, or a person may want to disrupt a competitor’s means to assess the response of the first responders—the re-
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● BOMB THREATS
sponse routes, locations of staging
areas for apparatus and person- Figure 1. ATF Recommended Evacuation Distances
nel, the location of the incident
command post, and the actions
responders take on arrival at the
scene. Additionally, the threat
could be used to determine evacu-
ation routes and assembly points
of the target site’s occupants. Per-
haps the security at the target site
is substantial and an adversary
would not be able to penetrate
the security measures installed to
execute an attack. By calling in a
bomb threat that results in evacu-
ating the target area, an adversary
may now have easier access to
large numbers of people grouped
together in an unsecured public
area where they could be targeted
much more easily.
RESPONSE TO A THREAT
Use a commonsense approach when responding to a bomb that there is a bomb at some location and perhaps the time it
threat. Assess each threat individually. Base your decision on is scheduled to detonate. An example of a nonspecific bomb
how to respond on the information that is available and its threat would be as follows: “I have planted a bomb at the
validity. Regardless of how unlikely or how preposterous the Washington High School, and it will go off in 10 minutes.”
bomb threat may seem, do not totally ignore or dismiss it until A specific bomb threat contains much more detailed informa-
you have completed a comprehensive threat assessment and tion, such as the exact location of the device, the type of explo-
hazard and risk assessment that take into consideration and sive used, a description of the device, and perhaps a motive for
evaluate all of the information the caller provided. placing the device. An example of a specific bomb threat would
Fire department units typically respond to a bomb threat be as follows: “I’m a student at Washington High School. My
in one of two ways. The first type of response, used for low- classmates have been picking on me for the past three years.
credibility, low-threat reports, typically has only a command Everyone hates me, and I have no friends. I hate them and have
officer respond to the scene in a nonemergency response decided to get back at them. I made a pipe bomb at home last
mode. The command officer then becomes part of the unified night, using black powder and nails. I took it to school in my
command system, participating in the decision-making process backpack. I put the bomb in the cabinet in the back of Mrs.
by providing relevant fire service information. The second Smith’s classroom. The bomb will go off at the start of fourth
type of response, used for a more credible threat or for targets period when all of those jerks are seated at their desks.”
that present a high life safety risk, would have fire apparatus
dispatched and respond in a nonemergency response mode to HAZARD AND RISK ASSESSMENT
a staging area a safe distance from the target. In both response Everything we do in the fire service should be predicated
modes, position all fire department apparatus and personnel a on a hazard and risk assessment. Incident commanders (ICs)
safe distance from the target area (Figure 1). must thoroughly analyze the hazards posed to our person-
nel, the level of risk, and the benefit to be gained by getting
RECEIPT OF THE BOMB THREAT involved. This process is no different for a bomb threat.
A bomb threat can be reported in any number of ways: verbal,
written, e-mail, fax, audio/videotape, pager, or in person. The THREAT ASSESSMENT
most common method used to report bomb threats in the United The threat assessment is directly related to the target’s vulner-
States is verbally, usually a telephone call to an emergency ability, meaning whether an adversary could gain access to the
services call taker or directly to the targeted facility. In the case target with a weapon. Is the facility an open facility, such as a
of a bomb threat received by telephone, the recipient of the call shopping center, which allows free and easy access to the pub-
should ask questions and obtain details that may be helpful. For lic, or a secure facility, such as a police station, which is gener-
example, the caller may state the bomb was placed on the fifth ally restricted from public access? The threat assessment must
floor; however, the building does not have a fifth floor. consider all potential adversaries and their capabilities. As men-
Bomb threats may be nonspecific or specific. A nonspecific tioned earlier, you cannot dismiss even a child as a potential
bomb threat provides little information other than a statement adversary. The Internet provides hundreds and even thousands
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GIS—Providing You The Geographic Advantage ™
for a Faster, Safer, More Informed Response
An in-vehicle application with various views gives first responders

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information allows you to take action more safely
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ESRI’s ArcGIS® software provides the information

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informed decisions using interactive maps. During
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deploy with greater precision, and manage
incidents more effectively.
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vehicle location (AVL) for routing and resource allocation. critical needs.
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the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.
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● BOMB THREATS
of ways to use commonly available materials to make powerful and equipment are located, access routes such as elevators
explosive devices. There have been numerous case studies over and stairways, security measures in place, and so on.
the years where children were able to manufacture and deploy
highly effective and destructive explosive devices. DETERMINING THREAT CREDIBILITY
There are four major considerations in a threat assessment: Once all of the relevant information has been collected and
1. Identify the asset at risk. assessed, determine the credibility of the threat. Threat can be
2. Identify potential adversaries. defined as an adversary with both the intent and capability to
3. Assess the capabilities and risks the adversaries pose. do harm. The threat credibility will dictate the response. If you
4. Manage the risks. determine the threat to be not credible, you will need to do
Once you have assessed these considerations, you must make little in terms of response and commitment of resources. Con-
an evaluation. First, debrief the person who received the bomb versely, if you determine the threat to be credible, you will have
threat. Collect and analyze every piece of information reported. to commit significant resources. The credibility of the threat is
Jurisdictions should have a procedure detailing how to collect based on a number of factors, including the following:
and document bomb threat information. Many jurisdictions • The reliability of the source reporting the threat.
have developed a form on which the recipient documents criti- • The level of corroboration of the threat.
cal pieces of information. Most importantly, the person who • The imminence of the threat.
receives the threat must know to whom it should be reported • The specificity of the threat.
and must report it in the most expeditious manner possible. • The vulnerabilities of the target.
Some threat indicators that may indicate potential authentic- • The adverse consequences of a successful attack.
ity include the following: Based on a thorough threat evaluation, the credibility of the
• The caller reports the threat in a very deliberate manner, threat can be classified into four categories:
sometimes repeating important information. • Not credible: The threat is unrealistic and poses no danger.
• The caller gives a reason for the threat. • Possible: The threat is reasonable.
• The caller claims responsibility for other bombings. • Likely: The threat discloses sufficient information to be of
• The caller gives the exact location of the device and the concern.
time of the scheduled detonation. • Credible: The threat has a good chance of being success-
• The caller knows details of the target, such as where people ful and causing harm.
_________________
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BOMB THREATS ●
RESPONDING
TO THE BOMB THREAT
If the threat evaluation indicates a re-
the shelter-in-place method of protec-
tion, you move the occupants from the
threatened area (those in close proxim-
4 Partial evacuation. Use this option
for a “likely” or “credible” threat—
evacuate by physically removing oc-
sponse is warranted, the IC must develop ity to the glass windows) to the center cupants from the targeted area. You may
an incident action plan (IAP). As part of of the building. The shelter-in-place have to move large numbers of people
the preemergency planning, determine area would preferably be without any very quickly; therefore, this is very
when you will activate the IAP, whether windows or exterior doors. It is also resource-intensive. Consider the follow-
on receipt of the threat or on discovery recommended that the area not have any ing questions before the evacuation:
of a suspicious package in the target area. ventilation fans that intake or discharge • How do we inform everyone about
The IAP should include the actions to the outside environment (in case the the evacuation?
that you will take specific to the bomb explosive was used to disseminate a bio- • To where do we move the evacuees?
threat. Five action options are available: logical, chemical, or radiological agent). • How do we get them there?
1 Do nothing. Use this option when

you consider a threat “not cred-
ible.” The completion of the hazard and
risk assessment and threat assessment
processes indicated that no further action
Knox FDC Protection Program
®
is required. This option also helps to

avoid panic and confusion, as the oc-
cupants of the target are usually unaware '() *
$ +,$ $-./-%0
that a threat has been received. It also -
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lack of disruption and might be unlikely 4
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to report future threats.
2 Search without protecting people.

You can use this option when you
classify a threat as “possible.” A team of 5
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trained employees or responders could
surreptitiously search the target area for
Call 800-552-5669
any suspicious packages without alerting
5" StorzGuard™
the occupants located at the target. This
action is not disruptive to normal activity 4" StorzGuard™
SecureCap®
and will also help to avoid complacency 2.5" Female
and additional threats.
3 Shelter in place. You can use this

option for threats you classify as
“likely.” The response called for in this
action is to relocate selected occupants
in a potential targeted area to a safe
area. It is a much easier way of protect-
ing people (as opposed to evacuation),
in that it is not very personnel intensive,
transportation is not required, and the
occupants are not moved from a secure
2.5" & 1.5" FDC Plug
area to an unsecured area. Knox
Typically, sheltering in place is used Keywrench
within a structure. For example, you
have received a “likely” threat for a ve-
hicle bomb parked in the street adjacent
to a glass-faced high-rise building. Using
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___________

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● BOMB THREATS
• How do we account for everyone? in the best position to know what belongs and what does not
• How do we address people with special needs? belong in a particular area. Also, concern for their own safety
Partial evacuation may help to avoid some of the problems iden- may cause them to search more thoroughly. Conversely, they
tified above. Instead of evacuating all of the occupants in the target most likely do not have a lot of training and may be less than
area, evacuate only the occupants in the high-risk area to a safe enthusiastic in undertaking this task.
area. If you are evacuating, it is recommended that you do not tell
the occupants the reason. This will help to eliminate panic. What Are You Looking For?
When an evacuation has been called for, instruct occupants to Explosives can be formed to look like almost any object or
take their belongings with them. This will expedite the search that can be hidden inside common, everyday items. The size and
will be conducted in that each bag and other items will not have to shape of these weapons are limited solely by the inventiveness
be checked and cleared. Stage the evacuees’ belongings (for later of the adversary and the resources available to make the devic-
checking and clearance); do not have them brought to the evacu- es. The most common explosive devices include the following:
ation area. This will prevent someone from inadvertently bringing • Letter bomb.
an explosive device to the safe area. Instruct occupants to open • Briefcase/backpack bomb.
windows and doors as they evacuate, to minimize the potential • Pipe bomb.
of blast damage from overpressurization if there is a detonation. • Vehicle bomb.
Before starting the evacuation process, it is prudent to search the • Suicide (or more appropriately homicide) bomber.
evacuation routes and safe areas for suspicious packages. The wild card in all of the types of explosive devices is the
5 Full evacuation. Take this action when you must relocate

all occupants in the target area to a remote, safe location
because of the possibility of the high risk for injury to people
improvised explosive device (IED). An IED is a bomb that does
not look like a bomb. For example, insurgents in Iraq have im-
planted explosives in animals. The terrorist group Al Aqsa has
or damage to structures. fabricated molded fiberglass wombs that women can fill with
explosives and then strap onto their body.
SEARCHING FOR A BOMB
Who Will Perform the Search? Search Guidelines
This is the first question to answer when a search is Once the appropriate hazard and risk assessment and
necessary for a suspicious package. The general rule is that threat assessment have been completed, a search of the target
personnel from the target should conduct the search with area may be required to determine if a suspicious package is
support from the emergency services, if necessary. present. Before starting the search for a suspicious package,
Although it may seem imprudent to have the occupants remind all participants of some basic safety rules:
conduct the search, there are several benefits. Primarily, they • Do not touch a strange or suspicious object.
are familiar with the asset and can search rapidly. They are also • Do not use portable radios or cellular phones.
• Search the most important areas
Figure 2. How to Search for a Suspicious Package first, then search public access
areas, then search areas most
related to the threat.
• Use trained/key personnel famil-
iar with the area and its contents.
Search Techniques
Two-person teams have been
found to provide the best results. To
ensure a comprehensive search, use a
methodical system (Figure 2). Search
an area from the floor to waist area
first. Conduct the second area search
from the waist to the chin area. Cover
the area from the chin to the ceil-
ing in the third area search. In the
fourth area search, cover hidden and
enclosed areas such as closets and the
area above a suspended ceiling.
Suspicious Object Located

If you discover a suspicious
Source: U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, package, take the following safety
Bomb Threats and Physical Security Planning, April 1997.
precautions:
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BOMB THREATS ●
I N N O VAT I V E .
• Do not touch the object. sponse to suspicious objects, and deter-
• Do not cover the object. mining the “all clear.” Relief ICs should
• Report the location and description be in place to provide relief coverage I N T E G R AT E D.
of the device. for long-duration events. Designate
• Evacuate all personnel in the imme- alternate ICs in case the primary IC is
diate area a minimum of 300 feet. unavailable. The Operations Section
• Do not permit reentry into the area chief is responsible for developing the
until it has been declared safe. tactics and supervising their implemen-
tation. The Planning Section chief will
Secondary Devices be occupied conducting the hazard and
Secondary devices have a singular risk assessment and developing plans
purpose—to injure and kill emergency for sheltering in place or evacuation.
responders. A secondary device is a The Intelligence element (a new addi-
second explosive device set off after the tion to the General Staff courtesy of the
initial blast, once emergency responders National Incident Management System)
have arrived in the area to treat victims will be responsible for the threat as-
and mitigate the emergency. Always be sessment. Depending on the scope and
aware of the potential for a secondary nature of the event, Intelligence may
device at incidents involving explosives. be managed at the command officer or
section chief level or by establishing an
THE COMMAND POST Intel unit within the Planning Section.
Locate the command post (CP) in Using the concept of unified command,
a safe area, remote from the incident. the IC may be law enforcement or the
A good rule of thumb for explosive fire service. Operations may be the
incidents is that the scene should not bomb squad, Planning may be the facil-
B R I L L I A N T.
be visible from the CP. For a bombing ity involved, and Intelligence may be
incident, the use of a unified command law enforcement.
is strongly recommended. Have the key
personnel, authorized decision makers,
from each stakeholder organization in
2 Determine procedures for handling
threat calls. Develop a checklist to
guide call takers in collecting informa-
the CP. Communication between the tion when a threat is received. Clearly
CP and field response units will be an state what they should do with the
issue, since wireless communication de- threat information they have collected:
vices (e.g., radios and cellular phones) to whom they should give it and the
are not recommended when there is the actions for which the decision maker is
possibility that an explosive device may responsible.
be present. Therefore, use hard-line
telephone communications or runners. 3 Determine procedures for evaluat-
ing threat calls. Coordinate with
the appropriate law enforcement agen-
BOMB THREAT PLAN cies to properly determine the validity of
A comprehensive bomb threat plan the threat.
must cover all aspects of an incident,
from the initial receipt of the threat
through mitigation. It must cover all
4 Identify the CP. Consolidate all
command and control functions
in the CP as soon as possible. It would
scenarios, from the suspicious package be particularly helpful if a portable ICS
that was simply misplaced by its owner kit were available. It should contain all
to a real device. An effective plan for of the pertinent information that may
dealing with bomb threats includes eight be needed, such as emergency contacts,
elements: preemergency plans, and so on. Iden-
1 Designate responsibilities. Four

critical positions must be filled
for a bomb threat incident. The most
tify alternate CPs in the plan in case
the situation warrants moving from the
original predesignated location. Sweep
important position is that of the IC. the primary and alternate CPs for
This person will have overall responsi- secondary devices before the command
bility for evaluating the threat, planning and general staff occupy them.
w w w. b u l l a r d . c o m
5
search activities, ordering shelter in Develop a search and protection __________________
place or evacuation, coordinating re- plan. There are three options when
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Firefighter Training
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BOMB THREATS ●
I N T E G R AT E D H E L M E T
identifying who will search for a suspi- specific information concerning the LIGHTING.
cious package. The first option is to use suspicious package to the bomb squad
personnel from the target area to search. immediately. Also, have plans in place
Exclusively from
The second option is to use the facility’s to continue the search in other sec-
emergency response team or internal se- tions of the target area, as there may be
Bullard.
curity force. Typically, these groups have multiple devices.
more training and are generally more In addition, there must be a contin-
effective than having employees conduct gency plan for addressing the actions
the search. The third option is to team to take if the device explodes—rescue,
law enforcement and/or fire department building collapse operations, triage and
members with personnel from the target. treatment, and firefighting. Consider
This option provides the best of both whether the device has been used to
worlds—a team that is highly trained spread a chemical, biological, radiologi-
and very familiar with the surroundings. cal, or nuclear agent.
Regardless of which option you chose, it
is imperative to remember that the sole
purpose of the search team is to provide
7 Test the plan. Conduct periodic ex-
ercises of the plan to test it. An an-
nual exercise is highly recommended. As
a reconnaissance and report the find- always, all stakeholders should partici-
ings. The search teams are not expected pate in the exercise. The purpose of the
to, and should not, disturb a suspicious exercise should be to identify the plan’s Introducing
package. The search plan should include
the exterior, public common areas, and
strengths and weaknesses. The overall
goal is to improve the plan. Develop a
TrakLite™
all else. formal exercise plan with an appropriate Featuring multiple forward-
You must also develop shelter-in-place scenario. An improved plan should be
and evacuation plans. They should be the end result of the exercise. facing, long-lasting, bright LED
general in nature and outline how to im-
plement the plan and who is responsible
for completing its various elements. Key
8 Improve the plan. Thoroughly
evaluate and implement the recom-
mendations identified in the exercise.
lights, TrakLite is integrated into
Bullard helmets for excellent
aspects of the plan include the following: After you have revised the plan, begin weight balance and illumination.
• Instructions for notifying people in the process again—test and further im- Also features a rear buddy
the target area to shelter in place or prove the plan.
evacuate. •••
indicator light, long battery life
• Details of how to transport people Although most of us respond to bomb (uses four AAA batteries) and
back and forth from the shelter-in- threats on a frequent basis, we have not
easy on/off operation.
place or evacuation area and the always developed appropriate plans
target area. and procedures. The most common Available for
• Securing an area for personnel’s reason for this is complacency. We have Bullard UST,
belongings (briefcases, purses, etc.) responded many times over the years,
that will have to be searched. and they have all been false alarms.
PX, FX and
• Personal needs, such as sanitation With the current status of world events, LT models.
and emergency medical services. we cannot assume that this will always
• Moving people with special needs. be the case. We have seen too many
• Preidentifying evacuation centers. instances of children detonating devices
Develop specific plans for key assets in schools, disgruntled employees target-
likely to be the target of a bomb threat. ing their workplaces, domestic terrorists
Arguably, the toughest decision for using explosives to further their causes,
the IC will be what to do if the threat is and international terrorists posing the
considered viable but nothing suspicious threats of IEDs and suicide bombers.
has been detected. How does he ensure Now is the time to develop your plan. ●
the target site is safe to allow people
back into it? ● BRIAN BENNETT, PhD, CFO, a
6 Establish a response plan. Imple-

ment the response plan as soon
as a suspicious item is found. The
26-year veteran of the fire service, is
chief of the Iselin (NJ) Volunteer Fire
Company #1. He has three engineer-
primary activity at this point would be ing degrees and is a NJ-certified
to evacuate the immediate area and instructor level 2, fire official, and w w w. b u l l a r d . c o m
__________________
fire officer I.
secure it from further entry. Convey
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Fire Engineering
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Real-World
Strategies You
Can Put to Work!
Deputy Chief Anthony Avillo has updated
d y adopted, best-selling book!
his widely
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Teamwork Key
to Mitigating
Trolley Collision
B Y F R E D S U L L I VA N Small fires started outside toward the rear of the car, likely from
the damaged pantograph and overhead wires.
O
N MAY 28, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M., TWO
outbound MBTA Green Line Light Rail Vehicle trol- CASUALTIES
leys collided in Newton, Massachusetts. Up to 200 The Newton (MA) Fire Department responded to the given
passengers were estimated to be aboard the four cars. home address of the caller, who directed personnel to the
The first two-car trolley stopped for a red traffic signal and tracks behind his house. They found two badly damaged cars
was starting to accelerate when it was struck by a faster mov- with several casualties. Uninjured passengers were walking to
ing second two-car trolley. The impact knocked the rear car of the Waban and Woodland stations several hundred yards away.
the first trolley off the tracks to the left. The front car of the Multiple reports triggered a mutual-aid response from four
second trolley rode up over the left of the rear of the first trol- communities, to respond to the scene or to cover Newton’s
ley. Its front truck assembly dislodged to the left, landing on the vacant firehouses.
inbound tracks. The front end of the car buckled downward on The most seriously injured passenger was a woman seated
impact and crashed onto the tracks and ballast, collapsing the behind the operator; her legs were pinned where the roof and
front end even more, curling it into the shape of a clenched fist. the floor collapsed at a designed “pinch point” several feet
The midpoint of the left side of the trolley landed on a protru- from the front end. Members of two Newton ladder companies
sion of the separated truck assembly, causing the trolley to lean brought two sets of hydraulic rescue tools down a 20-foot
to the right. The operator’s section was folded under the car. embankment to the track bed. They operated the spreaders on
Boston Fire Department photos by Bill Noonan.
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● TROLLEY COLLISION
each side of the woman’s legs to sepa-
rate the roof from the floor. Firefighters 2
removed and treated her and a Med-Flight
helicopter transported her to Boston Medi-
cal Center’s trauma unit.
Newton firefighters triaged the injured
and, with Needham and Wellesley firefight-
ers, treated and packaged seven passen-
gers, who were removed to a mass-casualty
incident (MCI) treatment area that had
been established at the adjacent golf course
and transported by ambulance to nearby
Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The Newton
firefighters then located the MBTA opera-
tor, who was trapped in the wreckage and
determined to be deceased during the first
hour of operations. Responders needed more
resources before they could extricate her.
Boston Fire Alarm dispatched for the re-
gional Mutual Aid Network, which offered
the services of Boston’s Technical Rescue 3
Team One—Rescue 1, Tower Ladder 3, and
Engine 10. Also dispatched were District 11
as mutual-aid chief, District 9 as technical
rescue chief, and the fire investigation unit
photographer.
On arrival, the Boston companies met
with the Newton firefighters and officers
and were briefed on the incident. They
jointly conducted a size-up, both around
the trolley and inside the car. Newton
firefighters had begun initial stabilization
of the trolley with cribbing. As firefighters
pried the trolley with hydraulic spreaders
and rams, the vehicle listed to the right
from its cribbing. Members continually
checked and tightened the cribbing.
Boston’s two chiefs arrived and con-
ferred with Newton Assistant Chief Bruce
Proia and Deputy Chief Israel Jimenez. 4
They discussed the plan of action and
determined it to be appropriate for the
existing conditions.
RECOVERY OF TROLLEY
OPERATOR
Initial efforts to access the operator’s
position were through the front of the
trolley at track level. This area was actually
the roof panels. The sheet metal was com-
paratively easy to cut through but did not
provide sufficient internal opening. Mem-
bers used hydraulic spreaders and rams
alternately to create a larger opening, but
the openings were still too small to enter.
When the rams pushed the metal away, it
stayed in place, not returning at all. Block-
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briefed on the damage and the progress
5 made at the front end. Further size-up of
the interior offered the potential for top-
down access through the floorboards. The
flooring was cut away with a power saw
to expose the heavy-gauge steel frame. An
oxyacetylene torch was used with limited
success. Two protective hoselines were
used, one inside the car and the other
from outside on the exposed lower sec-
tion. The MBTA provided an exothermic
cutting torch with a higher operating tem-
perature. It was difficult to cut through the
frame. A large gap remained to reach the
folded floor of the forward part of the car.
Little progress was made against the tough
frame after using several cutting rods. The
hole left insufficient room to access the
lower frame and floor. The interior attack
ing was used to augment the spreaders and rams’ extension. was abandoned after joint evaluation.
Newton and Boston firefighters took turns working alone and The MBTA rerailing team arrived and provided more equip-
in pairs. They conferred after each phase, keeping all abreast ment to raise the trolley. The MBTA and firefighters conferred,
of the progress and the obstacles still to be overcome. The detailing the progress and the remaining difficulties of inad-
operator was still too entangled and inaccessible to be moved. equate access. Earlier placement of two bottle jacks blocked
Newton Engine Co. 7 Lieutenant Jay Bourgeois responded the only lift points the MBTA needed to position the metal
while off duty. His experience with the FEMA Massachu- beam. The rerailing team and firefighters blocked and cribbed
setts Urban Search and Rescue Team was put to use. He was the trolley for removal of the jacks. The firefighters stood back
____________________________
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TROLLEY COLLISION ●
and took their only break in the six-hour body was covered with a sheet to keep swiftly removed all the injured MBTA
extrication while the rerailing team her from public view of the neighbors patrons to hospitals.
set the metal beam in place atop more and the media at the top of the slope. • Sufficient help. Newton Fire re-
blocking and their hydraulic jacks. The sponded with most of its on-duty crews
trolley was carefully raised until they LESSONS LEARNED/ and called back its off-duty deputy
had a two-foot clearance to the track REINFORCED chiefs. Mutual-aid companies responded
bed. • Initial size-up. The scope of the through prearranged agreements to
After another joint size-up was com- accident was quickly assessed. Tri- cover Newton’s empty firehouses. Bos-
pleted, a new plan of attack was formed. age and treatment began immediately. ton Fire sent a three-company technical
The spreaders and rams now had better One trapped rider was evaluated and rescue team and support vehicle and
access to the operator’s area, and teams promptly extricated. Sufficient am- two district chiefs. Braintree Fire sent a
of two could work around the victim. bulances and a Med-Flight helicopter heavy rescue truck.
Progress was made so that they could
move the operator’s torso partially out
of the trolley, but her legs were folded
up behind her in the inverted seat. The
crushed compartment allowed no further
access to remove the seat.
The firefighters and MBTA personnel
conferred about an alternate point of en-
try. They determined it may be possible
to come in from behind the operator if ESS INNERZONE TM
an external 400-pound electrical unit on THE BEST SELLING STRUCTURAL

the left side was removed. It was just GOGGLE SERIES IN AMERICA
ahead of the left jack, partially shielded
by crumpled body panels. Members cut
away the panels and carefully removed
the large electrical box. Again, cutters,
spreaders, and rams were used to create
space to access the operator’s compart-
ment. From this vantage point, it was
determined that the mounting post for
the operator’s seat had to be removed
to allow release of the victim’s legs. The
cutters had no effect on the post. A ram
placed at the post’s mid-point pushed
the seat sideways, decreasing the space
for maneuvering. Releasing the ram
pressure returned the seat to its earlier
position.
The ram was placed against the base
of the post, and pressure was reapplied,
quickly snapping the post. Newton
firefighters slowly removed the sheet- ICE TM EYESHIELD
covered victim at the front as a team on
the left side untangled her legs from the
bent seat.
All members removed their helmets ADVANCER V-12 TM
as a sign of respect for the victim as
firefighters prepared the body for trans-
port by the medical examiner’s staff.
Her body was protected from additional
injury at all times during the extrication.
Bunker coats were soaked and used
to cover the victim to shield her from
sparks and slag from the saw and the ____________________
© 2009 Eye Safety Systems, Inc.
cutting torches. At all other times, her
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The District 11 chief responded on mutual aid with Boston well as securing external electric power and onboard batter-
companies to coordinate activities with the incident command- ies. Jacking points are covered only to the extent of raising the
er as well as to function as a safety chief for the Boston com- vehicle slightly for extrication. The Newton collision entailed
panies. The District 9 chief, as technical rescue chief, oversaw extraordinary damage to the light rail vehicle body, frame,
the rescue/recovery operation. and carriage, far more than ever encountered by Newton and
The MBTA responded quickly with track crews, rerailing Boston on the MBTA Green Line.
crews, trolley specialists, inspectors, police officers, and all Boston’s two rescue companies have since trained on the
levels of management up through General Manager Daniel use of plasma torches and oxy-gasoline cutting torches with
Grabauskas and Carmen’s Union Local 589 President Stephan the Ironworkers Union Local 7. The tools were not available at
MacDougall. Their expertise was invaluable throughout the the time; the MBTA donated them.
extrication process. The MBTA technicians provided tools, •••
equipment, and trolley-specific information that hastened the The fire profession functions with teamwork, whether it is a
removal of the operator. medical call, vehicle accident, haz-mat incident, brush fire, or
• Access to scene. Initial companies responded to the giv- multiple alarm. Each member has a role at every incident, and
en address at 47 Dorset Road. All other apparatus also flowed their actions are coordinated skillfully. The timing and efficiency
into Dorset Road. Police later opened a service gate to the golf are developed over time and are honed with frequent training
course. Ambulances and MBTA trucks were directed to a place to update skills to match changes in materials and technolo-
adjacent to the trolleys. Boston’s Rescue 1 radioed while en gies. This is evident when different departments function as
route to ask where to report. Broken transmissions and line- one seamlessly in the most difficult situations. The Newton and
of-sight problems kept Rescue 1 from receiving a corrected Boston Fire Departments rarely operate at the same incidents,
location. This resulted in its responding to Dorset Road, a con- yet their coordinated efforts to recover the trolley operator with
siderable distance from the accident site. Had it responded to dignity belie that fact. This mutual-aid incident highlighted the
the golf course, more tools and equipment would have been common traits of education, training, teamwork, and the per-
readily available. Boston’s portable radios also did not func- sonal skills of our diverse firefighters. ●
tion in the valley. Cellular telephones were used in their place.
Boston Fire Alarm can have its tactical command post respond ● FRED SULLIVAN retired after 36 years with the Boston
to an elevated location and relay all radio communications. (MA) Fire Department, the past 20 years as a district
• Interagency drills. The Newton and Boston Fire De- chief. He has been involved with the Technical Rescue
Teams for the past five years. Sullivan has a B.S. degree
partments drill with MBTA personnel on the vehicles in their
in fire science.
response areas. Safe operating procedures are stressed, as
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Personal Harness Use

for Firefighter Rescue
1
Photos courtesy of Camden County (NJ) Fire Academy Safety and Survival Unit.
BY DAN DIRENZO al of a firefighter whether the rescuer or downed firefighter is

wearing a harness.
T
HE PERSONAL HARNESS HAS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL Several types and brands of harnesses are available for the
and crucial part of personal protective equipment (PPE) fire service. The fire department personal harness is a Class
for today’s firefighters. The personal harness enhances II seat harness (photo 1). The personal harnesses are also
fireground safety and rescue options. However, firefighters now being integrated into the turnout pants and offered as an
often wear it or are issued it without upgrade option from the PPE
being aware of its full capabilities and 3 manufacturers. The following
uses. The personal harness increases rescue techniques are not spe-
firefighters’ abilities to rescue civil- cific to any manufacturer and
ians, other firefighters, and themselves. can be applied to any type of
Focusing on firefighter rescue, there are Class II fire service harness.
several situations where the personal Wearing the harness is only
harness will aid and quicken the remov- the beginning; you must know
how and when to use it. The
2 personal harness has many
uses beyond that of locking
into ladders or an aerial bucket.
It can be used to egress an
upper-floor window with a
4 rope in emergency conditions
or to lower a firefighter to a
victim trapped in an upper-
floor window inaccessible from
an aerial ladder. However, this
article focuses solely on using
the personal harness to rescue
downed firefighters.
FIREFIGHTER PACKAGING
We have been taught that
prior to moving a downed
firefighter in a rescue situation,
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● PERSONAL HARNESS
5 6 7
we must convert that firefighter’s self-contained breathing ap- Assuming that the downed firefighter is wearing a harness, you
paratus (SCBA) to a full body harness by unclipping the SCBA can incorporate the SCBA with the personal harness to complete
waist belt, running the straps between the firefighter’s legs, the full body harness conversion. Deploy the large pompier hook
and resecuring the belt clips. The SCBA harness has now been from the downed firefighter’s harness, lay it across his chest, and
converted to a full body harness, and the SCBA will not slide clip the shoulder strap of the downed firefighter’s SCBA (photo
off the firefighter’s body during the removal process. 2). This conversion will work even if only one shoulder strap is
_____________
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PERSONAL HARNESS ●
accessible; both straps do not need to be clipped into the pompi- ness hook into the downed firefighter’s shoulder straps at
er hook (photo 3). Once you have made the attachments, tighten the top of the SCBA (photo 5). Now the rescuers can use leg
the shoulder straps. The full body harness is now converted. muscles to drag the firefighter, keeping their hands free to as-
If needed, you can put a half hitch on the SCBA strap to sist with the removal and maintain stability. The rescuers can
prevent it from loosening. This is necessary only if the SCBA either drag backward or spin around with the harness through
is equipped with parachute-style buckles instead of the alliga- their legs and drag forward (photo 6). Dragging forward
tor clips. This method drastically shortens the packaging phase allows rescuers to maintain a direction of travel. If condi-
of removing a downed firefighter, but, as noted above, it is not tions necessitate that the firefighter stay extremely low to the
intended to replace the universal SCBA conversion technique. ground, you can apply the same techniques, but the removal
Firefighters must remain proficient in the SCBA conversion will be more difficult and meet with resistance. Adding a
because all firefighters they encounter will not be equipped with piece of webbing/rope between the rescuer’s harness and the
a harness. Another method for using the downed firefighter’s downed firefighter’s SCBA will provide greater flexibility.
personal harness as an attachment point for removal is to feed
the pompier hook up through the downed firefighter’s coat so MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE
that it is at the top of the coat in the firefighter’s upper chest area If the downed firefighter is big in size or needs to be moved
(photo 4). This will keep the personal harness close to the body, a long distance, you can form a simple mechanical advantage
preventing the downed firefighter from inverting during removal. using the rescuer’s personal harness and, if equipped, the
downed firefighter’s personal harness. Use a piece of webbing
HORIZONTAL DRAGS or rope, which should be a part of every firefighter’s personal
Dragging a downed firefighter can be a very labor-intensive tool bag, to create this mechanical advantage. Attach one end
task, considering the size of the firefighter and the distance of the webbing/rope to the rescuer’s personal harness, which
you must drag him. Firefighters can use their personal harness will serve as the anchor point. Run the opposite end through
to assist with the removal of a downed firefighter in several the downed firefighter’s harness pompier hook or through an
ways. One is to assist with a horizontal drag of a firefighter SCBA shoulder strap, if the downed firefighter is not wearing
while permitting the rescuer to use his legs, the strongest a harness. Once you run the end of the webbing/rope through
muscles in our bodies. Once the downed firefighter has been the pompier hook or SCBA, pull the opposite end back to the
packaged for removal, the rescuer can clip his personal har- anchor, forming the 2:1 mechanical advantage (photo 7). This
TEEX trains emergency response personnel from more than 45 countries each
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__________
TEXAS ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE
A Member of The Texas A&M University System

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8 9
10 11
minimizes the weight the rescuers have to move, which will rope with a handcuff knot into the hole with a carabiner at-
require less exertion. As the rescuers begin the removal, they tached. Use the carabiner to attach the second rope to the rear
may need to brace up against a doorway or a piece of furniture waist belt of the downed firefighter’s harness (photo 9). At-
or drive a tool into the floor to prevent sliding forward. As the taching the rope to the rear waist belt will keep the firefighter
downed firefighter reaches the rescuer, the rescuer can move vertically inline, since the first attachment is in the front of
back the distance of the webbing/rope to continue the removal. the firefighter (photo 10). Also, making the second attachment
lower on the body provides the rescuer with a lower grip on
VERTICAL LIFTS the downed firefighter after the first attachment clears the
The harness can provide the rescuers with additional op- edge of the hole. The knot that splits the sets of rope could
tions for removing a firefighter from a below-grade rescue either be a handcuff knot or a figure eight on the bight. This
situation. One of the techniques developed for a below-grade technique provides the rescuers with four lines for removing
rescue is the handcuff knot removal. Incorporating the per- the firefighter and is attached to the personal harness, which
sonal harness into the handcuff knot removal quickens the is in the heaviest area of the body, the torso (photo 11).
packaging phase and increases lifting capabilities. Lower the
first set of ropes with a handcuff knot into the hole and at- UPPER-FLOOR REMOVALS
tach it to the pompier hook that has been run up through the You can use several techniques to remove a firefighter from
downed firefighter’s turnout coat (photo 8). Lower the second an upper floor. One is to use a ladder as a high point and lower
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1871-W TM
Fire Truck Chassis Group

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lower him to the ground using the lowering
12 13
system created. The weight of the downed fire-
fighter is decreased by the 2:1 mechanical ad-
vantage and the friction caused by running the
rope over/under the ladder rungs. This simple
method uses minimal equipment (photo 13).
•••
These firefighter rescue techniques are
geared toward the use of the fire department
personal harness and are not intended to re-
place previously learned firefighter rescue tech-
niques. There are several variations of using the
fire department personal harness for firefighter
rescue; one specific technique will not work for
every situation. The personal harness is an ex-
tremely vital piece of equipment to add to your
PPE, but it will be rendered useless if you don’t
know the proper techniques and limitations. ●
the downed firefighter with a life safety rope. Position the ladder
with the tip above the window from which you are removing ● DAN DIRENZO is a firefighter with the Cherry Hill (NJ)
the firefighter. Run the rope under the bottom rung and up to Fire Department, a lieutenant/department training officer
the highest rung. Attach the end of the rope to the top rung, and with the Bellmawr (NJ) Fire Department, and a rescue
send a bight of the rope into the window to the rescuers prepar- specialist with USAR NJ-TF1. He is an instructor with the
ing the firefighter for removal. The rescuers run the pompier Camden County (NJ) Fire Academy, where he is the lead
hook through the turnout coat and clip the bight of rope into the instructor of the Safety and Survival Unit. He has taught
firefighter survival/rescue and personal harness technique
pompier hook, which now forms a 2:1 lowering system (photo
courses at several academies and departments.
12). They then lift the downed firefighter out of the window and
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𰁴𰀁𰀵𰀢𰀍𰀁𰀥𰀢𰀯𰀵𰀦𰀴𰀁𰁂𰁏𰁅𰀁𰀷𰀢𰀁𰀣𰁆𰁏𰁆𰃶𰁕𰁔
𰁴𰀁𰀮𰁂𰁙𰁊𰁎𰁖𰁎𰀁𰀵𰁓𰁂𰁏𰁔𰁇𰁆𰁓𰀁𰀤𰁓𰁆𰁅𰁊𰁕
𰁴𰀁𰀣𰀤𰀴𰀱𰀁𰀳𰁆𰁄𰁐𰁈𰁏𰁊𰁛𰁆𰁔𰀁𰀤𰀴𰀶𰀁
𰁴𰀁𰀵𰁆𰁙𰁕𰁃𰁐𰁐𰁌𰁔𰀁𰁂𰁕𰀁𰀯𰁐𰀁𰀤𰁐𰁔𰁕𰀁𰀁𰀁𰀥𰁆𰁈𰁓𰁆𰁆𰁔
𰁗𰁗𰁗𰀎𰁃𰁏𰁌𰁕𰁍𰁂𰁉𰁁𰁓𰁏𰁕𰁔𰁈𰁅𰁒𰁎𰀎𰁅𰁄𰁕𰀏𰁉𰁎𰁆𰁏𰀏𰁆𰁅𰁍𰀀𰁳𰀀𰀘𰀗𰀗𰀎𰀘𰀔𰀕𰀎𰀗𰀖𰀖𰀘
_______________________________________________
Fire Engineering
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BEMaGS
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Fire Engineering
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High-Rise Glass
Removal Operations
BY THOMAS DONNELLY PREPARING THE GLASS
First, place suction cups on the glass to maintain control of
A
WIDE ARRAY OF WINDOWS ARE USED NATION- the window when cutting the glass or the sealant around it.
wide in renovations and in new construction at The window surface must be clean and somewhat dry for the
high-rise buildings. Emergencies at such sites may cups to hold. Generally, place two suction cups in a verti-
involve dangerous and difficult window removal operations. cal alignment, with the cup handles positioned horizontally,
Many training venues and publications that address high- parallel to the window’s bottom ledge. Make sure the suction
rise scaffolding emergencies say that you should use win- cups adhere firmly to the glass (photo 1).
dow removal only as last resort. However, on any given day, Pressure-sensitive tape is standard issue for many fire
there may be many workers on scaffolding on the outside departments across the United States with high-rise structures
of these structures who may at some time need rescue. At within their jurisdictions and is used in window removal. This
an emergency for which firefighters must remove a window translucent, tear-resistant tape is highly adhesive and comes in
in a high-rise building, how can they do so safely? Below 18-inch-wide rolls that contain about 20 feet of tape, enough
are outlined some basic steps and tools that help ensure to cover about 30 square feet of window glass.
safety when conditions dictate removing a window in a When applying the pressure-sensitive tape, make sure the
high-rise. glass surface is clean and dry. Two firefighters should work
1 2
Photos by author.
3 4
Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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● GLASS REMOVAL
together in taping a window: One Pressure-sensitive tape generally has
firefighter keeps the tape roll taut as it 5 only a one-year shelf life, after which
is unrolled and the other applies hand it will begin to lose its adhesive quality
pressure to the entire surface so the and may come loose once you start
tape attains maximum adhesion. If air a window removal operation. This is
bubbles develop, slash them with a particularly dangerous if you are going
pocket knife and smooth them down. to cut the window. Make sure your tape
Place tape over and around the suction is not more than a year old.
cups; use a pocketknife to cut away
tape to expose the suction cup handles REMOVING THE WINDOW
after you apply the sheet. Apply the Only remove glass in a high-rise
tape from the top to the bottom of the building on orders from the incident
window in side-by-side strips, overlap- commander. Remove the window either
ping each strip until you have covered by cutting it entirely from its adhesive
the whole window (photos 2, 3). sealant or by cutting a section of the
At the bottom of the window, use glass.
a knife to cut the sheet of tape just Safety is paramount during a window
applied from the tape roll. Remember removal operation; follow basic safety
that the tape is extremely sticky. Before procedures. Before cutting, designate
cutting, apply duct tape to the edge one firefighter to maintain control of
of the roll so it is easy to start the tape when you apply the the window by holding onto the suction cups while a second
next sheet to the top of the glass (photo 4). When cutting firefighter performs the cutting operation. Both members
the tape, maintain a constant tension; do not allow the cut should wear appropriate eye protection and a Class 3 high-
portion on the roll to curl up and stick to itself or to the roll. angle harness atttached with a static kermantle safety line
Repeat the process until you have covered the entire window. belayed to a substantial anchor (photo 5).
Removing a large-square-footage window is very difficult and Introduced to fire departments nationwide in the mid-
would require multiple suction cups and several rolls of tape. 1990s, the lightweight electric rotary cutter is the tool to use
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Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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GLASS REMOVAL ●
to cut the adhesive sealant along the window frame so you
can remove the window intact (photo 6). Once you have cut
the adhesive sealant, pull the window clear of the frame into
the building. This tool is especially maneuverable and easy to
handle; can go into small areas, corners, and wedges; and has
a guard attached to it to maintain a straight cut.
Remember, however, in this operation, you may have to
remove window framing to access the window sealant, which
may take more time. Also, this rotary cutter necessitates a
nearby electric source or a portable electric generator.
The newest tool for glass-cutting operations is a compact,
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Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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● GLASS REMOVAL
9 10
lightweight, 18-volt, battery-powered, glass-cutting saw that When using the wet-cutting blade, keep the cutting surface
has a tilting base for cutting up to a 45° angle (photos 7, 8). cool, and constantly lubricate it with water; cutting glass gen-
This tool has an adjustable cutting depth and a blade diameter erates a fair amount of heat. Keep the cutting surface cool, but
of 33⁄8 inches. This saw uses a blade designed specifically for do not saturate it; a small spray bottle of water usually suffices
wet-cutting glass. The blade has a smooth, continuous rim that to facilitate the cutting.
cuts evenly without chipping or producing glass fragments.
As with many of the other 18-volt battery-powered tools, keep CUTTING THE GLASS
two fresh batteries available; depending on the square footage When cutting the window glass itself, make the cuts in the
you need to cut, you may need the second battery. following sequence. First, make a horizontal cut at the top of
_________________________
Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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● GLASS REMOVAL
the window and a second horizontal The glass-cutting saw is a welcome
cut at the bottom of the window. Then, addition for high-rise glass removal
make two vertical cuts to complete a operations. Although cutting glass in
square. This will allow you to pull out a high-rise operation is not an every-
the window in a horizontal or side mo- day operation, it is one that we should
tion and prevent the glass from bind- be prepared for, given the number of
ing on itself. It also allows for greater high-rise buildings that may have work-
control of the window with the suction ers operating on the outside of them
cups (photo 9). every day. Whether the incident involves
If the window has two separate panes, a scaffolding collapse or an injured
one on the inside and one on the out- worker on a scaffold, the rescue unit is
side, a common feature in many high- capable of safely and efficiently con-
rises today, remove each pane separate- ducting this operation, with a definite
ly. The saw operator must cut only to margin of safety. ●
the depth of the inner pane and not sink
● TOM DONNELLY is a 24-year fire
the blade all the way through the win-
service veteran and a lieutenant as-
dow, since he does not have control of signed to Fire Department of New
the outer pane. Once you cut the glass, York (FDNY) Rescue Company 1. A
you can remove the entire window member of FEMA USAR NY-TF-1,
safely in one piece with a minimum of he has served as a firefighter with
fragments (photo 10). Cutting the glass Rescue Company 2 and Ladder 176.
is quicker than just cutting the adhesive Donnelly is an instructor at the FDNY
seal, since it does not require removing Technical Rescue School and has been
the window framing and trim to expose an instructor with the Suffolk County
the sealant, which saves valuable time in Fire Academy for 16 years. He has a
bachelor’s degree from Saint Jo-
a potentially serious operation.
seph’s College in Brooklyn, New York.
•••
_____________________
____________
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Rescue Is Not
Always Technical
BY STEVEN WOODWORTH
1
T
HE CHIEF OF THE FAYETTEVILLE (GA) FIRE DEPART-
ment directed that the 2008 training calendar include
a rescue awareness training program for all members.
The goal was to identify the available resources for technical
rescue incidents, such as high angle, confined space, trench,
and structural collapse. Although several members had attended
various rescue training programs and had varying levels of
experience, the department’s technical rescue equipment was
limited. The need for such service was relatively low and
simply did not justify major budget expenditures for a fully
equipped rescue unit. The department needed to identify its
capabilities and limitations while maintaining an awareness of
what its members could safely and effectively accomplish.
The program first identified the jurisdiction’s needs. An area
survey combined with a review of previous calls showed a low Photos by author.
frequency of calls requiring technical rescue disciplines. The
2
department then developed a training program that identified
the available state and local technical rescue resources and the
proper method for contacting them.
The second objective of the training program was to train
all members for operations that the department could safely
implement on its own in the event of a technical rescue inci-
dent. The foresight of this program would bear fruit sooner
than anyone realized.
CONFINED SPACE INCIDENT

On April 22, 2009, the Fayette County 911 center received
a call reporting a person trapped in a hole. At 0734 hours, an
engine and a medic unit were dispatched initially to the Fay-
etteville address. As additional information became available,
the assignment was upgraded to include a battalion chief, an
engine company, a light duty rescue, a quint, and a squad unit of rebar that was embedded into the soil (photo 1). The battalion
to provide additional staffing. chief assumed command and immediately began sizing up the
On arrival, units found an approximately 30-year-old female situation based on input from all on-scene personnel.
at the bottom of a 15-foot-deep hole. The victim appeared un- Numerous critical factors were identified and prioritized.
injured, was able to move all extremities, and had no medical The first objective was to contact the necessary resources that
complaints. The hole’s diameter was approximately 24 inches might be needed should the incident escalate. The total depth
at the top and up to 36 inches at the bottom. The smooth and of the well was not known, and the stability of the type C soil
symmetrical sides of the hole at the bottom indicated that the on which the victim stood could not be determined. The walls
space appeared to be an entrance to a bored well, which had of the space were moist and showed no signs of cracks. There
been covered over at some point. were no fissures showing in or around the hole. There was a
The victim was standing on soft dirt and holding on to a piece potential for secondary collapse. The primary concern was that
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Fire Engineering
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● RESCUE
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a secondary collapse at the bottom of the hole would bury the

victim or allow her to fall deeper into the well. It is not uncom-
mon for some of these wells to be as much as 50 feet deep.
The space leading to the top of the well was not straight.
The top four- or five-foot segment of the space was vertical,
the middle section had an angle, and then the space became
vertical again down to the bottom of the hole. The angle of the
hole was actually enough that the top of the well where the
victim was located was approximately four to five feet under
the building (photo 2).
The space presented trench and confined space rescue haz-
ards. Because of the potential for the incident to escalate, dis-
patch contacted the Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) program
and requested that it respond its nearest heavy rescue unit. The
Clayton County Fire Department responded with GSAR 5 and
support staff, which provided personnel with more advanced
training and the needed equipment should the incident escalate.
After sizing up the scene, the incident commander, the opera-
tions officer, and the members all felt that this incident could be
handled safely by the personnel on-scene. At the very least, they
could prevent the incident from escalating.
Command’s first objective was to establish a command
system to safely and effectively manage the information in a
timely manner and designated an Operations officer. Company
officers would report to Operations; crews in staging would
_________________ report to Command. This would prevent Command from being
overwhelmed as the incident progressed.

___________ www.FireEngineering.com
__________________
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RESCUE ●
lowered near the head of the victim. The victim had been in the
5 space for approximately one hour; the monitor indicated the
atmosphere still contained 20.9 percent oxygen and registered
zero percent for flammable gases and carbon monoxide.
The two engine company crews leaned a ladder against the
building over the hole, anchoring a pulley to one of the rungs.
They passed a ½-inch kernmantle life safety rope through the
pulley and tied a figure-eight knot at the end of the rope. This
would only create a 1:1 mechanical advantage system, but
considering the available on-scene personnel and the vic-
tim’s size, this would prove more than ample to stabilize and
remove the victim. After attaching a ladder belt to the rope,
members lowered it into the hole. They then instructed the
victim on how to put the belt on around her chest. This line
was initially used to secure the victim and prevent her from
Scene control was also established; numerous well-in- falling deeper into the well.
tentioned personnel were gathering around the site, which Personnel also lowered a second line through the pulley
increased the potential for secondary collapse. The engine with a double-loop figure-eight knot at the end into the space
company, using the plywood pads it carried to protect its and instructed the victim how to place her legs through the
high-pressure air bags, placed ground pads around the edge loops. This line was also rigged to provide a 1:1 mechanical
of the hole. Although the pads were not designed for trench advantage (photo 4).
incidents, they would prove just as effective (photo 3). Members slowly raised the victim, but she became caught
Limiting the number of personnel around the site and plac- on the piece of rebar on which she had been hanging. They
ing the pads would reduce the ground pressure of personnel then lowered her back slightly, turned her 180º, and raised her
working near the hole and reduce the potential for secondary slowly out of the space. They placed her on a stretcher and
collapse. This allowed personnel to safely get close enough to transported her to a local hospital as a precautionary measure
the hole to lower an atmospheric monitoring device, which was (photo 5).
______________
________________
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● RESCUE
LESSONS LEARNED AND REINFORCED day, not just on the day of an incident. Once this is accom-
A critique of the incident revealed some lessons learned plished, firefighters will have the skills they need to maintain
and reinforced. The incident presented numerous confined situational awareness.
space and trench rescue hazards. Although personnel were not A review of the near-miss Web site (www.fi refighternearmiss.
________________
trained to the confined space technician level, they were able com) reveals that lack of situational awareness is the number
___
to resolve the incident safely and effectively using basic fire- one factor in near-miss reporting. Training in hazard recogni-
fighting skills. The department’s training program had focused tion and, most importantly, encouraging personnel to exercise
on methods for conducting confined-space rescues without judgment and initiative will help firefighters maintain good
placing personnel in the space. situational awareness. You gain competence only through
The trench rescue program had addressed identifying haz- continuous training. The will to win can only be effective when
ards and then encouraging personnel to use some ingenuity combined with the willingness to prepare.
and initiative in dealing with situations, as demonstrated by •••
their placement of plywood ground pads. Personnel used the The fire service has now and will continue to have a need for
equipment they had available to effect a rescue while main- technical rescue teams. Firefighters must realize that basic firefight-
taining the safety of the victim and firefighters. ing skills are often all that are needed to safely conclude or stabi-
A command system had been established early in the inci- lize an incident. Many basic skills, in conjunction with technical
dent. Technical incidents often require decreasing the span of discipline, can have a positive impact on an incident. Firefighters
control to ensure timeliness of information flow. Command must continuously train on these basic skills. Command officers
remained focused on objectives and addressing critical fac- must be leaders and develop team work every day. ●
tors. The entire incident was handled from dispatch to victim
transport in 19 minutes. The victim was successfully extricated ● STEVEN WOODWORTH is a battalion chief with the
prior to the arrival of GSAR 5. This can be attributed to three Atlanta (GA) Fire Department, assigned to the Third Bat-
main factors: training, situational awareness, and competence. talion, and a captain with the Fayetteville (GA) Fire De-
All personnel within the Fayetteville Fire Department had partment, assigned to training. Woodworth is an adjunct
attended training to recognize and deal with similar situations. instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy; an FDIC H.O.T.
Members are trained on basic skills and encouraged to use instructor; and an instructor with SAFE-IR Inc., a training
company specializing in thermal imaging training.
judgment and initiative. Leaders must encourage this every
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Fire Engineering
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Fire Engineering
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Preplanning
Buildings with
Vertical Renovations
BY RICHARD FUERCH These firefighters have just encountered a three-story build-
ing with a three-story vertical extension.
I
T IS 4:00 A.M. AN ENGINE AND A LADDER COMPANY •••
turn into a street lined with residential buildings, appar- In spite of the recent economic downturn, the surge in real
ently of Type III ordinary construction. A fire is reported estate values in New York City, the increase in value of co-ops
in the bedroom of an apartment on the fourth floor of a six- and condominiums, and the corresponding increases in rent
story building. The pumper pulls up in front of the building, continue to create a demand for more and more residential
which has a store on the first floor and apartments above. dwelling units. The construction of new multiple dwellings and
The officer immediately spots light smoke emanating from a the conversion of commercial spaces to dwelling units are two
window on the fourth floor. He orders his crew to stretch a ways that the real estate industry is fulfilling this demand. Con-
1¾-inch handline to the building’s residential entrance, with verting cast-iron-column lofts from heavy commercial to dwell-
enough hose to reach and cover the fourth floor. ing units is one striking example. This phenomenon is prob-
The officer enters the building at the street-level entrance to ably occurring in most of the older cities in the United States,
the stairway, where he sees straight-run stairs that extend from particularly where there is a demand for upscale housing.
the first floor to the third floor, with an intermediate landing at Building owners have long considered different ways of
the second floor (photo 1). At the third-floor landing, he opens generating additional revenue from their properties. In the
a door leading to a public hallway that reminds him of a resi- late 1970s and early 1980s, owners of residential buildings of
dential building of Type I fire-resistive construction. Another ordinary construction on Manhattan’s Upper East Side began
door leads him to an enclosed fire-rated subdividing railroad apartments. These
stairway that leads up to the sixth floor 1 apartments, typically found in tenement
of this unusual building. He chocks all buildings, usually consist of four box
the doors through which he has gone rooms, one leading to the other without
and orders the handline stretched up to a hallway. Rooms go front to rear, re-
the fourth floor, not quite knowing with sembling the configuration of a four-car
what he is dealing. railroad train. The original two apart-
On entering the apartment from ments per floor were subdivided into
which the smoke had been emanating, four studio apartments per floor, along
he notices a definite smell of burning with substantial increases in rent.
wood and a light haze throughout the These renovations required construct-
apartment but no sign of fire. ing additional fire escapes or installing
He sends a member of his crew to automatic sprinkler systems to comply
the floor below. The member opens the with egress requirements. Recognizing
ceiling next to a light fixture that has and addressing these renovations became
black smoke stains around it. A small an important part of preplanning for Fire
fire is burning around the electrical box. Department of New York companies in
On opening the ceiling further, the fire- the area. Most tactical considerations
fighter discovers a large cockloft space. were addressed through standard operat-
The firefighter reports this to his officer, ing procedures (SOPs), but the changes
wondering why there is a cockloft be- resulting from the renovations had to be
Photos by author.
tween the third and fourth floors. identified and addressed.
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● VERTICAL RENOVATIONS
2 3 4
Several years ago, a new trend was a three-story commercial building. The
identified: Building owners discovered steel I-beam girder (photo 3), which
they could expand vertically. Numerous replaced the original heavy timber
lower Manhattan buildings have been expanded by adding girder supporting the second floor, indicates it is a commercial
additional floors above the building’s original roof. This trend building although it is of “ordinary construction.”
has now been seen throughout the commercial and residen- This building has three additional floors built on top of the
tial areas of New York City. Is this practice of adding vertical existing structure, set back about eight feet from the front
extensions occurring in urban areas nationwide? Fire depart- edge of the original building’s roof. In photo 4, note the transi-
ments in small to large urban areas with ordinary construction tion of the original structure’s third floor to the fourth floor of
and loft buildings must identify these structures and plan ac- the extension. The new floors have one set of enclosed scissor
cordingly, based on the fire department’s resources and SOPs. stairs above the third floor, with a fire resistance rating. There
This article will focus on several specific buildings, pointing is sprinkler protection in the stairs and hallways throughout
out various construction features that firefighters may encoun- the building. A standpipe system also is in place from the
ter and how they may affect firefighting operations. second to the top floors. The stairs terminate on the roof at a
roof bulkhead, which can be vented in a fire. An elevator has
ADDING MORE FLOORS also been installed. The new floors are poured concrete over
Based on my findings, I determined that there are two Q-decking, supported by steel I-beam joists. The interior parti-
general categories under which a building owner may add ad- tion walls are constructed with all-metal studs. The exterior
ditional floors to an existing building. load-bearing walls are concrete block and brick. This addition
Category 1: Complete renovation. The entire building is would be classified as Type I fire-resistive construction.
renovated as a new building; building and fire code require- In this building, features of which firefighters must be
ments for a new building apply to the entire structure. aware include the following:
Category 2: Partial renovation. Only the additional floors
added on are subject to building and fire code requirements
that apply to new buildings; the lower floors must comply
1 The original building’s cockloft space remains in place,
creating a large combustible void space and an avenue
for fire extension. In photo 5, in a building undergoing a simi-
only with the building code requirements in effect when they lar renovation, the original cockloft is visible between the top
were originally built. of the fourth-floor windows and the scaffolding.
Lower Manhattan’s Soho area (SOuth of HOuston Street)
was originally a commercial district consisting of mainly cast-
iron-column buildings. It has since become primarily residen-
2 The straight-run stairs on the lower three floors are still
in place, although the original wood stairs were replaced
by steel-and-concrete stairs.
tial; first-floor occupancies may include restaurants, art galler-
ies, and clothing stores. It was once known as “Hell’s Hundred
Acres” as a result of many spectacular fires that plagued the
3 The lower part of the building still has all of the fire ex-
tension possibilities normally found in a building of Type
III ordinary construction.
area.
Three-story extension. In photo 2, this Soho building
is of Category 2 construction. Although it appears to be a
4 As seen in photo 2, the second and third floors are still
protected by fire escapes, while the upper three floors
are not. This is a key clue to the nature of the building.
three-story tenement with a first-floor store, it was originally At a fire in the upper three floors of a building like this,
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VERTICAL RENOVATIONS ●
high-rise multiple dwelling
tactics are indicated, with a 6 7
designated attack and evacuation
stairs. The incident commander
would have to control vertical
and horizontal ventilation.
The lower three floors would
require tactics employed in ordi-
nary construction buildings. Ver-
tical ventilation of the stairways
and public halls is possible from
each floor because the straight-
run stairs open into one of the
scissor stairs. Although this door
could be chocked open, in a
fully developed fire this would
be an extremely hazardous
operation. Horizontal ventilation
and entry by the fire escape are
tactical considerations.
Boutique hotel conversion.
In another vertical renovation on Orchard Street on Manhat- 8
tan’s Lower East Side, three additional floors were added
above the roof (photo 6). Originally a 19th century tenement,
the structure has been transformed into a small boutique hotel
and appears to be in Category 1. The renovation included
complete interior demolition and reconstruction on the exist-
ing floors. One pair of enclosed interior fire-rated scissor stairs
was installed from the cellar to the roof. The stairs are in one
shaft but are separated from each other with fire-resistive con-
struction. Again, the stairs terminate in a bulkhead that can be
opened for roof ventilation.
A major firefighting consideration involves roof access by
aerial ladder, which could prove difficult because of the new
height of the building. This building will, however, have fire
protection features similar to a Type I fire-resistive building.
Fire spread potential from apartment to apartment and floor
to floor is reduced, although this protection cannot always be the early stages of a fire. The stairway is protected with a
assumed to be effective in renovated buildings. sprinkler system, but that does not remedy the vertical ven-
The fire-resistive stairs and public hall, as well as new tilation problem, nor does it prevent a smoke condition from
construction in the interior, give this building many of the impeding egress from an upper floor, particularly in the case
features of a fire-resistive building. Again, you must designate of a lower-floor fire with an open door to the fire occupancy.
attack and evacuation stairs at a fire in this building. Note that a front fire escape provides access to each floor.
Penthouse addition. A type of renovation that presents Ten-floor extension. The most remarkable renovation that
tactical firefighting problems is illustrated in the building I have found is a building at 195 Bowery (photo 8) on the
shown in photo 7. This Category 2 building, a Type III ordi- Lower East Side. Originally, it was a five-story, 25- × 50-foot
nary construction multiple dwelling with a light commercial commercial building of Type III ordinary construction. Ten
occupancy on the ground floor, has a two-story extension floors were added to an existing five-story structure.
on the roof. This two-story vertical extension is a duplex What appears to be an impossible feat of structural en-
penthouse. gineering makes more sense when considering the actual
The major firefighting problem it presents is that the single design. An inspection of this building revealed that it was
interior stairway terminates at the top floor of the original undergoing a complete Category 1 renovation. An additional
building, with a landing that leads to the penthouse apart- 10 floors were added to create a 15-story building. Although
ment entrance door. Although horizontal ventilation of the the supporting brick walls on exposures 2 and 4 remain in
fire apartment would be effective, there is no means of place and support the original heavy wood beams that remain
vertically venting the stairway, except through the penthouse in place on the first through the fifth floors, additional foot-
apartment. That tactic would be dangerous, particularly in ings were poured within the building to support steel columns
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● VERTICAL RENOVATIONS
spaced at 10-foot intervals. These tion activities. Hands-on familiarization as they are renovated to monitor condi-
columns support the structure above and evaluation of these buildings are tions and properly evaluate construction
the fifth floor. On completion, this essential. Check that scissors stairs are features. Most of the buildings discussed
building will have many of the firefight- properly marked. Each staircase of a here were identified during the construc-
ing advantages of a Type I fire-resistive pair of scissors stairs must have its own tion phase, which helped to identify
building. designation, “A” or “B.” We often find structural features.
that scissors stairs are mislabeled on Size-up and tactics. Develop tactics
POINTS TO PONDER alternate floors—e.g., the same staircase that address each building’s unique fea-
Preplanning. Fire companies must is labeled “A” on one floor and “B” on tures. Recognizing these features is key
actively seek out these buildings dur- the alternate floor. to initial building size-up. Since these
ing preplan and building familiariza- Renovations. Identify these buildings buildings are a hybrid of fire-resistive
and ordinary construction, companies
must keep in mind which firefighting
tactics to use, based on the location of
the fire and the type of renovation. Note
Introducing fire escapes; they indicate that the build-
ing was originally nonfire-resistive and
probably retains some of those features.
Note enclosed scissors stairs, which indi-
cate features of a fire-resistive building.
Designate attack and evacuation stairs.
Make sure to verify that the stairways
are properly marked.
Indentifying vertical extensions. Al-
though some of these vertical extensions
will be obvious because of different
architectural styles, some may blend in
well with the original building and will
Cool. be difficult to detect, particularly at night

and during an emergency.
•••
Adding floors to the top of exist-

...and saves ing buildings appears to be a firmly
lives too. entrenched trend in the construction
industry. Landlords certainly benefit by
increasing the return on their invest-
ments. Firefighters must be aware if this
trend is taking place in their district and
recognize how such buildings may affect
their standard operating procedures.
Although the story at the beginning of
this article did not illustrate a compli-
The all new DEUS™ 3100 vertical rescue system takes personal bailout and cated problem, a more fully developed
victim rescue to a whole new level. With its pocket size, ultra-cool design fire would present much more difficult
and amazing versatility, the DEUS 3100 is designed to challenges. ●
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instantly and operates hands-free in both “stop”
● RICHARD FUERCH is a deputy
and “go” modes. There’s simply nothing else like it.
chief and a 35-year veteran of
DEUS Rescue is setting a new standard in the Fire Department of New York
innovation, safety, quality and support. (FDNY). He is an adjunct professor
with John Jay College of Criminal
When lives are on the line, trust DEUS Rescue. Justice, teaching building construc-
tion and life safety systems. Fuerch
© Copyright 2009, DEUS Rescue. All rights reserved. PATENTS PENDING. helped develop FDNY’s course for
newly promoted deputy chiefs.
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Implementing a
Technical Rescue
Program
BY CHRISTOPHER FEDER department took to make this technical rescue plan a reality. I
broke down the project into six phases.
I
N JUNE 2004, THE CHIEF OF MY COMPANY ASSIGNED ASSESS YOUR DEPARTMENT, MEMBERSHIP,
one of our assistant chiefs to look into purchasing some AND RESPONSE DISTRICT
technical rescue equipment and developing a technical Even if you think you know your department better than
rescue program. The chief was interested in expanding our anyone else, you may need to establish contact with all of
company’s capabilities and, since we are a “rescue company,” your people and become updated on new technologies and
this seemed like the logical next step. Initially, the assistant applicable standards and regulations. First, determine if your
chief considered purchasing a combination of three package department really needs a technical rescue program or if it is
deals from one of the larger vendors of rescue equipment. The simply something it wants. If you determine that the program
proposed budget was about $5,000. is necessary, identify the reasons for its implementation.
Since my experience was from a “hands-on technician back- Look at history. Did your department at one time have a
ground,” I was asked for my opinion and thoughts on the pro- program like this in place? If so, what happened so that it is
posal. I do not think the department expected the response no longer viable? Did your department consider adding such a
it received. Instead of a simple “go ahead” or “sounds fine,” I program in the past? If so, why was this idea never developed?
provided a plan for a comprehensive rescue program. Follow- After you have completed your research, discuss the proposal
ing is an overview of my recommendations and the steps our with your command staff, line officers, and other organization
(1) Rescue 21 equipment layout. (Photo by Firefighter Bradley D. Remick.)
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members. Communication is vital to any new program. Solicit
input from all department members.
Scheduling, overtime, training, resources, personnel, and
funding are just some of the hurdles your department will face.
Personnel and funding probably will be the biggest issues. The
program’s success ultimately will depend on the involvement
of members who are motivated, knowledgeable, and eager to
Products Include:
participate. Yes, implementing the program will be challenging,
𰁳𰀀𰀯𰁐𰁅𰁎𰀀𰀡𰁃𰁃𰁅𰁓𰁓
but it will also be exciting and fun.
𰁳𰀀𰀳𰁔𰁁𰁎𰁄𰁁𰁒𰁄 Next, determine the following: What hazards in your response
𰁳𰀀𰀶𰁅𰁎𰁔𰁅𰁄 district require technical rescue? What type of service would
𰁳𰀀𰀢𰁏𰁘𰀀𰀳𰁔𰁙𰁌𰁅 your new technical rescue program offer? Does a neighboring
𰁳𰀀𰀥𰁘𰁔𰁒𰁁𰀀𰀷𰁉𰁄𰁅 community or county team already provide this level of service?
If so, find out if these agencies are interested in expanding their
𰁳𰀀𰀤𰁅𰁓𰁉𰁇𰁎𰁅𰁒
teams and including you in a task force or a strike team. Also,
𰁳𰀀𰀭𰁏𰁄𰁕𰁌𰁁𰁒
consult with your 911 dispatch center to see what is involved in
𰁳𰀀𰀳𰁏𰁌𰁉𰁄𰀀𰀯𰁁𰁋𰀀𰀥𰁘𰁅𰁃𰁕𰁔𰁉𰁖𰁅 getting on the dispatch card for this type of operation.
𰁳𰀀𰀰𰁌𰁁𰁓𰁔𰁉𰁃 Once you have determined that there is a need for the
𰁳𰀀𰀳𰁔𰁏𰁒𰁁𰁇𰁅 service, establish an official committee to oversee the project.
𰁳𰀀𰀳𰁔𰁏𰁒𰁁𰁇𰁅𰀀𰀣𰁁𰁂𰁉𰁎𰁅𰁔𰁓 The committee should consult all applicable standards and
regulations covering technical rescue operations and training.
𰁳𰀀𰀢𰁅𰁎𰁃𰁈𰁅𰁓
These standards include the following: National Fire Protec-
Large Inventory for Fast Shipments! tion Association (NFPA) 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope
and Equipment for the Emergency Services, 2006 edition; NFPA
1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue
1010 East 62nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90001-1598
Incidents, 2007 edition; NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations
𰀪𰂅𰂜𰂘𰁩𰁜𰃊𰂣𰂇𰁮𰃤𰃤𰂇𰁸𰃈𰃓𰂇𰁸𰃎𰃇𰃇𰃊𰁕𰃊𰀓𰀾𰃝𰁜𰃊𰂣𰂇𰁮𰃤𰃤𰂇𰁸𰃈𰃓𰂇𰁸𰃎𰂙𰂙
and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents, 2009
Enter 168 at fireeng.hotims.com edition; and NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Pro-
fessional Qualifications, 2008 edition. One specialty I recom-
mend staying away from is urban search and rescue (USAR),
which is a highly skilled and costly endeavor that requires
more dedication and financing than most departments can
offer. A program of that magnitude is generally funded and
supported by federal and state agencies because of the level of
training and cache of equipment involved.
970-461-8731
OnSceneSolutions.com
EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL
FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Unless your department has an unlimited budget, financing
the program will be a concern. One approach is to establish a
subcommittee to research financial options. Financial support
can come from many sources. Begin at the organizational
level. Can this expense be budgeted for next year? If not, start
looking at other options, such as implementing a fund-raiser.
Be careful. Don’t do anything that will conflict with ongoing
annual fund-raisers in your municipality. Consider also low-
interest loans and donations from large charitable organiza-
tions or a prominent community member.
Perhaps the best way to finance a new program is through
a grant. There are many grants available. Become knowledge-
able about the grants and their specific applications. Attend a
• Lifetime Warranty grant workshop. In my department, the chief decided to apply
• Anodized, Aluminum Construction for a grant instead of using department funds or soliciting public
• Easy Online Ordering support. We received the grant (Assistance to Firefighters Grant),
• Rated Up To 1,000 lbs Capacity which not only covered our proposed budget but also provided
additional funds to cover extra training and equipment.
Enter 169 at fireeng.hotims.com It may be helpful to ask local officials and state and federal
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TECH RESCUE PROGRAM ●

representatives and senators for your area to assist in the Departments and units that respond to mountain rescues and
grant process. other high-angle emergencies that necessitate that personnel
walk or hike to the scene or to lead climb should consider alumi-
SELECT AND PURCHASE EQUIPMENT num or magnesium hardware, backpacks, and rope packs, which
Establish a committee to create a list of equipment needed are lighter in weight and are specifically built for carry-in rescues.
for the new program. When initiating the rope rescue pro- Magnesium was not within our budget, so it didn’t make the list.
gram, committee members, as already mentioned, referenced Try to stay with the same manufacturer as much as possible. At
applicable NFPA standards. In addition, we researched other the least, purchase all your rope from the same manufacturer, and
fire departments’ standard operating procedures (SOPs) and make sure it is all the same type. Do this also for your harness and
standard operating guidelines (SOGs) relating to rope rescue auxiliary equipment, so that everything will be consistent each
and other criteria from agencies and regulatory bodies, such time you use it. Generally, manufacturers make a wide variety of
as the state office of workplace safety, the fire marshal, and colors of the same product. Consider color when purchasing rope
the fire academy. This information enables you to determine and rope bags. Color is important in that it makes it easier for res-
equipment specifications and requirements. Your budget will cuers to distinguish among the lines hanging on them in the dark.
dictate the equipment you can afford to purchase. You can also identify the length of a rope or webbing by color.
Involve individuals who have a background in technical res- Much of this information is basic, but it is easy to overlook. Write
cue at this stage. Chances are that you are going to purchase a down your questions, ideas, and suggestions as you move along.
minimal cache of equipment to support the basic technical level After you have ordered the equipment, determine where
of your program specialty. To help you determine the difference and how to store it on the apparatus.
between equipment you need and equipment you would like to
have, take a piece of paper and write the word “Need” and the ESTABLISH TRAINING GUIDELINES
word “Want” to establish two columns. You may want that $30 AND SPECIFICS
triple-locking steel NFPA-compliant carabiner, but you really need Ask yourself the following: Who is going to be trained?
the $20 steel screw-locking NFPA-compliant carabiner. We listed What are the minimum training requirements? Will the
steel equipment whenever possible, for a number of reasons. training be conducted in-house or outside the department?
First, steel is stronger than aluminum. Second, it offers added Do you want to achieve local, state, or national certification?
security and has a positive psychological effect on the rescuer. Will there be departmental requirements for training? You
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must consider and budget for all these features. get some ideas by going through other departments’ SOPs and
Having a competent trainer in your department will make life SOGs.
much easier. If not, where are you going to find someone who When setting up the equipment, consider color coding for
can train your people? You can start by contacting your state easy identification. For example, in my company, we ordered
fire academy, local fire academy, and local community college prusik cords and tubular webbing in various colors. The
and specialty training services. If you are going to contract a prusik cord length measurements are all color-coded accord-
specialty training service for this training, research these coming to length: green for four feet, yellow for five feet, and red
panies and their instructors’ levels of training. Ask for a list of for seven feet. Webbing is color coded as follows: green for 10
organizations they recently trained. Check with those organiza- feet, yellow for 20 feet, and red for 30 feet. The webbing color
tions; get feedback regarding the content of training and the coordination was set up with those specific colors so members
professionalism of the company and the trainers. You may have could easily associate the size and length using the “traffic
to budget for outsourcing training, which can be expensive. light” color system, green representing the shortest and red
Although it is ideal to train every person in your organization, representing the longest (yellow in the middle).
funding and other factors may make this unlikely. Therefore, We purchased four 150-foot sections of lifeline rope, two
you may want to designate a group of people to go through the 300-foot sections, and one 250-foot section. The 250-foot sec-
more rigorous NFPA Professional Qualifications training. You may tion is a prerigged 4:1 pulley system with a locking cam. All
want to send a small group of people who are good with rigging of our rope is in different colors; none of our rescue ropes is
and knots to a Technician Level Program. You may have certified identical. My company does not have a color requirement for
instructors in your organization whom you can send to specialized lifeline or belay, but some departments do, so make sure you
programs that focus on tasks such as rigging, high lines, tower research this.
rescue, and confined space. You can use the power of the Internet Read the manufacturers’ recommendations before writing,
to find respected training organizations. Train all members at least painting, engraving, stamping, or marking the equipment.
to the level that they can assist with and support the operation. You can stamp some equipment; other equipment you have
to engrave with a laser. Certain types of materials are more
SET UP AND PLACE THE EQUIPMENT subject to fracturing or corrosion when the outer surface is
By the time the equipment arrives, you should already have disturbed. Cutting into a carabiner to engrave it could damage
a plan for setting it up and positioning it on the truck. You can the material structure and render it more likely to fail. Others
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you can engrave safely with letters restricted to a certain size. rigging, and mechanical advantage systems, for example. Run
The manufacturer may provide a recommendation for marking a tactical drill on a weekend or a weekday. Put together a
its equipment to prevent damage. Color-coordinated electrical scenario in the spring and in the fall. Give out pieces of rope
tape might be all that you need. to members so they can practice knots.
Consult with neighboring rescue companies to see how their You can train in technical rescue operations at just about
equipment is set up; this is helpful if you work together in the every fire, EMS, or law enforcement drill. Don’t cancel train-
future. Use a simple system for placing the equipment on the ing because it’s snowing outside and you can’t rappel. Some
apparatus. Do not position it near gasoline- or hydraulic-pow- of our drills have included competitive activities involving
ered equipment. Roof saws and other gas-powered equipment simple tasks such as dressing in full turnout gear; the fastest
give off a tremendous amount of fumes; over time, those fumes team received a gift. The more you drill, the more compe-
and the condensation will break down the structural integrity tent you become and the more advanced training you can
of the ropes and harnesses. Also, do not keep this equipment undertake.
in direct sunlight, fluorescent light, or superheated or cooled Establishing a technical rescue program involves challenges.
rooms for long periods of time. Store it in a room-temperature If you plan carefully, you can overcome the challenges and
environment. Keep your life safety equipment separate from implement a successful program that will save lives. ●
your utility equipment so there is no chance of a mix-up.
When placing the equipment on the truck, consider how ● CHRISTOPHER FEDER began his career in the emer-
you are going to get it from the truck to the rescue scene. gency services in 1995 as a firefighter with the Lower
What if the scene is 20 floors up or a quarter-mile into the Merion Fire Department, Penn Wynne Fire Company,
woods? Store the equipment in tool boxes or bags. Consider Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A rescue technician,
prerigging some equipment for rapid deployment. Ask mem- he serves as the technical rescue/hazardous materials co-
bers for their input. Ergonomics is a major concern; this equip- ordinator for his company. He is a Pennsylvania state fire
ment can get very heavy and bulky if it is not set up properly. and emergency service instructor, specializing in technical
rescue. He is a certified rappel master and serves on a
federal SWAT team. While deployed to Afghanistan, he
KEEP GOING
was a key member in establishing the base combat fire
Don’t stop here and wait for the bell to ring. Keep it going.
department.
Never stop training. Run a monthly drill. Focus on basic knots,
_______________ _______________________
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New
Rank
Awaits
TERPAK BRINGS
YOUR STRATEGY
TO ANOTHER LEVEL
Assessment Center Strategy and Tactics

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Hydraulic Rescue Tools:

Operation and Maintenance
BY BILLY LEACH JR.
mula is the basis for hydraulic rescue tool systems; the larger
the area (piston) and the greater the pressure, the greater the
T
HE HYDRAULICALLY POWERED RESCUE TOOL WAS force supplied.
introduced to North American rescuers around 1970. Pump. Generally, hydraulic rescue tool systems usually use
Generally, a complete rescue system includes a power either radial piston or axial piston pumps. A reciprocating
unit, spreader, cutter, ram, combination tool, and assorted ac- piston and two check valves move the hydraulic fluid. As the
cessories. piston withdraws from the piston cavity, it creates a vacuum
Power unit. The hydraulic power unit usually includes the that draws hydraulic fluid past the intake check valve. When
following components: a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic the piston is pushed back into the piston cavity, the intake
fluid, a hydraulic pump, a pump power source, directional and check valve closes and the hydraulic fluid is pressurized until
relief controls, and hoses and connectors. The hydraulic power it is slightly higher than system pressure. Hydraulic fluid is
unit operates the hydraulic pump to supply pressure and flow then forced past the discharge check valve into the system.
to the hoses, directs the hydraulic fluid flow to the selected The discharge check valve closes once no hydraulic fluid is
outlet, stores a quantity of hydraulic fluid, and provides a moving past it.
means of relief from system overpressure. A piston pump may include one or more pistons and check
The correct hydraulic fluid is necessary for proper opera- valves, depending on the pump’s size. The piston units may
tion. Keep the fluid clean and free from contaminants. Check be arranged radially or axially. If arranged radially, the pistons
the tool’s fluid level often, and change it as directed by the are driven by an eccentric that is attached to the motor shaft.
manufacturer, purging the hoses of old fluid. Contaminants The number of piston units depends on the amount of flow
such as debris can clog screens, filters, and valves, thus affect- required from the pump and engine rpm.
ing system operation. Axial piston pumps are actuated by a motor-driven cam
In a common power unit configuration, a gasoline (photo plate. The cam drives the pistons down, and the springs
1) or electric (photo 2) motor powers the pump, which is return the pistons on the intake portion of the stroke. These
submerged in hydraulic fluid. The pump pressurizes the pumps generally operate in two stages: high-flow/low-pres-
hydraulic fluid in the hoses until the fluid finally reaches the sure and low-flow/high-pressure. The stage used depends
rescue tool. To create the force necessary to on what the tool needs for the
perform the work, adequate fluid volume, pres- 2 situation. For faster operation, the
sure, and flow are needed. A common formula first stage is used when the tool
to determine the force supplied is F (force) = P meets less resistance. An example
(pressure) × A (area). For example, a 10 inch/ is when a tool is spreading minor
pound pressure applied over a 10-square-inch amounts of sheet metal. When
area would equal 100 pounds of force. This for- the tool meets greater resistance,
the second stage is engaged to
1 provide higher pressure with less
flow—for example, when force
is needed to open doors and cut
objects.
Do not exceed the working pres-
sure of the lowest rated component
in the system. Use hydraulic pres-
sure gauges to indicate pressures
within the system. Test hydraulic
Photos by author.
systems for both static pressure
and fluid flow with an accurate test
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● RESCUE TOOLS
Figure 1. Inspection and Maintenance Schedule

Every day and after each use: • Account for any additional length of hose other than that origi-
• Carefully inspect all components, especially spreader arms, nally supplied. Extra hose requires additional hydraulic fluid and
cutter blades, and tool framework for physical damage. Dili- affects opening/closing times.
gently look for fluid leaks. • Disassemble and lubricate tools as specified by the manufac-
• Check and refill all fluid levels. turer.
• Ensure enough spare fuel and hydraulic fluid are immediately • Torque all fasteners according to manufacturer specifications.
available. • Replace any missing operating instruction decals.
• Carefully inspect all hoses and connectors for physical, thermal, • Check any spare parts for damage and wear.
or chemical damage and excessive wear. • Service the power unit as necessary or recommended.
• Operate the control valve in both directions (open/close) to
ensure easy movement and free return to neutral. Once a year:
• Make certain all components are clean and dry. • Carefully inspect all components for fluid leaks.
• Carefully inspect all components for damage and excessive • Carefully inspect all hoses and connectors for damage and
wear. excessive wear.
• Ensure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and retaining rings are in • Thoroughly wash, clean, and dry all components.
place and securely fastened. • Perform a static pressure test on the entire system and compo-
• Replace any missing operation instruction decals. nents with an accurate testing gauge.
• Provide a storage area that will ensure security and prevent • Perform opening/closing time tests (or flow test) to determine
damage. if the unit is operating within factory specifications. Account
for any additional length of hose other than that originally sup-
Twice a year: plied. Extra hose requires additional hydraulic fluid and affects
• Carefully inspect all components for fluid leaks. opening/closing times.
• Carefully inspect all hoses and connectors for physical, thermal, • Disassemble and lubricate tools as specified by the manufac-
or chemical damage and excessive wear. turer.
• Thoroughly wash, clean, and dry all components. • Torque all fasteners according to the manufacturer’s specs.
• Perform a static pressure test on the entire system and compo- • Replace missing operating decals and instructions.
nents with an accurate testing gauge. • Check any spare parts for damage and wear.
• Perform opening/closing time tests (or flow test) to determine • Drain and replace hydraulic fluid if necessary. Service the power
if the unit is operating within factory specifications. unit as necessary or recommended.
D !
DV
ON
N OW When Basics
Are Not Enough
Leigh Hollins explains the likelihood of school bus
disasters and guides you through the complex
challenges you’ll encounter on the scene of such
accidents. Responders who may be well trained
and experienced at car and light truck extrication
techniques will be confronted with a much different
challenge at a school bus incident.
School Bus Extrication, now available on DVD, will

provide you with the advanced technical knowledge
you need, including:
• The potential for mass casualties
Approx. 40 Minutes/DVD/April 2007
• School bus types, construction, and features
ISBN: 978-1-59370-121-5 • Rescue and extrication techniques
Price: $59.00 • The problems you’ll face
• And more!
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Originally released on VHS in 2001.
________________________
w w w. F i r e E n g i n e e r i n g B o o k s . c o m
Enter 173 at fireeng.hotims.com www.FireEngineering.com
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RESCUE TOOLS ●
gauge. The results should be within the manufacturer’s speci- Do not use the hydraulic hoses to lift, carry, or move any
fications; if not, have an authorized service technician evaluate hydraulic component. Avoid sharp bends or kinks in hydrau-
the system (photo 3). lic hoses. If pressure is applied to a bent or kinked hose, the
Valves. Valves control the hydraulic circuits. They can divert hydraulic fluid flow restriction will cause severe backpressure,
the flow of hydraulic fluid from one area of the system to which may lead to internal damage of the hose lining and
another; increase, reduce, or maintain the pressure; and start, cause premature hose failure. Usually the remainder of the
stop, or reduce hydraulic fluid flow. system is protected with check valves
Some power units may be able to 3 that minimize backpressure. Hoses
operate two or more tools simultane- and couplers deserve special care and
ously, two tools intermittently, or just attention, especially cleaning. Closely
a single tool. Generally, this depends inspect the hoses and couplers for
on the pump configuration and the physical, thermal, and chemical dam-
hydraulic fluid reservoir’s capacity. age. In photo 4, the hose itself has
Hose. To transmit the fluid under swelled at the coupling, indicating
pressure, it is pumped through hoses that the inner liner has failed because
and connectors to the tool. These of mechanical damage from persistent
hoses are generally nonconductive flexing.
reinforced plastic or rubber, varying Friction. Whenever something
in length and color. The hoses them- moves, friction is inevitable. If hy-
selves carry a working pressure and 4 draulic fluid moves from one point to
burst pressure rating, expressed as a another in a system, a certain amount
ratio— 4:1 means the burst pressure of inefficiency exists because of fric-
is four times the working pressure. tion. Friction, change in direction, and
Make sure you fully tighten hydraulic restriction result in a loss of energy in
couplers; loose couplers will act as a the form of heat. Loss of energy is in-
partial or complete restriction, allow- dicated by a reduction in system pres-
ing little or no hydraulic fluid flow. sure, and all reductions are additive.
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● RESCUE TOOLS
Figure 2. Hydraulic System Troubleshooting Guide

The following guide outlines basic hydraulic tool system problems, causes, and remedies.
HYDRAULIC RESCUE TOOL

Problem Potential Cause Suggested Remedy
Tool operates slowly or erratically • Low hydraulic fluid level • Add hydraulic fluid
• Trapped air in system • Fully open/close tool several times
• Loose control valve trigger • Torque control valve trigger fasteners
• Low or erratic flow output from power • Test power unit flow output
unit
Tool experiences apparent loss of power • Low pressure output from power unit • Test pressure output of power unit
• Leaking control valve trigger • Replace control valve trigger
• Internal seal failure • Repair power unit
• Hose connector failure • Replace hose connectors
• Piston failure • Repair power unit
Tool fails to operate • Hose connectors not coupled • Connect hose connectors properly
• Hose connector failure • Replace hose connectors
• No hydraulic fluid flow from power unit • Repair power unit
Tool operates in reverse • Hoses reversed on power unit or on tool • Correctly connect hoses on power unit
and on tool
GASOLINE POWER UNITS

Engine difficult to start or fails to start • No fuel in tank • Refill fuel tank
• Fuel line clogged • Clean/replace fuel line
• Engine flooded • Remove and dry spark plug
• Spark plug wire shorted or disconnected • Replace wire and connect to spark plug
• Fuel tank cap vent hole clogged • Open vent hole
• Water in fuel • Drain tank and fuel line and refill
• Spark plug shorted or broken • Replace spark plug
Engine runs erratically • Debris in fuel system • Drain tank and fuel line and refill
with diminished power • Spark plug shorted or broken • Replace spark plug
• Incorrect spark plug gap setting • Set gap to manufacturer specs
• Low engine oil • Check and refill engine oil
Engine overheats • Low engine oil • Check and refill engine oil
• Air flow obstructed • Ensure sufficient ventilation
ELECTRIC POWER UNITS

Motor fails to start • Open circuit in starting switch or winding • Repair power unit
• Defective capacitor
• Blown fuse • Replace with fuse rated at 125% of name-

plate amperes
• Tripped circuit breaker • Reset circuit breaker
• Improper current supply • Ensure power supply meets voltage and
amperage requirements
• No current draw • Check for and repair loose connections
in wiring
Motor stalls • Low voltage to motor • Ensure power supply meets voltage and
amperage requirements
• Open circuit • Check for and replace blown fuses
Motor overheats • Defective capacitor • Repair power unit

• Improper ventilation • Provide proper ventilation
• Improper voltage to motor • Voltage to motor must not exceed +/-
10% of nameplate ratings
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5 6 7
For example, it may take five pounds 8 correctly according to the manufac-
per square inch (psi) of pressure to turer’s specifications. In photo 8,
pump fluid through 10 feet of hose, damage from incorrect torque and
another 10 psi for a change of the debris physically damaged this cutter
direction 90°, and 25 psi for a restric- center bolt and caused scoring on the
tion created by a coupling. With the bolt and blade, necessitating replac-
hydraulic fluid moving through this ing the center bolt and blades.
system at a constant rate, the pressure Rams. Rams are sophisticated hy-
at the end of the system will be 40 psi draulic jacks with a traveling piston
less than at the beginning. enclosed in a cylinder; they may
Hoses have two considerable be either single or double acting. A
restrictions—the couplings attached single-acting ram employs hydraulic
to each end. A hose with a ¼-inch power to extend the piston, gener-
9
internal diameter may have couplings ally relying on a spring to retract it. A
with a 1⁄8-inch internal diameter. The double-acting ram employs hydraulic
area of the 1⁄8-inch-diameter opening power to extend and to retract the
is one-fourth the area of the ¼-inch piston. Photo 9 is a cutaway of a
opening. Therefore, the hydraulic hydraulic ram displaying the inner
fluid must suddenly quadruple in components.
velocity when moving through the The ram’s force depends on the
smaller opening. This results in trans- hydraulic working pressure multiplied
ference of energy, usually resulting in by the piston’s surface area. Rams
a loss of pressure within the system. have the least structural stability when
Avoid excessive heat, which will soften packing and seals fully extended, either pushing or pulling. At full extension, the
and result in leaks. piston has little surrounding support, making it vulnerable to
overstressing, especially in the area of the stop ring—a ma-
RESCUE TOOL TYPES chined part that prevents the piston from extending totally from
Spreaders. The heart of spreaders is a piston inside a the ram body. Off-center loading of the ram puts considerable
cylinder. The hydraulic pump builds pressure within the force on the piston and seals and occurs when the piston and
system, which moves the piston, which in turn moves the load are not in axial alignment, such as in a dash roll technique.
spreader arms. The control valve regulates the spreader arms’ •••
movement (photo 5). This is a directional valve, which allows Hydraulic tools will provide reliable continuous service if
fluid to flow through, opening or closing the spreader arms. you regularly inspect and maintain them according to a sched-
Compare the surface areas of the actual piston head. If forcing ule, such as the one outlined in Figure 1. Figure 2 is a list of
fluid with the larger/flat side (spreading), the pressure is much common troubleshooting problems and solutions. ●
greater than forcing fluid from the opposite end (closing/
pulling) (photo 6). You can attach various tips to the spreader ● BILLY LEACH JR. has been active in emergency
arms to perform various functions—e.g., spreading or pulling. services since 1976, combining career and volunteer
Cutter. A cutter’s operation is similar to that of the spreader experience. He is the developer of and senior presenter
in that hydraulic fluid forces a piston to move the cutter for Big Rig Rescue™, an extrication program focusing
blades through linkages connected to both blades. Various cut- on incidents involving heavy trucks. He has presented at
ting blade styles (e.g., curved, straight) are available. Keep the numerous fire/rescue training seminars. Leach is coauthor
cutter blades and the center bolt clean, and regularly inspect of the book Big Rig Rescue on heavy truck anatomy and
them for wear (photo 7). Ensure that the cutter bolt is torqued extrication.
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FIRE COMMENTARY
A Matter of National Security
BY JOSEPH B. MUHAMMAD
communities they serve. Since our fire subject matter experts. We agree with
Author’s note: This article is meant
to encourage constructive conversation service personnel are the nation’s first Lani Guinier and Susan Sturm’s “Trial by
and reflective thought. It is to identify responders, encompassed within the De- Firefighters” (Op-Ed, New York Times,
correlated issues that affect the success partment of Homeland Security and the July 10, 2009):
of the fire service and promote the idea Federal Emergency Management Agency,
of shared responsibility. it is an integral part of our national secu- Exams like the one the New Haven
rity and ability to respond to all forms of firefighters took are neither designed
nor administered to identify the em-
T
HE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIA- emergencies. ployees most qualified for promotion
tion of Black Professional Fire We released this statement after the ... what we need most: a clear-eyed
Fighters (IABPFF) has monitored Supreme Court decision: reassessment of our blind faith in
discrimination in hiring, job assignments, entrenched testing regimes.
and promotions since our inception in This decision by the Supreme Court New Haven used a multiple-choice
affected the ability of New Haven to test to measure its firefighters’ reten-
1970. Although this is not all encom- tion of information from national fire-
voluntarily comply with Title VII. We
passing of our core values, we have an are surprised that the Court changed fighting textbooks and study guides.
extensive history of data indicating these the rules in the middle of the game for Civil service tests like these do not
components of conflict. Our findings to any municipality seeking to voluntarily identify people who are best suited
this dilemma also lead to consequent law- comply with Title VII. for leadership positions. The most
However, the decision does not important skills of any fire department
suits, thus too often producing a behavior lieutenant or captain are steady com-
affect the right and ability of any
of bigotry, racial slurs, harassment, and minority firefighter to challenge any mand presence, sound judgment and
demeaning treatment in the firehouse. promotional examination that unlaw- the ability to make life-or-death deci-
Disparity in fire personnel or disparity fully discriminates, including—and sions under pressure. In a city that is
in community fire protection cannot be especially—those in New Haven. Their nearly 60 percent black and Latino, the
rights remain completely undisturbed ability to promote cross-racial harmony
tolerated. This is the reason the IAB- under stress is also crucial.
by this decision.
PFF supported the City of New Haven In fact, we believe this decision These skills are not well measured
regarding the Frank Ricci, et al., v. John reinforces the ability of minorities to by tests that reward memorization and
DeStefano, et al. case presented before challenge questionable and discrimina- ask irrelevant questions like whether
the Supreme Court. That is the reason tory promotional examinations. it is best to approach a particular
It only affects the city of New Haven emergency from uptown or downtown
we contend, whether it is EMS or DHS, even when the city isn’t oriented that
by defining and heightening the
diversity is a sign of strength for our standard by which a city must adhere way. The Civil Service Board in New
country and is a matter of all our secu- in order to voluntarily comply with Title Haven declined to certify the test not
rity. As shown through the experience VII in the face of exams that appear to only because of concerns about [the]
of safety force departments throughout have discriminatory impact. difference in scores between the black
It must also be borne in mind that and white firefighters but also because
the country and the military, diverse it failed to assess qualities essential for
the disparate impact standard should
organizations make better decisions, apply equally to all members of every firefighting.
in no small part because they have the race, gender, or national origin. As Justice Ruth Ginsburg noted in
benefit of many different viewpoints at Our attorneys are reviewing this de- her dissent, tests drawn from national
decision-making levels. They are also cision. The evidence is very clear that textbooks often do not match a city’s
the New Haven examinations were not local firefighting needs. Most American
more cohesive and respond better to the fire departments have abandoned such
validated, nor did the Supreme Court
needs of the communities they serve, find them to be valid. It is also clear tests or limited the multiple-choice
being better able to effectively commu- that they appear to have a discrimina- format to 30 percent or less of an
nicate with the diverse neighborhoods in tory impact on the minority firefight- applicant’s score. In New Haven, the
which they operate. ers in New Haven. Our path has been test still accounted for 60 percent of
made clearer by this decision, and we the score. Compounding the problem,
The fire service’s relationship of insignificant numerical score differ-
will proceed accordingly.
trust with its communities is the criti- ences were used to rank the firefight-
cal element of fulfilling its mission and ing candidates.
operating successfully. This necessitates Since the publication of our release, What should a city do when its
that fire services reflect the image of the promotion test puts a majority of its
we have studied many scholars and
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FIRE COMMENTARY
population at a disadvantage and is nominated as director of the U.S. Fire
also unlikely to predict essential job
Administration.
performance? People who excel on
such a test may expect to be promoted. All of these efforts appear to be mov-
But testing should not be about al- ing toward a common interdependency
locating prizes to winners. No one and a higher level of humanity, and we
has a proprietary right to a particular look forward to being at the decision-
job, even if that person worked hard
making table to improve this condition.
preparing for a test.
When a city replaces a bad test, as However at the same time, in addition
New Haven wanted to do, the employ- to New Haven, fires of another kind are
ees who did well on it do not lose their burning in cities like Houston, Jackson-
right to compete for promotions; they ville, St. Louis, and New York, just to
merely need to compete according to
name a few. We know this discussion
procedures that actually identify people
who advance the mission of saving lives is a process, and while some will see
and property—and enhance the depart- this as a potential gain for others and
ment’s reputation in the community for others will assert their political interests
treating all citizens with respect. no matter the outcome, we are all facing
The U.S. Supreme Court decision

has given us the opportunity to
illuminate the disparity that exists
and to monitor who is willing to be
just as nondiscriminatory as fire,
disaster, and death.
As a result of the civil rights move- the possibility of a society in dire need
ment, the IABPFF was originally estab- of our service.
lished as an advocacy organization. It Some people fear change is conta-
has always known that the “tradition” gious, like an epidemic with no known
of the fire service and its testing scores cure. They are also afraid of catching it.
has produced disproportionate numbers The National Fallen Firefighters Founda-
regarding blacks and others. Although tion brings everyone together annually
some people may believe the tests were as a result of line-of-duty deaths. Why?
fair and others may believe the results Because fire, disaster, and death are non-
of the tests led to the conclusion that discriminatory. The U.S. Supreme Court
blacks and Latinos lack the ability or decision has given us the opportunity to
initiative, nothing could be further from illuminate the disparity that exists and to
the truth. Anyone with knowledge of monitor who is willing to be just as non-
the history cannot deny that too many discriminatory as fire, disaster, and death.
fire departments, with the support of This is a reminder that the IABPFF is still
____________________
their local unions, have had a history committed to “Keeping the Fire Burn-
of discrimination in our profession. The ing for Justice” and to insist diversity is a
U.S. Department of Labor statistics and matter of our national security. ●
lawsuits across the country, both past
and present, document this unfortunate ● JOSEPH B. MUHAMMAD is the
fact. The International Association of president of the International As-
Fire Fighters is now partnering with sociation of Black Professional Fire
the International Association of Fire Fighters (IABPFF). He is a 22-year
Chiefs to improve diversity. The same is veteran of the fire service and a lieu-
tenant in the White Plains (NY) Fire
occurring with the National Fire Acad-
Department.
emy: Chief Kelvin Cochran has been
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TECHNOLOGY TODAY
Fire Station Alerting Controllers

B Y PA U L G Y O R E
O
VER THE YEARS, FIRE STATIONS The first step in reducing installation
have become quite sophisticated; complexity is designing well-engineered,
their fundamental purpose has dependable products that do not need
not changed, but by increasing fire station early replacement. No manufacturer can
technology, firefighters can be more effec- guarantee that a product will last forever,
tive and respond more quickly. Communi- but by choosing proven and tested station
cation networks, climate control, audio and alerting equipment, personnel can avoid
lighting technology, and mechanical auto- the potential hassle of costly asset replace-
mation have assisted and enhanced comfort ment and new installation. With redundant
for firefighters living in a modern station. alerting paths, you can alert the Phoenix
Dispatching firefighters has also become Photo by author. G2 with paging tones and switch to IP dis-
more advanced. Gone are the days when patching paths without any new hardware.
an alarm bell would ring or a siren would are designed with antiquated, eight-bit mi- The Phoenix G2 Station Alerting System
sound, sending all personnel scrambling crocontrollers incapable of performing most was designed for uncomplicated installa-
for the nearest fire pole and turnout gear. of the aforementioned functions. US Digital tions. A single CAT 5⁄6 Ethernet cable is all
Today, a modern fire station needs ramped Designs’ Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting that is required for each remote peripheral
tones, lighting, and zoned alerting for the System performs primary and secondary sta- device; a qualified cable installer can install
health of the firefighters. tion controller functions. An industrial, solid- it in new and existing stations. Phoenix
Zoned alerting allows you to dispatch state computer with a hardened operating G2 network devices use a “power over
individual rooms or fire station areas system runs the station controller software, Ethernet” scheme and do not need external
uniquely, while other station areas are not communicates with dispatch and all network localized power supplies or electrical con-
alerted. Each zone may have audio, lighting, devices, acts as a local server, and displays nections. The Phoenix G2 base controller
and message signs assigned to it, presenting dispatch and unit information. is available in two configurations, both
the information in multiple, easy-to-under- The station controller software was trouble-free to install.
stand methods. It partitions a fire station’s written for an embedded operating system, Large stations can purchase the Phoe-
occupants—personnel and equipment— resulting in a smaller footprint, and can nix G2 controller as a complete, turnkey
into planned groups and allows unneeded perform high-security upgrades and moni- 19-inch rack system that supports 24 to 72
personnel to sleep through a call without toring remotely. The Phoenix G2 Fire Sta- remote peripheral devices. The rack includes
being disturbed. The station alerting control- tion Alerting System can log data for years. the Phoenix G2 controller system, indus-
ler’s primary function is to alert fire station Fully automated dispatching is the future trial power supplies, and industrial battery
personnel during an alarm. Secondary func- of fire station alerting. Automated voice backup.
tions include communication with dispatch/ generation helps dispatchers maintain the Also available is the Phoenix G2 ATX,
CAD, local intercom, relay control printing traditional vocalized alert to fire stations which was drafted for smaller-scale fire
to rip and run, station audio and lighting with the features provided in station alert- stations. Nearly functionally identical to the
control, controller logging, station status ing systems. Use of an automated voice larger rack system, the ATX is about 1⁄8 the
communication, and more. Besides primary generation allows nearly instantaneous size of the rack system and can be mounted
and secondary functions, modern station multiple dispatches to a practically unlimited on a wall, a countertop, or in an existing
controllers must be able to communicate number of destinations with crystal-clear 19-inch rack. In standard trim, the G2 ATX
with dispatch using various methods, such professional sounding virtual dispatchers. supports eight remote peripheral devices
as Internet protocol (IP); dual-tone multi- Fire station designers consider a com- such as message signs, relay I/O modules,
frequency signaling; two-tone, single-tone munity’s multifaceted needs, which typically and LED lighted speaker zones. A station
radio modem; and pager tone. Most modern translate into more than just the firefighting can start off with a few remote devices and
station alerting controllers cannot perform requirement. Fire stations are used for public can add more as requirements increase. ●
all of these functions. Many modern station meetings, education and training, outreach,
controllers lack basic functions such as and emergency shelter. Based on these ● PAUL GYORE is a software
multiple and redundant paths; NFPA 1221, demands, fire stations have become larger engineer for US Digital Designs and
Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and more complex, which leads to higher has worked in the fire service for
and Use of Emergency Services Communica- overall costs. You must evaluate each system five years. He works closely with
tions Systems Compliance; remote con- added to a fire station based on cost, ease the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department
as well as fire departments in other
figuration; or remote viewing station status of installation, and maintenance. Installation
cities, providing station alerting
and service logs. And alarmingly, some factors have a profound effect on reducing
products, solutions, and services.
commercial-grade station alerting controllers costs and construction time.
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APPARATUS DELIVERIES BY JOHN M. MALECKY
Features/Equipment:
• SPARTAN Diamond MFD chassis with 180-inch wheel-
base and four-seat cab with 20-inch raised roof;
• CUMMINS ISL 370-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 3000
EVS automatic transmission;
• 24-inch extended front bumper with preconnected 100-
foot air line and control panel with compressed air con-
nection, a 110-volt outlet, an on/off switch for HOLMA-
TRO electric pump, and connection for the core hose;
• 18-foot nonwalk-in body with ROBINSON roll-up com-
partment doors, rear stairway, 150-pound oil absorbent
hopper, and two other controls panels (as described
above) in lower compartments in front of the wheel wells
on both sides of the truck;
>> Bristol-Myers Squibb Emergency Services in New • 6,000-psi air cylinder to operate tools;
Brunswick, New Jersey, uses this PIERCE foam pumper with • storage for 40 spare SCBA cylinders;
Snozzle to attain better reach to process buildings and large • RAMSEY 4½-ton portable winch with left, right, and rear
structures, explains Chief John Welling. It is the first 65-foot receivers;
Snozzle sold for nonmunicipal applications. • HOLMATRO rescue tools; and
• light and power with ONAN 25-kw PTO generator, SVI
Features/Equipment: Command Light with backlighting, FRC brow light, and
• Dash* chassis with 245-inch wheelbase and six-seat cab six WHELEN fixed scene lights on body.
with 14-inch raised roof; Enter 2 at fireeng.hotims.com
____________
• DETROIT Series 60 515-hp diesel engine with ALLISON
4000 EVS-P automatic transmission;
• HALE Qmax single-stage, 2,000-gpm pump with Husky
foam system and Hercules CAFS, five-inch front intake,
1½-inch front bumper line, and 1¾- and 2½-inch speedlays;
• UPF 500-gallon water and 300-gallon foam tanks;
• CRASH RESCUE EQUIPMENT SERVICE 65-foot Snozzle,
two Unifier Force 50 and Force 80 monitors (one each at
50-foot and 65-foot levels); and 12-foot outrigger spread;
• CRASH RESCUE EQUIPMENT SERVICE piercing nozzle;
• PIERCE roll-up compartment doors and four wheel well
sleeves for seven spare SCBA cylinders;
• BULLARD thermal imaging camera;
• two HANNAY reels (one each electric cord and air); and
• light and power with HARRISON 10-kw hydraulic gen-
erator, two WELDON scene lights (one each on side of >> The Tukwila (WA) Fire Department designed this FER-
cab), and three FRC floodlights (one on brow, two on RARA pumper for fighting residential, high rise, commercial,
roof of cab). and brush fires as well as for EMS, light rescue, and hazmat
* The Dash chassis has been replaced by the Velocity model. responses, explains Lieutenant Loren McFarland.
____________
Features/Equipment:
>> The Oakville Fire Department in Ontario, Canada, • Inferno chassis with 196-inch wheelbase and six-seat cab
designed this SVI TRUCKS rescue truck with a short wheel- with 10-inch raised roof;
base to maneuver on highways and smaller town streets, says • CUMMINS ISM 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON
Deputy Chief Bob Sumak. It serves a fast-growing community 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
on Lake Ontario, with three main expressways and two rivers • HALE Qmax single-stage, 1,500-gpm pump with HYPRO
flowing through town with ravines requiring rope rescue. Foam Pro 2002 system, three crosslays (two 1¾-inch and
one 2½-inch), four-inch rear discharge, midship-mounted
one-inch booster reel, three-inch rear discharge with
2½-inch preconnect, and AKRON Deckmaster electric
monitor;
• UPF 500-gallon water and 10- and 20-gallon foam tanks;
• five wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
• ZIAMATIC hydraulic ladder rack;
• AMKUS rescue tools;
• PHILLIPS AED; and
• light and power with HARRISON eight-kw hydraulic gen-
erator, three FRC floodlights (one on brow, two telescop-
ing behind cab), and one HANNAY electric cord reel.
____________
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PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA
>> RSDecon’s REACTIVE SKIN DECON- >> Industrial Scientific’s MX4 IQUAD™
TAMINATION LOTION (RSDL) is a patented can detect one to four gases and offers
broad-spectrum skin decontamination product an alternative to buying and maintaining
that removes and neutralizes chemical warfare gas detectors. Its software-based service
(CW) agents and T2 toxins from the skin. RSDL increases safety by providing visibility to gas
comes preimpregnated as a lotion applicator detector alarms, exposure, and usage. It
that does not smear or spread the CW agent. keeps gas detectors working without costly
The product’s sponge-based technology pro- and time-consuming maintenance. A rubber
vides for complete decontamination or removal of CW agents overmold covers its polycarbonate hous-
and even nontraditional elements such as sulfuric acid, nitric ing to protect the MX4 from high-impact bumps and drops.
acid, and some pesticides. RSDL decontaminates through physi- The housing has also been third-party tested and certified
cal and nucleophilic reaction, turning the CW agents nontoxic in IP66 and IP67. This ingress protection rating indicates that
less than two-minutes time. Once the agent is neutralized, RSDL the MX4 is dust-tight and resistant to both water jets and
leaves a harmless residue that can be rinsed off when operation- submersion. www.indsci.com. (800) DETECTS.
al conditions permit. www.rsdecon.com. (888) RSD-ECON. Enter 8 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com
____________
>> 3M™ SCOTCHLITE™ REFLEC-

>> DuPont’s NOMEX® ON DEMAND™ TIVE MATERIAL 5807 CUSTOM
is a new smart-fiber technology that CUTABLE TRANSFER FILM delivers
gives firefighters up to 20 percent more a customization process for virtually
thermal performance when they encoun- any type of apparel, including station
ter emergency conditions. It is specifically wear, so emergency response depart-
engineered to react and expand when ments can ensure their personnel
temperatures reach 250°F or higher. In stand out in low-light situations. A customized reflective logo
routine conditions, thermal liners made enables emergency response departments to identify their
with Nomex® On Demand™ remain thin and flexible, providing members, differentiate the roles of key on-site responders, and
thermal protection and mobility. It meets National Fire Protec- enhance responder visibility while performing routine duties
tion Association standards and is certified for use by Underwrit- such as vehicle maintenance. www.3M.com. (888) 3M-HELPS.
ers Laboratories. www.dupont.com. (800) 441-7515. Enter 9 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com
Enter 5 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com
>> GammaTech Computer Corporation’s
>> Tiburon Inc.’s upgrade to its DURABOOK D14RM with Intel® Montevi-
COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH na platform is designed for mobile profes-
SYSTEMS will aid firefighters, sionals with features to protect the system
first responders, and dispatch- from accidents that can damage sensitive
ers. Public safety agencies can now better automate, com- interior notebook components. Tested
municate, and leverage information to optimize dispatch, using Military 810 F-standard guidelines
incident management and reporting, and records manage- to ensure protection against drop, shock, spill, and dust, it is
ment in operational environments. The upgraded product protected by a magnesium alloy case that is 20 times stron-
suite includes new dispatching algorithms that offer choices ger than ABS plastic. Antishock mounting design protects the
based on geography and resource types when dispatching device’s LCD and hard disk drive from damage and data loss. A
appropriate response units, which optimize response times spill-resistant keyboard, touchpad, and switches stop spills from
and speed. A new graphical user interface offers improved leaking into sensitive interior components. A smart card reader,
ease of use and a new night mode improves safety and us- fingerprint scanner, and TPM 1.2 technology secure important
ability in the field. www.tiburoninc.com. (800) 428-5534. data. www.gammatechusa.com. (800) 995-8946.
____________ Enter 10 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com
>> Unifire’s SAFEINCINERATOR™ >> GE Security Inc.’s ITEMISER® DX

combines Unifire’s Force™ series provides threat substance identification,
remote-controlled, stainless-steel including the most complex explosive
water/foam monitors and the Unifire substances, from a single sample. It
Control System™. The integrated simultaneously analyzes both positive and
product is a networked system of negative ions, which allows for contra-
intelligent water/foam monitors, each band detection. Designed to be more
capable of accurately delivering up to 1,340 gallons per minute sensitive and identify a larger number of
of water/foam solution directly onto a fire within seconds of de- threat substances, it uses advanced trace technology and
tection. The system automatically detects and extinguishes fires provides results in seconds where other methods, such as
using infrared cameras and other advanced fire and flame de- visual detection, may take longer or at times fail. The Itemiser
tection technologies. Easily control each Force system monitor DX comes in a small, compact package with folding touch
with a joystick or a central station from up to 500 meters away. screen; a 60-minute battery backup; and a navigational touch
Preprogram each system monitor on site with its own spray pat- screen that automatically saves test results and allows for im-
tern for automatic fire extinguishing. www.safeincinerator.com. mediate printing. www.gesecurity.com. (888) 437-3287.
Enter 7 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com Enter 11 at ____________
fireeng.hotims.com
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COMING EVENTS
CONFERENCES/EXHIBITIONS
OCTOBER 3, Drive to Survive: Preventing Fire Apparatus
OCTOBER 1, Eighth Annual Andy Fredericks Memorial
Crashes. Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: drivertosurvive.org.
____________
Golf Tournament. Angels Camp, California. Contact: Ted
Contact: (610) 960-7248. Web site: www.drivetosurvive.org.
_______________
Corporandy, (209) 743-6205. E-mail: tedcorp@mlode.com.
Web site: ______________
www.firenuggets.com.
OCTOBER 5 and 8, Fire-EMS Driver Training (NAPD).
Glenview, Illinois. Sponsor: Northeastern Illinois Public Safety
OCTOBER 1-4, Pulse Check: New York State Volunteer
Training Academy. Contact: (847) 998-8090. Fax: (847) 998-
Ambulance and Rescue Association 53rd Annual Meeting.
8091. Web site: www.nipsta.org.
__________
Colonie, New York. Sponsor: New York State Volunteer Am-
bulance and Rescue Association. Contact: (877) NYS-VARA
OCTOBER 7, Drive to Survive: Preventing Fire Apparatus
(691-8278). Web site: ___________
www.nysvara.org.
Crashes. York County, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: drivertosurvive.
org. Contact: (610) 960-7248. Web site: www.drivetosurvive.
_____________
OCTOBER 7-9, FAMA Annual Meeting: Capitol Hill
org.
__
Day. Arlington, Virginia. Sponsor: Fire Apparatus Manufac-
turers Association. Web site: ___________________
www.fama.org/meetingReg/.
OCTOBER 9-11, IFSFI E-Learning Symposium. San Diego,
E-mail: info@fama.org.
California. Sponsors: International Society of Fire Service
Instructors, Target Safety. Contact: Web site: http://target-
_________
OCTOBER 14-16, CollaBorRatioN 2009: Third Annual
safety.com/newsite/about/isfsi/#symposium.
_____________________________
CBRNE Conference. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Sponsor:
Calgary Tri-Services. Web site: www.calgary.ca/fi
_________________re/cbrne.
OCTOBER 9-11, Big Rig Rescue. Concord, New Hampshire.
Sponsors: Big Rig Rescue, New Hampshire Fire Academy.
OCTOBER 14-18, AFSA’s 28th Annual Convention and
Contact: Donald “Hulk” Gagnon, (603) 335-2084. E-mail:
Exhibition. San Diego, California. Sponsor: American Fire
hulk@rochchestertruck.com.
Sprinkler Association. Contact: (214) 349-5965, ext. 132. Web
site: www.firesprinkler.org/convention.
______________________
OCTOBER 12, Drive to Survive: Preventing Fire Appara-
tus Crashes. Paradise, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: drivertosur-
OCTOBER 19-22, 64th Annual Florida Arson Symposium.
vive.org. Contact: (610) 960-7248. Web site: www.drivetosur-
__________
Orlando, Florida. Sponsor: International Association of Arson
vive.org.
_____
Investigators. Contact: Kerry Barnett, (813) 780-0041.
E-mail: Kbarnett@fire.Zephyrhills.fl.us.
OCTOBER 12-14, Rapid Intervention Teams. Indianapolis,
Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department Training Network. Con-
NOVEMBER 3-5, Third Algeria Fire, Safety & Security
tact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-9685. Web site: www.
___
Expo. Algiers, Algeria. Sponsor: New Fields Exhibitions, Inc.
fdtraining.com.
__________
Contact: 971.4.268.6870. E-mail: inquiry@new-fields.com.
Web site: _________________________________
http://new-fields.com/afsse3/pdf/AFSS_Registra-
OCTOBER 12-16, Rapid Intervention Teams Train-the-
tion_Form.pdf.
__________
Trainer. Indianapolis, Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department
Training Network. Contact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-
NOVEMBER 5-8, Colorado State EMS Conference.
9685. Web site: www.fdtraining.com.
_____________
Keystone, Colorado. Sponsor: Emergency Medical Services
Association of Colorado. Contact: (303) 758-9611. E-mail:
OCTOBER 13, Public Safety Response to Autism and
conference@emsac.org. Web site: ________________
www.emsac.org/confer-
Mental Disorders. Glenview, Illinois. Sponsor: Northeastern
ence.
___
Illinois Public Safety Training Academy. Contact: (847) 998-
8090. Fax: (847) 998-8091. Web site: www.nipsta.org.
__________
COURSES/SEMINARS
SEPTEMBER 23, Drive to Survive: Preventing Fire Ap- OCTOBER 14, Commanding RIT Operations. Indianapolis,
paratus Crashes. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department Training Network. Con-
drivertosurvive.org.
____________ Contact: (610) 960-7248. Web site: www. ___ tact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-9685. Web site: www.
___
drivetosurvive.org.
____________ fdtraining.com.
__________
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, Vehicle Machinery Extrica- OCTOBER 16, Water Rescue Technician Course (WRT).
tion —Technician Level. Glenview, Illinois. Sponsor: North- Bartlett, New Hampshire. Sponsor: Lifesaving Resources.
eastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy. Contact: (847) Contact: (603) 827-4139. Fax: (603) 584-1182. Web site:
998-8090. Fax: (847) 998-8091. Web site: www.nipsta.org.
__________ http://lifesaving.com.
______________
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, Tank Car Specialist. Pueblo, OCTOBER 17, Drive to Survive: Preventing Fire Appa-
Colorado. Sponsor: Security and Emergency Response Train- ratus Crashes. Saginaw County, Michigan. Sponsor: driv-
ing Center. Contact: (719) 584-0584, (800) 933-4882. Web ertosurvive.org. Contact: (610) 960-7248. Web site: www.
___
site: www.hazmattraining.com.
_________________ drivetosurvive.org.
____________
OCTOBER 2-4, Advanced Rescue Shoring. Indianapolis, OCTOBER 18-24 Hot Topics in Fire Protection Pilot
Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department Training Network. Con- Course (P138). Emmitsburg, Maryland. Sponsor: The United
tact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-9685. Web site: ___
www. States Fire Administration. Contact: Web site: www.usfa.dhs.
_________
fdtraining.com.
__________ gov/nfa/nfa-061809.shtm.
_________________

___________________
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COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS
>> The METROPOLITAN FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION an- and eliminates points of failure. www.panasonic.com/tough-
nounced its 2008-2009 officers and board members. The new book.
____
officers are: Chief William Bryson, Miami (FL) Department of
Fire-Rescue, president; Chief Robert Hendricks, Lexington >> ELKHART BRASS is consolidating all handline nozzle
(KY) Division of Fire and Emergency Services, vice president; manufacturing to the expanded facility at its corporate head-
Chief Greg Frederick, Louisville (KY) Division of Fire, secre- quarters in Elkhart, Indiana. Approximately 30 percent of han-
tary; and Chief Douglas Barry of the Los Angeles (CA) City dline nozzle production took place at Elkhart Brass’ satellite
Fire Department, treasurer. The new board members are: facility in Shreve, Ohio, because of capacity constraints did
Chief Jim Kay, Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) Fire Department, not allow both facilities to use technology upgrades. Over
board member; Chief (retired) William McCammon, Alameda the past five years the firm has upgraded its Elkhart manufac-
County (CA) Fire Department, senior board member; Chief turing capacity with state-of-the-art equipment and modern
Ned Pettus Jr., Columbus (OH) Division of Fire, alternate processes. Some enhancements include a 10,000-square-foot
board member; and Chief William Stewart, Toronto (Ontario, indoor test facility, conversion to a work stream optimiza-
Canada) Fire Services, immediate past president. www.nfpa. tion software, and the purchase of more than a dozen new
org.
__ multiturret machining centers. www.elkhartbrass.com. (800)
346-0250.
>> IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU) researchers Young-A
Lee and Jessica Barker teamed with physiological condi- >> The FIRE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIA-
tioning and kinesiology professors Warren Franke and Rick TION has released a portable fire extinguisher training video
Sharp on “Personal Protective Technologies for Current and on the importance of balanced fire protection, a design that
Emerging Occupational Hazards,” a research project de- uses multiple safeguards to save lives and protect prop-
signed to improve firefighter gear effectiveness. ISU, one of erty. The two-minute video, designed for both professional
eight universities participating in the research, is part of the and lay audiences, guides viewers through the process of
United States Department of Agriculture’s multistate research assessing a potential fire situation and using a portable fire
project. ISU’s team is funded by a College of Human Sciences extinguisher in an emergency. Incorporating a balanced fire
intramural seed grant. Through cross-disciplinary collabo- protection design in commercial buildings helps minimize
ration, the ISU researchers are collecting data from local safety risks by providing multiple channels for fire notification
firefighters about not only the fit and function of their current and protection. To view the training video, visit http://www.
gear, but also how the body and surrounding gear respond in youtube.com/watch?v=BLjoWjCrDqg.
high temperatures. www.iastate.edu.
>> WATEROUS delivered 160 new PB18 Series portable
>> The OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINIS- pumps used in firefighting vehicles sold to Civil Protection
TRATION (OSHA) will issue an advanced notice of proposed of Algeria (CPA), which encompasses numerous fire stations
rulemaking and convene related stakeholder meetings to throughout the country. All fire trucks delivered to Algeria
evaluate possible regulatory methods and request data and are equipped with Waterous’ PB18-G2015 portable pumps.
comments on combustible dust issues such as hazard rec- Produced by French manufacturer Camiva, 95 of the 160 ve-
ognition, assessment, communication, and definition. Since hicles delivered to CPA will combat forest, rural, and wildland
1980, more than 130 workers have been killed and more fires. www.waterousco.com. (651) 450-5000.
than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions. Combus-
tible dusts are solids ground into fine particles, fibers, chips, >> ASHBURN HILL CORP. launched a new Web site
chunks, or flakes that can cause a fire or explosion when to coincide with the debut of the company’s TECGEN
suspended in air under certain conditions. Dust types include XTREME TM protective apparel, which provides a single-
metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic or rubber, layer alternative to turnout gear for many fi refighting
coal, flour, and sugar. www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/ responses. TECGEN XTREME TM is a dual-certified prod-
index.html.
_______ uct that meets the National Fire Protection Association’s
specifications for wildland firefighting (NFPA 1977-2005)
>> The RACOR DIVISION of PARKER HANNIFIN COR- and technical rescue ensemble (NFPA 1951-2007). www. ___
PORATION new Moisture/Ember Separators (MES) Bulletin tecgenxtreme.com.
#7760 provides valuable information for selecting the appro-
priate MES unit for firefighting vehicles. The bulletin high-
lights the advantages of Racor’s MES over air cleaner filters
NAMES IN THE NEWS
with flame-retardant media. It also provides a guide with part >> E. JAMES MONIHAN, a 32-year member of the National
numbers and dimensions to choose the right unit for your Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Board of Directors, died on
vehicle. www.parker.com. July 18. Monihan became the NVFC’s director from Delaware
in 1977, was NVFC chairman of the executive and legislative
>> PANASONIC COMPUTER SOLUTIONS COMPANY’s committees from 1979 to 1991, and represented the NVFC
Toughbook U1 received the Frost & Sullivan 2009 Global on both the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s National
Market Engineering Award for Product Innovation. The award Advisory Committee and National Fire Protection Associa-
is presented each year to the company that has demonstrated tion standards committee. Monihan was also a life member
excellence in new products and technologies within their of the Lewes (DE) Fire Department, a life member of the
industry. The Toughbook U1 is a 2.3-pound mobile computer Cranston Heights (DE) Fire Company, an honorary member of
with a 5.6-inch daylight-viewable touch screen display, and the Bethany Beach (DE) Volunteer Fire Company, and a past
twin hot-swappable batteries that offer nine hours of battery president and active member of the Delaware Volunteer Fire-
life. Its fanless, all-weather design reduces noise and weight men’s Association.
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CLASSIFIEDS For advertising information: (800) 237-9851 • fire@rja-ads.com
A P PA R A T U S S A L E S CA R E E E R S
FIRE APPARATUS DESIGNER

Apparatus Designer position for manu-
__________________
facturer of the highest quality Fire Truck
Bodies. Requires strong technical and
mechanical fire truck background, previous
experience with 3-D modeling software
(Pro-E preferred), formal training and work
related experience. Training in Pro-E will be
provided to individuals with similar 3-D
modeling software experience. Responsi-
bilities will include: generation of production
drawings based on specifications and
sales drawings, product research, interfac-
ing with sales, production, and accounting
to achieve cost reduction and total produc-
tion goals. Competitive salary, excellent
benefits and working conditions. EEO
CUSTOM FIRE APPARATUS, INC.
509 68th Avenue, Osceola, WI 54020
hr@customfire.com
CONFERENCES
E D U CAT I O N / T R A I N I N G
_________________________
_________________
FIRE EQUIPMENT
________________
first response
545 31 ROAD GRAND JCT. CO 81504 www.mitico.com
PHONE (866) 545-6484 FAX (970) 243-9200
services@mitico.com
For classified advertising information,

Call: (800) 237-9851, ext. 258
Email: fire@rja-ads.com
_____________________
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For advertising information: (800) 237-9851 • fire@rja-ads.com CLASSIFIEDS

FIRE EQUIPMENT FIRE EQUIPMENT
__________________________
JEWELRY FIRE EQUIPMENT
“The Original Heavyweight Fleece Mask Bag,

and Still The Best”
_________________________ The Mask Bag™
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Plus shipping, Canvas bags,
fleece bags, hybrids, Red
Red,
Blue, Black, Yellow
Blue Yellow, custom.
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• On and off in seconds!
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• Train in seconds anywhere!
$9.00 ea. Plus Shipping
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906-774-8258 or 1-888-292-bags (2247) For classified advertising information,
Fax: 906-774-9966 • www.smsmithco.com Call: (800) 237-9851, ext. 258
All products made in the USA.
Email: fire@rja-ads.com
WHERE TO FIND IT
Where To Find It is a high-impact, cost-effective source to reach a customer base who values the critical information, products and services
that only Fire Engineering can deliver! The Where to Find It Directory is published in each issue, allowing you year-round delivery of your
products and services. Reserve your spot to ensure your company name is top-of-mind when purchasing decisions are being made!
Contact: Fire Engineering Classifieds, (800) 237-9851, or email fire@rja-ads.com to place your listing.
ALTERNATORS APPAREL AWARDS
www.FiremansChore.com
Denim JOB JACKETS
FIREMANS CHORE Cruise Master Engraving

C.E. NIEHOFF & CO. FIREMANS CHORE, INC. Denim Job Coats • We have been specializing in fire service awards
C. E. Niehoff manufactures brushless Located in Indianapolis, Indiana offering the Original and recognition products for over 20 years
alternators made specifically for the severest Firefighters Denim and Diamond Quilted Job
applications. Its models are designed with a Jackets. Our company also offers embroidery and • Our unique ability to customize any award sets
wide range of output capabilities and a other options to make us your “One Stop Shop” for a us apart from other award companies
variety of market specific features. “Truly American Firefighters Jacket”. • Popular items: state shaped axe plaques,
Made in the USA and Firefighter Owned. pewter trumpets and Michael Garman statues.
2021 Lee Street All can be personalized with your department
Evanston, IL 60202
409 Southwood Court, Indianapolis, IN 46217 logo or patch.
Phone: 800-643-4633; Fax: 847-492-1242 Phone: 317-627-5142
E-mail: sales@ceniehoff.com (888) 548-6834
E-mail: scott@firemanschore.com
Website: www.ceniehoff.com Website: www.firemanschore.com www.cruisemasterengraving.com
Fire Engineering
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WHERE TO FIND IT
Where To Find It is a high-impact, cost-effective source to reach a customer base who values the critical information, products and services
that only Fire Engineering can deliver! The Where to Find It Directory is published in each issue, allowing you year-round delivery of your
products and services. Reserve your spot to ensure your company name is top-of-mind when purchasing decisions are being made!
Contact: Fire Engineering Classifieds, (800) 237-9851, or email fire@rja-ads.com to place your listing.
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The ROTOGRIP® system provides excellent traction at low
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RESCUE EQUIPMENT RESCUE EQUIPMENT TRAINING
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6002 Calhoun Dr.
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
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• Carry all major brands-you only • Patent pending design provides endless
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(540) 786-2102 • Fax (540) 786-3367 For more information call (888) 325-3074
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Advertising Advertisers Index

Sales Offices 2010 Courage & Valor Nomination . . 28-29
5.11 Tactical Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
K
Knox Box Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
EXECUTIVE OFFICE / PUBLISHER A Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . 52
Eric Schlett
21-00 Route 208 South AWG Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 M
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602 Amkus Rescue Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Motorola.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3
Tel. (973) 251-5055
Fax (973) 251-5065 B O
E-mail: erics@pennwell.com Bauer Compressors, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 On Scene Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
NORTHEAST / MID ATLANTIC Blauer Manufacturing Co, Inc. . . . . . . . . 45 Onspot of North America. . . . . . . . . . . 102
EASTERN CANADA Breathing Air Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 P
Joseph T. Porter, National Sales Manager
Tel. (215) 230-1950, 800-572-1863 BullEx Digital Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 PMI Rope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Fax (215) 230-1951 Bullard Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 81 Paratech, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
E-mail: joep@pennwell.com
C Paul Conway Shields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
MIDWEST CET Fire Pumps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Performance Advantage Company . . . . 85
Pegeen Prichard, Regional Sales Manager
Tel. (773) 880-1290 CMC Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Petrogen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Fax (773) 880-1292 Card Imaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 15
E-mail: pegeenp@pennwell.com
Champion Rescue Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 PolyBilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
SOUTHEAST Classified Advertising . . . . . . 128, 129, 130 R
Tim Tolton, Regional Sales Manager
Tel. (770) 457-5462 Columbia Southern University. . . . . . . . . 94 Ramfan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Fax (770) 457-5463 D Res-Q-Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64A, 99
E-mail: timt@pennwell.com
DEUS Rescue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Rescue 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SOUTHWEST / WEST / Draeger Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Rescue Source - Rescue 3 International . 98
WESTERN CANADA
Ted Billick, Regional Sales Manager E Rescue Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Tel. (801) 262-1871 E-ONE, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 RescueRigger.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Fax (801) 262-3077
E-mail: tedb@pennwell.com ESRI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Rosenbauer America. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12-13
ESS - Eye Safety Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . 87 S
CLASSIFIEDS
Russell Johns Associates, LLC Eagle Compressors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Safety Components Fabric Technologies. .C4
Tel. (727) 443-7666, 800-237-9851 Elkhart Brass Mfg. Company, Inc. . . . . . . .17 Salsbury Ind. - Lockers.com.
_______ . . . . . . . . . 110
Fax (727) 445-9380
E-mail: fire@rja-ads.com Extendo Bed Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .52 Scott Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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ON FIRE
Twice in a Tour
BY MICHAEL N. CIAMPO
O
N OUR WAY INTO THE THREE- for us on the floor above to open up the quickly melted the unit’s coils and refriger-
story garden apartment, assigned baseboards and walls to look for any exten- ant chemical storage tank. These chemicals
as the second-due truck and sion before starting our secondary search. and the melted aluminum and other metals
responsible for the floor above the fire, we In the corner of the room, around a must have been the source of the green and
saw heavy black smoke issuing out of two boxed-out utility chase (for heat pipes and blue flames. The extinguisher was no match
front windows on the second floor. As we electrical conduit), we noticed small flames for the intense flames in the room; luckily,
entered the building, the first-due engine coming out of the floor. We called for a the second handline was in position to cut
was stretching a line up the stairs. Unfor- hoseline as a precaution as we reported off any further extension.
tunately, one of the hose’s couplings got that we had minor extension, and we were After the fire was over, we held a small
hung up on the lip of the stair’s half-landing told it was already being stretched, part critique on our company’s overall operations
during the stretch. Realizing the importance of our standard operating procedures. In and about window-mounted air-conditioner
of getting the first line into service, one of the meantime, we used a portable water units. We stressed the following points:
the firefighters bent over and released it. As extinguisher (often referred to as the “can”) • When the AC unit’s pullout plastic sides
we got to the second floor, we informed the to knock down the small visible flames and melt, this can result in the rapid extension
first-due truck that we were going to the hand tools to open up the flooring. of fire to the floor above. Also, it is not
floor above and donned our face pieces. Suddenly, the radio blurted out, “What uncommon to see the plastic sides broken
As we began forcing the door on the kind of minor extension do you have up and replaced with cardboard, wafer board
apartment above the fire, the smoke there?” Again, we reported minor exten- (a type of particleboard), or a substitute
condition in the hallway increased and the sion in the utility chase. Then a firefighter combustible material that will also fail
visibility diminished. After gaining entry to quickly called me to the next room over, under heat and flame impingement.
the apartment, we began our search. As we shouting, “Bring the can.” He was kneeling • Many times, these units are not substan-
searched the two rooms toward the front, at the closed door of the bedroom with the tially secured to the window and can fall
we noticed that the curtains and blinds bunk beds and said, “Wait until you see without warning. They may also be held
were pulled down, so we checked to make this.” We opened the bedroom door and in place by bricks or other materials on
sure the windows behind them were closed saw blue and green flames mixed with or- the ledge, so use caution when operating
to prevent autoexposure to the floor above. ange shooting out like a blowtorch into the under them.
(The heat or flames escaping from the fire room in between the upper and lower bed. • When units are involved in fire, they can
floor can melt the curtains or blinds and The upper bed then started to burn, and experience a failure of their mechanical
increase the possibility of autoexposure, flames came rolling across the ceiling. parts, and this can contribute to a sudden
so removing them can assist in the team’s Realizing that something went wrong, increase in flame intensity and volume.
safety plan on the floor above.) we reported that we now had a room on Later in the tour, we faced a similar situa-
One of the front rooms we searched fire in the apartment on the floor above tion. This time, we were able to pull the AC
was a bedroom with bunk beds pushed up and needed the hoseline. Luckily, the line unit into the room and close the window,
toward the front wall, covering a window. A was just outside in the public hallway and cutting off any extension. Who said it
firefighter swept the mattress with his hand the engine company was making its way doesn’t happen twice in a tour? ●
and used his leg to sweep under the bed. into the apartment. We met up with the
● MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 24-year
While sweeping the mattress, he noticed engine officer and informed him of the
veteran of the fire service and a
that the bed’s end rails extended upward, room’s location and the irregular-colored lieutenant in the Fire Department of
indicating a bunk bed. Quickly, he got out flames rolling across the ceiling. The crew New York. Previously, he served with
of his duck walk position and searched the reached the bedroom door and made quick the District of Columbia Fire Depart-
upper bed for victims. Another member work of knocking down the extending fire. ment. He has a bachelor’s degree in
performed a quick sweep of the closet to As we entered the bedroom to overhaul fire science from John Jay College
ensure no one was inside. and wash down the mattresses and bed of Criminal Justice in New York City.
After performing the primary search of frame, we noticed the culprit: a window He is the lead instructor for the FDIC
Portable Ladder H.O.T. program.
the apartment’s remaining rooms, we noti- air-conditioner (AC) unit.
He wrote the Ladder chapter and
fied the chief that the search proved nega- The flames escaping from the fire apart- co-authored the Ventilation chapter
tive. As we moved toward the front of the ment were directly impacting the window- for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for
apartment, it was reported that the fire was mounted unit on the floor above. The cheap Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering,
self-venting out the two front windows. Real- plastic pullout sides had melted and allowed 2009) and is featured in “Training
izing that the fire was now free burning and flame impingement directly into the floor Minutes” truck company videos on
the seat had been located, it was important above. In addition, the flames and heat www.FireEngineering.com.
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Terrorism and
the Fire Service
A Supplement to Fire Engineering ● September 2009
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Terrorism and the Fire Service

A SUPPLEMENT TO FIRE ENGINEERING ● SEPTEMBER 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
The Need for Joint Hazards Assessment Teams ..... 6
By Chris Hawley, Gregory G. Noll, and Mike Hildebrand
Collaborative Approaches
to Threats Old and New ....................................... 12
By Christopher Tracy
Response to Critical Incidents “A to Z” .............. 17
By August Vernon
Detection Equipment: Have We
Reached the Technology Ceiling? ........................ 21
By Glen D. Rudner
Bioterrorism Response: Does the Way
Forward Lie in Our Past? .................................... 24
By David M. Ladd and Cheryl Gauthier
Controlling Communications
During a Critical Incident .................................. 32
By Gary MacNamara Cover photo by Kevin Farrell.
ADVERTISERS INDEX
A W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. ............................................ 36
Ahura Scientific Corporation ............................................ 13 I
American Military University ............................................ 11 Idaho Technology, Inc....................................................... 23
B L
Bauer Compressors, Inc. .................................................... 9 Lion Apparel ...................................................................... 5
F M
FEB&V.................................................................. 25, 26, 34 Meridian Medical ........................................................ 15-16
Fire Engineering Online ................................................... 31 S
G Smiths Detection ............................................................. 35
Globe Manufacturing Company ...................................... 2-3
4 September 2009 FIRE ENGINEERING Terrorism Supplement www.FireEngineering.com
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TERRORISM AND THE FIRE SERVICE
The Need for

Joint Hazards
Assessment Teams
B Y C H R I S H AW L E Y, G R E G O R Y G . N O L L ,
AND MIKE HILDEBRAND 1
T
HE THREAT OF AN ATTACK ON A HIGH-PROFILE
individual or large numbers of people gathered for
major public assembly events presents significant chal-
lenges for public safety agencies. You cannot ignore threats
made against events involving large numbers of people; you
must evaluate them by using a combination of intelligence
analysis and real-time surveillance and monitoring and by
having trained eyes on the problem. While most threats never
materialize, some may involve a suspicious package, an un-
known powder on the floor, or a strange odor in the area. You
must evaluate all of these and strike a balance in your reaction
(1) Combined law enforcement and fire department training and
to a threat: Overreacting to a perceived threat could result in
exercises are critical to the success of JHAT operations. (Photos
disruption of the event or crowd panic; no response to a real by Ed Allen.)
threat could result in loss of life.
The proliferation of information technology has made it ample, some of the large sporting events at which JHATs have
possible for individuals or groups with limited knowledge and been employed include NASCAR races, Major League Baseball
resources to improvise hazardous materials as weapons of games (such as the All-Star Game and the World Series), and
mass destruction (WMD). Improvised weapons can range from the Indianapolis 500. Some examples of even larger major
simple devices such as a paint can to sophisticated weaponry. events where JHATs have been used include the Olympics,
Safely and rapidly locating, identifying, and evaluating these the G-8 Summit, the U.S. Democratic and Republican National
threats and their associated risks in a low-profile manner re- Conventions, the Presidential inauguration, and papal visits.
quire specialized training and skills; but, more importantly, it JHATs are a proven concept at the federal level, and the
requires experienced personnel. same approach has many applications at the state and local
level for special events that draw large crowds. Some ex-
THE CONCEPT amples of JHAT implementation at the local level include pa-
Joint Hazards Assessment Teams ( JHATs) are organized rades, major sporting events, farm shows and fairs, and rallies
teams that provide technical support for planning and re- or protests.
sponding to threats at special events. JHATs are normally com- The JHAT concept is an effective response tool for public
prised of specialized personnel from different agencies and safety agencies challenged by major events that draw large
disciplines, such as fire, law enforcement, bomb squad, and numbers of people to a concentrated area where egress,
public health professionals. JHATs may also include scientists response times, and crowd control could become concerns.
and specialists from private organizations or contractors, de- In recent years, the cities of Chicago and New York have suc-
pending on the type of event or the possible threats that could cessfully deployed JHATs for major events, and while they use
occur during the events. slightly different approaches to the way teams are deployed,
JHATs have been used successfully by the Federal Bureau their basic concept is the same. JHATs bring together a highly
of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) to skilled cohesive response team that provides the incident com-
manage and respond to threats at major public events. For ex- mander (IC) with technical assessment, operational guidance,
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expertise of fire, hazardous materials, bomb squad, and explo-
2 sives professionals into one cohesive team.
It is important to remember that JHATs are not “mini-
hazardous materials teams”; they are a small group of techni-
cal advisers to the IC. The JHAT is designed to move and act
quickly in a variety of emergency situations.
SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Event managers responsible for the management of large
and special events are challenged by a number of complex
issues and potential risks. Some examples include physical se-
curity, counterfeit passes, medical emergencies, VIP protection,
common crimes, disorderly conduct, weather emergencies,
crowd control, fires, and the threat of a hazardous materials
release.
(2) For a suspected event, fire department personnel can be as-
signed monitoring and detection, decon support, and backup. What a JHAT brings to the table for the event manager is a
highly skilled team of response specialists and subject matter
experts to assist with threat assessment considerations. These
and communications support for identified threats that may threats may be against the event itself and what it stands for;
occur at a major event. the participants; or the guests attending the event, including
VIPs.
FUNCTION Failing to adequately assess a hazardous material where the
JHATs function within the predesignated incident com- threat is WMD can result in injury or death to large numbers
mand structure established for the special event. They of people. Likewise, overreacting to the threat can cause
function in a scientific, technical, and operational support embarrassment and a delay of the event. The empty toolbox,
capacity to the IC to assist in decision making concerning the white powder on the restroom floor, and the guy with an
suspicious packages, suspicious powders, or other types of unusual cane are usually just what they appear to be, but you
problems that may present a hazmat/WMD threat. JHATs can still need to evaluate them if you perceive them as a threat.
also provide scientific and technical liaisons between federal How you identify and evaluate these threats makes a differ-
law enforcement national assets and the local emergency ence in terms of crowd control and event safety. This is the
response community. They may provide support to strategic value that a JHAT adds to the IC and the event manager.
command centers and support crime scene operations. Most A JHAT is just another tool in the IC’s toolbox that, when
importantly, JHATs provide the IC with the ability to dees- used effectively, can help maintain a balance between the
calate an incident when a response is unnecessary and may need for security and safety and the positive outcome of the
disrupt the event. event and convenience of the event participants. The main
The key advantage of a JHAT is described in its name: goal of a JHAT is to provide reasonable event safety and
Joint. The team is comprised of multiple agencies with security without causing participants’ anxiety. Effective secu-
different charters and responsibilities. The legal authority and rity also discourages criminal behavior and provides a safer
jurisdiction of the fire department, the police department, and environment for everyone. In the event of a real threat, the
the health department are unique and different. When you JHAT team provides an immediate on-scene technical assess-
bring representatives from multiple agencies together in a ment capability that can be deployed rapidly, has already been
“joint” operation, you combine a lot of authority and expertise integrated into the command structure, and has established
to deal with specialized problems. liaisons with special operations teams assigned to support the
Hazards. Large public events can present a wide range event.
of anticipated hazards such as a possible gas leak, a strange
odor, a smell of smoke in the area, a suspicious package, or a QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERS
bomb threat. Evaluating these hazards or threats requires dif- JHAT members should have the following qualifications:
ferent disciplines that usually reside in different agencies. • Middle-manager level within his agency with the authority
Assessment. A JHAT’s strength is that it brings together sig- to make decisions as they relate to the mission supporting
nificant technical assessment capability on the front end of a a special event.
special event to ensure that the level of response matches the • Appropriate level of training and certification for the area
assessed level of the problem and threat. During the event, the of expertise. Hazardous materials technicians should meet
JHAT provides rapid on-site assessment of hazards. the requirements of both OSHA 1910.120(q), Hazardous
Team. The JHAT is formed in advance of an event so that Waste Operations and Emergency Response Regulation,
members are trained and organized and function as a team. and NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders
The different expertise and experience of the individual JHAT to HM/WMD Incidents, and have at least an operations-
members bring strength to the team. JHATs bring together the level background in explosive devices. Bomb technicians
www.FireEngineering.com Terrorism Supplement FIRE ENGINEERING September 2009 7
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should also have a hazardous materials background.
• Trained to the ICS-300 level. 3
• Operational-level knowledge and expertise in providing
protection at public events.
JHAT members must have full access or infinity credentials
to allow for rapid access to all areas inside and outside of the
venue. Members should have approval from their respective
agencies to participate and have the ability to qualify for the
proper event credentials. Security clearance requirements and
background checks will be determined by the event manager
or chief of security, but, at a minimum, JHAT members usually
require either law enforcement credentials or a criminal back-
ground check with the National Criminal Information Center
(NCIC) and a fingerprint check.
EVENT PREPLANNING
(3) Law enforcement and fire department personnel prepare to
Special event planning will begin well before the date of the conduct a search operation at a suspected clandestine laboratory.
event. For local- and state-level events, the planning process
might begin six months to one year in advance. For national
special security events (NSSEs), the planning process may be- Technical Advisor. Assign a technical advisor from the
gin three to four years before the event. The Secretary of the JHAT to the IC on all shifts. This individual should be well-
Department for Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for versed in the overall plan, have command experience at the
designating NSSEs, which are domestic or international events hazmat branch director level, and have a variety of the hazard-
that could represent a significant target and warrant additional ous materials skill sets.
preparation, planning, and mitigation efforts. HM/WMD Site Control. Who will be in control of the site
By presidential directive, the U.S. Secret Service is the lead during investigations and response?
agency for the design and implementation of the operations Information Management and Resource Coordination.
security plan for the NSSE. The FBI is the lead agency for Intelligence is an important part of the information package
crisis management, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and to support the JHAT. The JHAT should receive an initial event
intelligence. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is threat assessment from the intelligence cell or Intel Unit and
the lead federal agency for consequence management, which have an established liaison officer between the JHAT and
includes response and recovery operations. the Intel Unit. As the event draws closer, the threat assess-
Most special events are held on private property; therefore, ment should be updated and the JHAT briefed. The closer to
the leadership should be shared by the federal agencies with the event, the more frequent the contact with the Intel Unit
the lead responsibility and the private agencies or organiza- should be. On the day of the event (or the first day of activi-
tions that own, operate, or manage the venue. For local events ties), contact may be almost hourly or even real time, based
that do not meet NSSE criteria and where a single agency has on the threat.
jurisdiction, special events will require multiple agencies to Incident Objectives. Develop written incident response
provide security, fire, and emergency medical services. objectives with each type of major threat category prior to
The joint hazards assessment planning process should the event. These objectives may change and totally fly out
determine the following: the window during the actual event, but at least everyone
• The type of JHAT response organization required to sup- on the Command Team will have a framework for decision
port the mission. making and an understanding of Command’s expectations
• The specific JHAT functions required and area of respon- for response and mitigation.
sibility. Crime Scene Operation. In the event of an actual incident,
• Equipment and resources requirements. the JHAT needs to understand what its role will be to support
• Command and control protocols. crime scene operations or other special functions. Make sure
• Interagency and intraagency communication requirements the command structure and the working relationship among
and methods. public safety agencies is well defined.
• Training and exercise requirements. Laboratory Support. The JHAT will need to define
An important part of the planning process is to determine what immediate analytical support it will require from
the “who” and “what” of the JHAT mission requirements. Some field laboratories on-site or near the event. For a national-
issues that must be addressed during the planning process level event, the FBI’s Hazardous Materials Response Unit
include the following: will provide advance analytical capability; you can expect
Strategic-Level Command. Who makes up command (sin- those responsibilities to be clearly delineated. However, for
gle agency or unified command), where will they be located, a local event, laboratory services may not be as clearly defined
and can you communicate with them? or available.
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Some examples of the skill sets that may be incorporated function periods.
into the JHAT planning process include the following: • Preparation of a written Communications Plan that
• Fire, rescue, life safety. includes planning team members’ name and contact infor-
• Emergency medical services. mation, with copies provided to each team member.
• Hazardous materials/WMD. • Designation of a clearly defined command structure that
• Environmental. integrates, as appropriate, incident command/unified
• Structural and mechanical integrity. command, the incident command post (ICP), and other
multiagency coordination centers that may be established
RESPONSE ASSIGNMENTS for the event, such as a Joint Operations Center and the
Working under the JHAT Response Plan, the team would Joint Field Office.
respond to the following types of situations: • Written Communications Plan (ICS-205), including a
• An actual or suspected intentional release of an unknown primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency method
chemical, biological, or radiological agent. of communicating. Include points of contact for both as-
• An actual or suspected accidental release of any unknown sisting and cooperating agencies in the Communications
chemical or other hazardous material. Plan.
• The report of any unattended package. • For large events or those that cover a large geographic
• The report or detonation of a hazardous device, suspected area, the JHAT may designate an interior team and an
explosive ordnance, or bomb. exterior team.
• Any structural collapse.
• Any confined space emergency. DISPATCH AND ASSESSMENT
• Any fire, rescue, or medical emergency. When dispatched, the JHAT investigates any incident within
Other considerations for developing the event Incident Ac- its respective response area and is normally responsible to do
tion Plan (IAP) would include the following: the following:
• Preevent scheduling for planning, training, and exercise • Conduct the initial rapid assessment.
activities leading up to the event. • Establish initial on-scene command.
• Event scheduling for daytime, evening, and unscheduled • Communicate to the ICP its initial findings.
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• Request, in conjunction with the ICP, the appropriate as planned. However when a bad day happens and Plan A
resources to resolve the problem. goes out the window, experienced and effective responders
• Provide initial recommendations to the ICP regarding will have Plans B and C ready to go based on the contingent
immediate actions necessary to ensure the safety of the events. Operational plans should be flexible enough so that
public. when conditions take the mission in a new direction, your
• Provide initial recommendations to the ICP for remedial safety and effectiveness are not compromised. The big advan-
action. tages of JHATs are (1) the level of experience and training of
• Ensure the IC/event coordinator is notified of all incidents the team members; (2) their ability to adapt and overcome
involving a suspected WMD. problems not anticipated in the plan; and (3) their ability to
function, if necessary, with limited guidance from Command
EQUIPMENT and without communications.
Since the team’s mission is more oriented toward threat as-
sessment and evaluation as opposed to mitigation, most of the Risk-Based Response Strategy
equipment the JHAT carries should be detection oriented. Nor- JHATs should employ a risk-based response strategy to
mally, this type of equipment is kept on a response vehicle; evaluate problems that may be identified inside or outside
however, for special events where security and crowd control the event. This process generally consists of the following
issues are of concern, consider how to discreetly deploy this steps:
equipment in any affected areas. 1. Recognizing and identifying the threat.
Some examples of the types of equipment a JHAT should 2. Assembling the appropriate players (law enforcement, fire
carry include the following: and rescue, public health).
• Chemical agent detection equipment. 3. Conducting a hazard and risk assessment.
• Toxic industrial chemicals detection equipment. 4. Identifying and interfacing with command and control.
• Toxic industrial materials detection equipment. 5. Prioritizing and implementing tasks.
• Radiological material detection equipment. The basic risk response model for JHATs consists of the
• Biological collection equipment. following:
• Sampling equipment that will allow for the collection of • What is the perception of the problem?
liquid, solid, and gaseous forms of chemically, biologically, • From a legal standpoint, who needs to play?
and radiologically contaminated samples. • Conduct an initial size-up: What do you know? What are
The uniform of the day for JHAT members would be deter- people telling you? Identify the outward warning signs
mined by the venue, type of event, and impact on the mission. and detection clues.
The lead agency responsible for security at the event will usu- • If it is not an emergency, turn it off now and get back to
ally establish the protocol for dress code. normal as quickly as possible with minimal disruption. If
it is an “incident,” keep the number of people required to
MANAGING THE EVENT make it go away low profile and minimal.
Executing the JHAT Plan • Deescalate as soon as possible.
As the event day draws closer, the JHAT should stand up
and become at least partially operational several days before. JHAT Lessons Learned
The JHAT should address the following activities prior to Lessons learned from actual JHATs deployments at national-
event kickoff: level events include the following:
• Establishing communications with the ICP and other mul- • Plan for worst-case scenarios. Special events can produce
tiagency coordination centers that may be established for a variety of challenges, including extraordinary crimes,
the event, such as the local and state Emergency Opera- violence by protesters, terrorist attack, street closures, se-
tions Center, the Joint Operations Center, and the Joint curity searches of large numbers of people, and challenges
Field Office. Don’t wait until the event starts to push all to constitutional rights including freedom of speech and
of the buttons of each agency and the coordination center assembly.
from which you will need support. • Be cautious about fielding unproven technology that has
• Event-specific credentialing must be in place. If credential- not already been validated in the field. Like major disas-
ing will change over time for security reasons, all JHAT ters, major events can bring out engineers, scientists, and
members must understand that process. even politicians touting new gear and policies that may
• Brief all personnel on their roles and assignments, and be useful in the future but are still in the beta test phase
stage them. or untested in field operations. High-risk/high-profile mis-
• Link up with your intelligence support. sions usually do not make good test platforms.
• Make sure all of your operations are functioning • Don’t allow agencies to do independent hazmat/WMD
smoothly. searches that are not part of the JHAT plan or have an
Planning and preparation in advance of the event mission operational role. All hazmat/WMD operations must be
establish a framework for how response is supposed to work. coordinated by and through the JHAT.
On a good day, during a real response, everything works • There is rarely a requirement to have personnel randomly
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walking around with detectors. Having serious-looking

people walking around the crowd in tactical uniforms
with impressive detection equipment only draws attention
to you and may raise concerns that there is a threat that
does not exist.
• Make sure you have a plan when the “alarm” sounds.
Based on current intelligence for the day of the event,
write your mission statement and goals and post them for
everyone to see. Five to seven strategic goals are all that
you need for an event.
• Have clearly stated objectives for each operational period.
Some events last for only one operational period, while
others may be one to two weeks in length.
• Complete the IAP for each operational period, and de-
velop a written site safety plan. Ask yourself if the plan is
safe, legal, and within accepted standards and practices.
Although your preevent plan may be volumes, your IAP
should be simple and easy to understand across the entire
organization. ●
Authors’ note: This article was adapted from the textbook

Special Operations for Terrorism and Hazmat Crimes, 2nd edition,
by Chris Hawley, Gregory G. Noll, and Mike Hildebrand © (2009).
Reprinted with permission.
Serve. Learn. Lead.

AMU offers accredited online degrees designed
for students who want to study while building their
● CHRIS HAWLEY is a deputy senior project man- career. Our Fire Science program is the next step
ager for CSC and is responsible for several WMD in advancing your career.
courses in the DOD/FBI/DHS International Coun-
Study the principles and best practices in
terproliferation Program. Prior to his international
management, safety, and leadership with some
work, he retired as a fire specialist with the Baltimore
of the best in the business. Our professors are
County (MD) Fire Department and before that was as-
industry insiders who combine relevant theory with
signed as the special operations coordinator. Hawley
real-world experience.
has been a hazmat responder for more than 19 years
and has 25 years of experience in the fire service. He AMU adheres to the standards of the USFA Fire &
has published several texts on hazardous materials Emergency Service Higher Education Program.
and terrorism response.
● GREGORY G. NOLL, CSP, CHMM, is a senior part- 74 online degree programs including:
ner with Hildebrand & Noll Associates, Inc., in Lan-
caster, PA, a consulting firm specializing in emergency • Public Administration
planning, response, and incident management issues.
A member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, he has 38 • Emergency & Disaster Management
years of experience in the emergency response com-
munity. He is the coauthor of nine textbooks on haz- • Homeland Security
ardous materials emergency response and manage-
ment topics. He chairs the NFPA Technical Committee • Intelligence Studies
on Hazardous Materials/WMD Response Personnel
(NFPA 472) and is on the editorial advisory boards of
Fire Engineering and FDIC.
● MIKE HILDEBRAND, CSP, CHMM, CFPS, is a senior

partner with Hildebrand & Noll Associates, Inc., in
Port Republic, Maryland. He has 37 years of experi-
ence in safety, fire protection, emergency manage-
ment, and Operations Security (OPSEC).
amuonline.com | 877.777.9081
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Collaborative Approaches
to Threats Old and New
BY CHRISTOPHER TRACY law enforcement agencies to share data had not yet emerged,
first responders took a traditionally bifurcated approach to
I
N AN AGE OF INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC the separate police and fire threats posed by Kaczynski and
terror, fire service and law enforcement representatives his kind. Today, first responders can no longer accept such a
along with elected officials and technology researchers compartmentalized approach, and the aphorism citing “two
across the country are working collaboratively to find ways hundred years of tradition unimpeded by progress” cannot
to enhance their response capabilities and better secure their continue, as the threats we’ve faced in recent history and
emergency scenes. those looming on the horizon require—even demand—that we
change the way we do business.
WHERE WE’RE COMING FROM
As we prepare to respond to the pressing issues facing the MAKING CONNECTIONS
fire service today, it’s almost impossible to remember our rela- Whether your fire department is large or small, career
tive innocence of 15 years ago, mere months before the bomb- or volunteer, its charge remains the same: to protect the
ing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building brought the threat lives and property within your community. Your expected
of terrorism home with a vengeance. Although just three years response capabilities may include fire prevention and sup-
previously, six people were killed and more than a thousand pression, medical response and transport, rescues and other
If you don’t take advantage of the

evolutionary challenges as they come along,
the demands of the moment will almost
certainly require revolutionary changes.
were wounded in Osama bin Laden’s earlier attempt on the special operations, even environmental protection, with
World Trade Center, and seven years before that members of public education and arson investigation thrown in for good
the Rajneeshee cult in Oregon committed the first domestic measure. However expansive your responsibilities are, it’s
bioterrorist attack, it took Oklahoma City and the days and safe to say that they’ve evolved considerably over the past
years that followed, culminating on 9/11, to make us truly 15 years and it’s highly likely that they’ve involved far more
understand that we had experienced a revolutionary change interaction with law enforcement than the brief encounter at
and would thereafter be living in and responding to an age of motor vehicle accidents of only a few years earlier. It’s also
terrorism. a good bet that, like everyone else in the public and private
Ted Kaczynski’s earliest foray on the grounds of the Uni- sector, you’re being asked to do more with less. With that in
versity of Illinois in Chicago back in 1978 and his many other mind, and considering the complexity of the new threats we
improvised explosive devices that led to his eventual Montana face, it’s time to reach out to law enforcement, the medical
arrest as the Unabomber, just days before Timothy McVeigh community, and the private sector to develop stronger ties
and Terry Nichols’ truck bomb 1,400 miles away killed 168 and shared resources.
men, women, and children in Oklahoma, barely registered as The evolutionary and even revolutionary changes that have
a blip on the national fire service radar. Because his attacks taken place in fire departments around the country over the
were spread over several decades and his victims were sepa- past few years may offer ideas that you can apply, though they
rated by thousands of miles, and since those communication will require adaptation by your department to fill immediate
technologies we now take for granted that allow local fire and needs and address long-term challenges. Some of these chang-
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es may have come from the top down, lead to frank discussions and improved level, just as mixed company operations
through directives and standard operat- relations. are a standard practice within the fire
ing procedures that articulated a vision From that dialogue, you can develop community. Although federally funded
of collaboration and cooperation held by shared training opportunities, with fire extended scenarios are useful tools at
management; others came up from the personnel taking the lead on hazmat a regional level, the ability to learn and
troops, either formally through chal- refreshers and incident stabilization, law adapt locally is priceless and can be
lenges and needs you identified and ad- enforcement addressing scene safety accomplished at minimal cost within
dressed and then codified into changing and spoliation of evidence, and medical existing training time blocks. Changes
procedures or informally through ideas responders providing bloodborne patho- in response tactics at school-related
and relationships you developed that gen refreshers and EMT recertification incidents are examples of why we need
became established practices through where needed. Develop and hold mul- to train together, sharing strategic ideas
their successful employment. Still other tiagency practical evolutions at a local and tactical resources as we evolve our
changes—and not necessarily the most
welcome or easiest to incorporate—
have come from the outside in, whether
through statutory laws and regulations
or revisions to nationally recognized TruDefender FT
standards and practices, which required
When every second counts, reliable
greater accountability and interoperabil-
ity among agencies.
results are at your fingertips.
Like the changes coming from
within, you must find ways to use these
mandates as a means to improve your
operations and capabilities, seizing them
as opportunities for communication
and collaboration while overcoming the
objections of those who would seek to
maintain the comfort zone of their status
quo. If you don’t take advantage of the
evolutionary challenges as they come
along, the demands of the moment will
almost certainly require revolutionary
changes.
SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES
In the past, fire personnel interacted
with law enforcement only briefly, occa-
sionally working against them in power From the makers of FirstDefender,
struggles rather than with them in part- the revolutionary TruDefender FT
nerships. But recent years have brought handheld FTIR system enables
emergency scene hazards and line- identification of an even broader
of-duty deaths within every response range of unknown chemicals—
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our shared risks and needs at emergency • Complements FirstDefender to maximize
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• Ground-breaking design—fits in your hand, lightweight,
must not blind us to our shared strategic yet rugged enough for field use
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• Fast and easy to use—delivers accurate results in less
and allowing us to perform our duties
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and critiques involving all agencies have • Eligible for grant funding; application assistance available
provided participants the opportunities
to learn how their fellow first respond- To learn more or register for an upcoming seminar,
call +1.978.642.1132 or visit ahurascientific.com/fe
ers operate and discuss how to improve
those operations. Even an informal
invitation to the firehouse for coffee, a
Made in the USA
meal, or cleanup after a messy call can
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approach to such events. WHERE WE’RE GOING
Along with training and routine scene response almost in- Sometimes these newly forged relationships may take you
evitably come special operations, those resource-heavy scenes to unexpected places, whether onto an extended surveillance
where all hands are working. Find the areas of convergence mission as part of a multiagency joint hazard assessment team
with other agencies and capitalize on them, find holes in your ( JHAT) or into the halls of our nation’s capital to work to-
operations that they can fill, and discover ways in which you gether with your legislators toward more effective legislation.
can collaborate rather than compete. Perhaps you can embed Joint operations such as the JHAT response developed by the
personnel in marine or air units, providing medical or tactical Federal Bureau of Investigation are federal examples of the
assets to what had been a law enforcement resource. Or you direction we need to go in, and there are similar models at the
can use law enforcement and medical personnel within your regional and local levels. The proliferation of clandestine drug
hazmat/WMD response team to ensure evidence protection labs and the plethora of white powder calls in recent years
and collection while ensuring the safety of your team. Inves- have brought together an alphabet soup of federal, state, and
tigate the need for paramedic and other special skills within local agencies, challenging our previous boundaries and forg-
law enforcement’s SWAT or clan lab entry teams, and examine ing new alliances as criminal, medical, and public safety issues
your own special operations teams for areas where embedded converge at the emergency scene.
personnel from other agencies could improve or enhance your Recent efforts in Washington to update cellular legislation
response. for the 21st century are other examples of expanding alli-
ances, as law enforcement and fire officers seek to use new
DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS technology breakthroughs to secure scenes more effectively
Don’t forget prevention and administrative divisions either, by working with their elected officials to rewrite laws written
as lockdown drills join fire drills in school schedules; talking a generation before such technology even existed (see the ar-
points for teachers and school administrators may initiate in- ticle “Controlling Communications During a Critical Incident”
teresting conversations in areas where agencies can learn from in this supplement). Friendships first forged at motor vehicle
one another. Some school officials may be more familiar with accidents, hostage negotiations, or public education events
the National Incident Management System (NIMS) than their can evolve into partnerships for change in the public sector.
first responders, and the concept that a teacher or principal By merging our networks and sharing our resources, we can
serves as incident commander until the arrival of emergency make things happen collectively that would never be possible
services is sure to start a lively discussion. Public education individually.
initiatives ranging from Officer Friendly and DARE to the staged In today’s world, first responders more than ever need to
crashes held at prom time are all areas around which you can actively reach out to one another, to other public agencies and
develop communication and collaboration, creating conversa- agents, to the private sector, and to our elected government
tions between agencies and individuals and enhancing mutual officials. They need to hear from us; we need to hear from one
understanding and cooperation when “the big one” happens. another. We all need to seize the opportunities as they present
And just as you use NIMS every day at routine scenes, themselves to be proactive and work with our peers in the
start practicing the concept of Unified Command throughout first responder community to prepare for changing demands,
the year by holding regular press briefings with the media expectations, and available resources rather than miss those
involving public information officers from across disciplines opportunities and having to react to deteriorating conditions
to develop routines and relationships that will serve everyone in an emergency. The lives of our citizens and our peers quite
at the emergency scene. Work with other departments within literally depend on it. ●
your community to establish a safety-conscious approach to
incident responses and daily activities so law enforcement
● CHRISTOPHER TRACY is assistant chief for the Fair-
or medical personnel can address the risks and hazards that
field (CT) Fire Department, where he is a safety officer,
fire may overlook and vice versa. Preplan target hazards and
a public information officer, and the chief of training.
practice tabletop responses with multiple agencies to ensure He has been training director for the Fairfield Regional
that everyone knows what the other will do and expect; you Fire School since 2007. Tracy began his career in the fire
may be surprised to learn of their capabilities, limitations, and service as a volunteer in neighboring Easton and a civilian
expectations, just as they may be surprised at yours. fire dispatcher for Westport and Norwalk before being
Finally, sit with your peers in these other agencies and share hired in Fairfield in 1990; after a decade as a firefighter,
your resource lists, not just for logistical response needs down EMT, and hazmat technician with the Fairfield County
the road but to discover tools and equipment you might have Hazardous Incident Response Team, he became lieutenant
alternate uses for. Find out what they have and how they use and then deputy fire marshal. He sits on the National Fire
it, and consider new applications within your discipline. Fill Protection Association’s 472 Hazardous Materials Techni-
cal Committee as well as the Executive Board of the
them in on your assets, both human and material, and see if
Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Con-
they have uses you never considered. Identify areas of shared
necticut and has taught extensively as a state-certified
need and see if you can’t share the cost as well, using appa- fire, police, Red Cross, and hazardous materials instructor
ratus, equipment, and personnel skills to raise your response for the past two decades.
readiness to a whole new level.
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To hell and back home again.

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Important Safety Information

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agent or insecticide intoxication.
Individuals should not rely solely upon agents such as atropine and pralidoxime to provide complete protection from chemical nerve agents and insecticide poisoning. Primary protection
against exposure to chemical nerve agents and insecticide poisoning is the wearing of protective garments including masks designed specifically for this use. Evacuation and decontamination
procedures should be undertaken as soon as possible. Medical personnel assisting evacuated victims of nerve agent poisoning should avoid contaminating themselves by exposure to
the victim’s clothing.
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Please see brief summary of full Prescribing Information on adjacent page. References: 1. DuoDote™ (atropine and pralidoxime chloride injection) Auto-Injector [package insert]. Columbia, MD: Meridian
Medical Technologies™, Inc.; 2007. 2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs)
© 2007 Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc., a subsidiary of for nerve agents: tabun (GA); sarin (GB); soman (GD); and VX. Available at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg166.html. Accessed
King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc. DuoDote™ Auto-Injector, Mark I™ Kit, February 21, 2007. 3. Holstege CP, Dobmeier SG. Nerve agent toxicity and treatment. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2005;7:91-98.
and the DuoDote Logo are trademarks of Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc. 4. Data on file. Columbia, MD: Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc.
MMT 5173 11/07
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blood pressure increased by 16 ± 19 mmHg, at 15 minutes post-dose. Hypersensitivity reactions will occasionally occur, are usually seen as skin
Blood pressures remained elevated at these approximate levels through rashes, and may progress to exfoliation. Anaphylactic reaction and
1 hour post-dose, began to decrease at 2 hours post-dose and were near laryngospasm are rare.
pre-dose baseline at 4 hours post-dose. Intravenous pralidoxime doses of
Pralidoxime Chloride
30-45 mg/kg can produce moderate to marked increases in diastolic and
systolic blood pressure. Pralidoxime can cause blurred vision, diplopia and impaired accommodation,
dizziness, headache, drowsiness, nausea, tachycardia, increased systolic
Laboratory Tests: If organophosphorus poisoning is known or suspected,
Rx Only and diastolic blood pressure, muscular weakness, dry mouth, emesis,
treatment should be instituted without waiting for confirmation of the
Atropine 2.1 mg/0.7 mL rash, dry skin, hyperventilation, decreased renal function, and decreased
diagnosis by laboratory tests. Red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase,
Pralidoxime Chloride 600 mg/2 mL sweating when given parenterally to normal volunteers who have not been
and urinary paranitrophenol measurements (in the case of parathion
exposed to anticholinesterase poisons.
Sterile solutions for intramuscular use only exposure) may be helpful in confirming the diagnosis and following the
course of the illness. However, miosis, rhinorrhea, and/or airway symptoms In several cases of organophosphorus poisoning, excitement and manic
FOR USE IN NERVE AGENT AND INSECTICIDE POISONING ONLY due to nerve agent vapor exposure may occur with normal cholinesterase behavior have occurred immediately following recovery of consciousness,
THE DUODOTE™ AUTO-INJECTOR SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED levels. Also, normal red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase values vary in either the presence or absence of pralidoxime administration. However,
BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL WHO HAVE widely by ethnic group, age, and whether the person is pregnant. A reduc- similar behavior has not been reported in subjects given pralidoxime in
HAD ADEQUATE TRAINING IN THE RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT tion in red blood cell cholinesterase concentration to below 50% of normal the absence of organophosphorus poisoning.
OF NERVE AGENT OR INSECTICIDE INTOXICATION. is strongly suggestive of organophosphorus ester poisoning.
Elevations in SGOT and/or SGPT enzyme levels were observed in 1 of 6
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Drug Interactions: When atropine and pralidoxime are used together, normal volunteers given 1200 mg of pralidoxime intramuscularly, and
pralidoxime may potentiate the effect of atropine. When used in combination, in 4 of 6 volunteers given 1800 mg intramuscularly. Levels returned to
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector is indicated for the treatment of poisoning signs of atropinization (flushing, mydriasis, tachycardia, dryness of the normal in about 2 weeks. Transient elevations in creatine kinase were
by organophosphorus nerve agents as well as organophosphorus mouth and nose) may occur earlier than might be expected when atropine observed in all normal volunteers given the drug.
insecticides. is used alone.
Atropine and Pralidoxime Chloride
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector should be administered by emergency medical The following precautions should be kept in mind in the treatment of
services personnel who have had adequate training in the recognition and When atropine and pralidoxime are used together, the signs of atropinization
anticholinesterase poisoning, although they do not bear directly on the use
treatment of nerve agent or insecticide intoxication. may occur earlier than might be expected when atropine is used alone.
of atropine and pralidoxime.
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector is intended as an initial treatment of the symptoms OVERDOSAGE
• Barbiturates are potentiated by the anticholinesterases; therefore,
of organophosphorus insecticide or nerve agent poisonings; definitive barbiturates should be used cautiously in the treatment of convulsions. Symptoms:
medical care should be sought immediately.
• Morphine, theophylline, aminophylline, succinylcholine, reserpine, and Atropine
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector should be administered as soon as symptoms of phenothiazine-type tranquilizers should be avoided in treating personnel
organophosphorus poisoning appear (eg, usually tearing, excessive oral Manifestations of atropine overdose are dose-related and include flushing,
with organophosphorus poisoning.
secretions, sneezing, muscle fasciculations). dry skin and mucous membranes, tachycardia, widely dilated pupils that
• Succinylcholine and mivacurium are metabolized by cholinesterases. are poorly responsive to light, blurred vision, and fever (which can
CONTRAINDICATIONS Since pralidoxime reactivates cholinesterases, use of pralidoxime sometimes be dangerously elevated). Locomotor difficulties, disorientation,
In the presence of life-threatening poisoning by organophosphorus nerve in organophosphorus poisoning may accelerate reversal of the neuro- hallucinations, delirium, confusion, agitation, coma, and central depression
agents or insecticides, there are no absolute contraindications to the use of muscular blocking effects of succinylcholine and mivacurium. can occur and may last 48 hours or longer. In instances of severe atropine
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector. intoxication, respiratory depression, coma, circulatory collapse, and death
Drug-drug interaction potential involving cytochrome P450 isozymes
may occur.
WARNINGS has not been studied.
The fatal dose of atropine is unknown. In the treatment of organophosphorus
CAUTION! INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT RELY SOLELY UPON Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility:
poisoning, doses as high as 1000 mg have been given. The few deaths in
ATROPINE AND PRALIDOXIME TO PROVIDE COMPLETE DuoDote™ Auto-Injector is indicated for short-term emergency use only,
adults reported in the literature were generally seen using typical clinical
PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL NERVE AGENTS AND and no adequate studies regarding the potential of atropine or pralidoxime
doses of atropine often in the setting of bradycardia associated with an
INSECTICIDE POISONING. chloride for carcinogenesis or mutagenesis have been conducted.
acute myocardial infarction, or with larger doses, due to overheating in a
PRIMARY PROTECTION AGAINST EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL Impairment of Fertility: In studies in which male rats were orally setting of vigorous physical activity in a hot environment.
NERVE AGENTS AND INSECTICIDE POISONING IS THE WEARING administered atropine (62.5 to 125 mg/kg) for one week prior to mating
Pralidoxime
OF PROTECTIVE GARMENTS INCLUDING MASKS DESIGNED and throughout a 5-day mating period with untreated females, a dose-related
SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS USE. decrease in fertility was observed. A no-effect dose for male reproductive It may be difficult to differentiate some of the side effects due to pralidoxime
toxicity was not established. The low-effect dose was 290 times (on a from those due to organophosphorus poisoning. Symptoms of
EVACUATION AND DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES SHOULD mg/m2 basis) the dose of atropine in a single application of DuoDote™ pralidoxime overdose may include: dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia,
BE UNDERTAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MEDICAL PERSONNEL Auto-Injector (2.1 mg). headache, impaired accommodation, nausea, and slight tachycardia.
ASSISTING EVACUATED VICTIMS OF NERVE AGENT POISONING Transient hypertension due to pralidoxime may last several hours.
SHOULD AVOID CONTAMINATING THEMSELVES BY EXPOSURE Fertility studies of atropine in females or of pralidoxime in males or females
TO THE VICTIM’S CLOTHING. have not been conducted. Treatment: For atropine overdose, supportive treatment should be
administered. If respiration is depressed, artificial respiration with oxygen
When symptoms of poisoning are not severe, DuoDote™ Auto-Injector Pregnancy:
is necessary. Ice bags, a hypothermia blanket, or other methods of cooling
should be used with extreme caution in people with heart disease, arrhyth- Pregnancy Category C: Adequate animal reproduction studies have may be required to reduce atropine-induced fever, especially in children.
mias, recent myocardial infarction, severe narrow angle glaucoma, pyloric not been conducted with atropine, pralidoxime, or the combination. It is Catheterization may be necessary if urinary retention occurs. Since
stenosis, prostatic hypertrophy, significant renal insufficiency, chronic not known whether pralidoxime or atropine can cause fetal harm atropine elimination takes place through the kidney, urinary output must be
pulmonary disease, or hypersensitivity to any component of the product. when administered to a pregnant woman or if they can affect reproductive maintained and increased if possible; intravenous fluids may be indicated.
Organophosphorus nerve agent poisoning often causes bradycardia but capacity. Atropine readily crosses the placental barrier and enters the Because of atropine-induced photophobia, the room should be darkened.
can be associated with a heart rate in the low, high, or normal range. fetal circulation.
Atropine increases heart rate and alleviates the bradycardia. In patients with A short-acting barbiturate or diazepam may be needed to control marked
a recent myocardial infarction and/or severe coronary artery disease, there DuoDote™ Auto-Injector should be used during pregnancy only if the excitement and convulsions. However, large doses for sedation should
is a possibility that atropine-induced tachycardia may cause ischemia, potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. be avoided because central depressant action may coincide with the
extend or initiate myocardial infarcts, and stimulate ventricular ectopy and depression occurring late in severe atropine poisoning. Central stimulants
Nursing Mothers: Atropine has been reported to be excreted in human
fibrillation. In patients without cardiac disease, atropine administration is are not recommended.
milk. It is not known whether pralidoxime is excreted in human milk.
associated with the rare occurrence of ventricular ectopy or ventricular Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised Physostigmine, given as an atropine antidote by slow intravenous injection
tachycardia. Conventional systemic doses may precipitate acute glaucoma when DuoDote™ Auto-Injector is administered to a nursing woman. of 1 to 4 mg (0.5 to 1.0 mg in children) rapidly abolishes delirium and
in susceptible individuals, convert partial pyloric stenosis into complete coma caused by large doses of atropine. Since physostigmine has a short
pyloric obstruction, precipitate urinary retention in individuals with prostatic Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of DuoDote™ Auto-Injector in
duration of action, the patient may again lapse into coma after 1 or 2 hours,
hypertrophy, or cause inspiration of bronchial secretions and formation of pediatric patients have not been established.
and require repeated doses. Neostigmine, pilocarpine, and methacholine
dangerous viscid plugs in individuals with chronic lung disease. ADVERSE REACTIONS are of little benefit, since they do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
More than 1 dose of DuoDote™ Auto-Injector, to a maximum of 3 doses, Muscle tightness and sometimes pain may occur at the injection site. Pralidoxime-induced hypertension has been treated by administering
may be necessary initially when symptoms are severe. No more than 3 phentolamine 5 mg intravenously, repeated if necessary due to
doses should be administered unless definitive medical care Atropine
phentolamine’s short duration of action. In the absence of substantial
(eg, hospitalization, respiratory support) is available. The most common side effects of atropine can be attributed to its clinical data regarding use of phentolamine to treat pralidoxime-induced
Severe difficulty in breathing after organophosphorus poisoning requires antimuscarinic action. These include dryness of the mouth, blurred vision, hypertension, consider slow infusion to avoid precipitous corrections
artificial respiration in addition to the use of DuoDote™ Auto-Injector. dry eyes, photophobia, confusion, headache, dizziness, tachycardia, in blood pressure.
palpitations, flushing, urinary hesitancy or retention, constipation,
A potential hazardous effect of atropine is inhibition of sweating, which in abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea and vomiting, loss of libido,
a warm environment or with exercise, can lead to hyperthermia and heat and impotence. Anhidrosis may produce heat intolerance and impairment
injury. of temperature regulation in a hot environment. Dysphagia, paralytic ileus,
The elderly and children may be more susceptible to the effects of atropine. and acute angle closure glaucoma, maculopapular rash, petechial rash,
and scarletiniform rash have also been reported.
PRECAUTIONS
Larger or toxic doses may produce such central effects as restlessness,
General: The desperate condition of the organophosphorus-poisoned tremor, fatigue, locomotor difficulties, delirium followed by hallucinations,
individual will generally mask such minor signs and symptoms of atropine depression, and, ultimately medullary paralysis and death. Large doses
and pralidoxime treatment as have been noted in normal subjects. can also lead to circulatory collapse. In such cases, blood pressure
Because pralidoxime is excreted in the urine, a decrease in renal function declines and death due to respiratory failure may ensue following
will result in increased blood levels of the drug. paralysis and coma. © 2007 Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc., a subsidiary of
King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc.
DuoDote™ Auto-Injector temporarily increases blood pressure, a known Cardiovascular adverse events reported in the literature for atropine Manufactured by: Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc.
effect of pralidoxime. In a study of 24 healthy young adults administered a include, but are not limited to, sinus tachycardia, palpitations, premature Columbia, MD 21046
single dose of atropine and pralidoxime auto-injector intramuscularly ventricular contractions, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, ventricular DuoDote™ Auto-Injector and the DuoDote Logo are trademarks
(approximately 9 mg/kg pralidoxime chloride), diastolic blood pressure flutter, ventricular fibrillation, cardiac syncope, asystole, and myocardial of Meridian Medical Technologies™, Inc.
increased from baseline by 11 ± 14 mmHg (mean ± SD), and systolic infarction. (See PRECAUTIONS.) MMT 5173 11/07
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Response to Critical
Incidents “A to Z”
BY AUGUST VERNON
1
T
ODAY’S CRIMINALS AND TERRORISTS ARE MORE
determined and heavily armed than ever before, and
crisis situations such as threats, illicit labs, civil unrest,
active shooters, barricaded subjects, and hostage takings are
occurring with alarming frequency. Increasingly, fire and
emergency medical service (EMS) responders are finding
themselves drawn into these types of events, many of which
cannot be resolved or negotiated peacefully. One important
note to remember is that active hate groups and extremists are
in all 50 states.
ACTIVE SHOOTINGS
Mass shootings may involve a response to numerous
casualties; they may be ongoing on your arrival and may be
long-term events. Law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel
all share some of the same priorities during a mass-shooting
event. Planning and interagency cooperation should be
paramount. Several issues need to be addressed during the (1) Tactical team training on CBRNE operations. (Photos by author.)
planning phase. Law enforcement will need fire and EMS cov-
erage and equipment (vehicles, ladders, breaching tools, fire of firearms for many different missions, including kidnapping,
extinguishers, trauma packs) during the event. EMS may need drive-by shootings, and assassinations.
to provide tactical medics and set up several triage areas away
from the scene. Law enforcement will need to provide security BODY ARMOR
and “over watch” for the fire and EMS units entering the “hot Does your agency provide body armor for responders? Do
zone” or crime scene. There is tremendous need for an im- you have access to body armor in a crisis situation such as
mediate coordinated effort among all agencies to ensure a safe a mass shooting or civil unrest in your community? This is a
and effective response. Responder safety is paramount. topic of increasing debate among the fire and EMS commu-
One excellent tool to assist public safety agencies in planning nity. Body armor can be an essential part of a fire and EMS
for mass shootings is the “Wanton Violence at Columbine High responder’s personal protective equipment (PPE) ensemble.
School Technical Report,” available from the Federal Emergency Old “hand-me-downs” from the military and law enforcement
Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/ agencies may not always be the best choice, as the armor
applications/publications/tr128.cfm. This report is an in-depth
_______________________ may be severely damaged/worn out, and this practice could
analysis of the fire and EMS operations and the overall response also open your agency up to legal actions in the case of some
to the assault on Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, type of incident. Some jurisdictions provide no armor, some
on April 20, 1999. Incident command, special operations, and provide all staff with armor, and others provide armor to only
mass-casualty emergency medical services are featured. This re- those fire EMS units that routinely respond to a large number
port is available at no cost and also comes with a CD-ROM con- of shootings and stabbings. The cost of body armor can be
taining audio and video clips compiled by the Jefferson County prohibitive; it starts at around $800 per unit. If your agency
Sheriff’s Office. The report contains a wealth of information and is looking into purchasing armor, it is important to do careful
numerous lessons learned to assist with the planning process. research into the topic, as there are numerous types and levels
It is also important to remember that several Al-Qaeda of body armor. For additional information on body armor, see
training materials such as the “Encyclopedia Jihad” series and the U.S. Department of Justice Body Armor Safety Initiative at
numerous training videos provide specific guidance on the use http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bvpbasi.
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(2) Responders should be able
to identify the signs and indicators 2
of a clandestine drug lab.
CIVIL UNREST
If there were a report of a violent protest or civil unrest in your
community, how would you respond? Can you deal with the
numerous medical and fire calls that will occur during this type of
event? Acts of civil unrest take place each year across the United
States. Annually, firefighters and paramedics have been injured
during these situations, some of which may include civil disorders,
riots, and protests.
Civil unrest incidents can escalate for a variety of reasons
and are not limited to urban areas. They can occur in several
situations: peaceful demonstrations that turn confrontational,
violence related to major sporting events, concerts and “block rooms, campgrounds, mini-storage buildings, and motor vehicles
parties” that turn violent, political conventions that are dis- (especially rental trucks). Law enforcement raids on illicit drug
rupted because of activists, confrontations at “hot spots” such as labs have the potential to escalate into a hazmat, fire, or EMS
abortion clinics and research laboratories, and riots related to response. Increasingly, law enforcement agencies request that fire
racial tensions. Civil unrest events also have occurred at or near and EMS assets be available during the thousands of raids that
college campuses when sports teams have won or lost critical take place across the country annually. Every year first respond-
games. Does your jurisdiction host large or controversial politi- ers are exposed to and injured in these labs. Clandestine labs
cal conventions, conferences, or demonstrations? Past experi- are not a new problem for first responders—fire magazines have
ence at such events as the Free Trade Areas of the Americas, Re- been writing about them since the 1970s. According to the Drug
publican National Convention, Democratic National Convention, Enforcement Agency (DEA), more than 99 percent of labs seized
G8 Summit, and World Trade Organization and International are meth labs. Other illicit drugs like PCP, MDMA, and LSD are
Monetary Fund meetings have shown the need for preplanning, also manufactured in clan labs.
interagency communications, and coordination. One of the problems is meth is very simple and inexpensive
It is important that fire and EMS agencies meet with local to make. Most cooks simply learned formulas from prison or
law enforcement to develop agreements concerning police from other cooks or the Internet. These labs can be full of
support activities during critical events prior to any incidents. toxic materials and gases, flammable and reactive chemicals,
Any civil unrest event has the potential to result in a large and possible booby traps. Another issue that arises is the fact
increase in fire and medical calls. Law enforcement, fire, that one pound of produced meth will generate up to five or
and EMS agencies share the same priorities during a critical more pounds of hazardous waste. As the number of labs in
incident. Planning and interagency cooperation for any event the United States increases, it is important that first respond-
should be paramount. Several of the same issues that arise ers receive some type of awareness level training so they are
with mass shooting need to be addressed for these events. able to recognize the components of a lab and call for the
Law enforcement, again, will need fire and EMS coverage proper assistance. Emergency responders in rural areas are
and must provide security for fire and EMS units entering the increasingly prone to encountering a meth lab operation. In
“exclusion area” or “hot zone.” Tactical medics and triage areas 2004, there were 17,170 clandestine drug lab incidents includ-
may need to be provided. The fire department may need to ing labs, dumpsites, and chemical/lab equipment sites across
assist in extracting demonstrators that have locked themselves the United States. Remember if you think you have found a
into “protester devices.” There will be a tremendous need for a lab, get out! For additional information from the DEA such as
coordinated effort among all agencies to ensure a safe and ef- maps of reported labs and clan lab indicators, see http://www.
fective response. Now is the time to conduct a review of your dea.gov/concern/amphetamines.html.
guidelines and procedures.
One excellent tool to assist in planning/training efforts in IED INCIDENTS
reference to civil unrest is the FEMA/National Fire Academy How does your agency respond to reports of suspicious
(NFA) “Report of the Joint Fire/Police Task Force on Civil packages or events reported to involve improvised explosives
Unrest” at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publica-
_________________________________ devices (IEDs)? Each year across the country, there are dozens
tions/fa-142.pdf.
__________ of incidents involving actual and suspected IEDs and home-
made explosives. When responding to an IED or possible
ILLICIT LABS IED event, responders need to become more “tactical” in their
An illicit drug or clandestine laboratory is any laboratory that thinking. When responding, get all the dispatch information
manufactures illegal controlled drugs or substances. These labs you can. Look at the routes into the event. Survey the scene
have been found in single- and multiple-family dwellings, motel for a moment. Keep an escape route to get out of the scene
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quickly. Look at the area where you are parking and staging. • Develop standard operating procedures for responding to
Be aware of secondary devices. Several of the public safety potentially violent situations.
agencies involved in the response to the July 7, 2005, attacks • Develop integrated emergency communication systems
in central London, including the London Fire Brigade, had that include the ability to directly relay real-time infor-
been training for large-scale terrorist attacks since 9/11 and mation between the caller, dispatch, and all responding
stated that the “training paid off during the July 7 response.” emergency personnel.
Several methods of attack and IED construction are described • Provide body armor or bullet-resistant PPE; train on it,
in the Al Qaeda Manual, in terrorist training videos, and on and consistently enforce its use when responding to po-
several extremist Web sites and are easily available to anyone tentially violent situations.
with an interest. Any of the numerous means described could • Ensure all emergency response personnel have the capa-
be used in the United States during a terrorist attack. The bility for continuous radio contact, and consider providing
design and implementation of these devices are limited only by portable communication equipment that has integrated
the imagination of the bomber. An IED can look like anything. hands-free capabilities.
You will need to make several important decisions very quickly • Consider requiring emergency dispatch centers to incor-
at the scene. The National Incident Management System is one porate the ability to archive location, or individual, histori-
of the best tools for agencies to use to deal with these types cal data and provide pertinent information to responding
of events. On notification of an actual or suspected IED, an fire and emergency medical services personnel.
incident commander should implement the U.S. Military’s “5 Cs • Develop coordinated response guidelines for violent situ-
Rule”: Confirm there is a device from a safe distance, Clear the ations, and hold joint training sessions with law enforce-
area, Cordon off the location, Control all entry and exit points, ment, mutual aid, and emergency response departments.
and Check the immediate area for secondary devices.
The response to an IED can be similar to a hazmat re- OPSEC
sponse. Use your “zones of control”: Hot Zone—where the Prior to planning for mass shootings, terrorism, and other
device is located, Warm Zone—where the perimeter will be critical incidents, it is important to think about the informa-
established, and Cold Zone—the location of a unified incident tion that you will release to the public and the media. For
command post and staging. Notify appropriate agencies (fire, public safety agencies and special operations teams involved
EMS, law enforcement, bomb squad, emergency management in planning and training for such events, it is important that
office, and others as needed) as soon as possible. they integrate Operations Security (OPSEC) practices into their
Preparation is the key to safely mitigating an IED incident, planning and training efforts. OPSEC is a five-step risk-manage-
and that includes having a clear idea of your actions before ment process military and security professionals use to protect
the incident occurs. The first step in your preparation is pro- unclassified and sensitive information that adversaries could use
viding proper training to all response personnel. This should against responders or their operations. You must protect critical
include an awareness of the hazards associated with IEDs. You information such as planning and training efforts.
can obtain awareness-level training in a few hours. If there is a Extremists, terrorists, and organized criminals can take weeks
local bomb squad or hazardous devices unit in your area, ask and months to select their targets and plan their operations. To
for its assistance with your training and planning. Most bomb be successful, they need specific information about personnel,
technicians will be glad to provide your agency with training response plans, capabilities, and infrastructures. It is important
on their procedures and equipment, since they will require that the responders involved in planning and training for critical
your support during an actual incident. events identify and treat their critical information as sensitive so
Another excellent training resource for first responders is that it does not end up in the wrong hands.
the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings course in Soc-
coro, New Mexico, funded through the U.S. Department of SUICIDE BOMBERS
Homeland Security. This course gives first responders informa- Every day on television, we see the scenes of chaos and
tion regarding planning for and responding to IED or terror- destruction suicide bombers cause in cafes, buses, and streets
ist events. Students can witness live explosive events ranging around the world. It is a very simple and inexpensive process
from a small pipe bomb to a large car bomb. They then can to make a suicide belt or bomb. The suicide bomber has be-
return to their agency and provide awareness-level training. come one of the few remaining ways for terrorists to effective-
For additional information, see www.emrtc.nmt.edu. ly target their enemies. First responders at all levels must learn
to work together to deter suicide bombers from attacking loca-
NIOSH tions in their jurisdictions and to safely respond to an attack.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health On July 7, 2005, four coordinated suicide bomber explo-
(NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Pro- sions rocked central London during the morning rush hour.
gram conducts investigations of firefighter line-of-duty deaths More than 50 people were killed, and more than 700 were
to formulate recommendations for preventing future deaths injured. The blasts occurred in a span of just 30 minutes and
and injuries. NIOSH recently released report FACE-F2004-11, were well coordinated. These devices were built from readily
which listed the following recommendations for fire depart- available commercial and household chemicals and materials.
ments responding to scenes of violence: It is important for response agencies to plan on how they
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will respond to a suspected suicide bomber, which could be
an individual walking around in a crowded location such as 3
a mall or movie theater. Public safety agencies must also plan
on responding to a suicide bomber event. This type of event
will have the potential for large numbers of traumatic casual-
ties. Fire EMS responders must be aware of the potential for
secondary devices and must never approach a suicide bomber
or the remains in this type of response.
SIZE-UP
On arrival at any critical incident, conduct a quick “wind-
shield survey,” even when a scene is said to be “secure.”
Obtain as much prearrival information as possible, and listen
for key verbal indicators, such as people reporting the location
is a high-violence area, shooting or alcohol is involved, crowds (3) Responders need to continue training on the current and
emerging threats of improvised explosive devices.
are forming, and so on. Typical procedures require that law
enforcement is dispatched to any type of incident that has the
potential for violence, but you may find yourself on the scene used to deliver the device to the scene and the bomb was as-
because of a wrong address, victims coming to you, or you sembled from commercially available materials.
happen to discover an incident suddenly. According to the U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
Any type of violent incident (stabbings, civil unrest, shoot- and Explosives, the minimum safe evacuation distance for a
ings) should raise a red flag for responders to be more aware small compact sedan loaded with up to 500 pounds of explo-
of what is occurring prior to and during the response. When sives is approximately 1,500 feet. Larger vehicles can require
responding, get all the dispatch information you can. Look at up to 6,000 or 7,000 feet for the minimum safe evacuation
the routes into the event. Survey the scene for a moment. Keep distance. Dozens or even hundreds of people may be within
an escape route to get out of the scene quickly. Look at the area that range; you must quickly and safely evacuate them from
where you are parking and staging. Never hesitate to call for the “hot zone” if you suspect a VBIED. ●
law enforcement assistance if you think you may need it.
TACTICAL MEDICINE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

One excellent source for protecting responders and the public The following textbooks have additional information and guidance on fire
EMS response to critical incidents:
during a critical incident response is the use of tactical medics.
According to the International Tactical EMS Association, “These • Special Operations for Terrorism and Hazmat Crimes by Chris Hawley,
Greg Noll, and Mike Hildebrand (www.redhatpub.com).
medical providers can then maintain the wellness of the team’s
members and provide immediate medical care to anyone in need, • When Violence Erupts: A Survival Guide for Emergency Responders by
Dennis Krebs (www.jbpub.com/).
whether they’re law enforcement officers, innocent bystanders,
or suspects.” Fire EMS agencies should look at Officer Down and • First Responders Critical Incident Field Guide by August Vernon (www.
___
redhatpub.com).
_________
Tactical Medic courses for dealing with these types of situations.
These medics have received additional training in multiple sub-
jects such as firearms use, remote site medical care, IEDs, terror-
ism, preventive medicine, tactics, and ballistic injuries. They have ● AUGUST VERNON is an assistant coordinator for
also proven to be a valuable “lifesaver” for military and security a county Office of Emergency Management. Vernon
teams currently operating in Afghanistan and Iraq. returned to this position after a year in Iraq as a security
contractor conducting long-range convoy security opera-
VBIEDs tions involved in several IED and combative engage-
ments. Vernon has been in emergency management
In July 2005, the DHS distributed an Information Bulletin
for eight years and also served as a member of the fire
that addressed the threat of vehicle-borne improvised ex-
service and a fire service instructor. He also served in
plosive devices (VBIEDs). The bulletin states that there is no the U.S. Army as a chemical, biological, radiological and
specific or credible intelligence indicating that terrorist orga- nuclear (CBRN) operations specialist. Vernon teaches
nizations intend to use VBIEDs against U.S homeland targets. courses in incident management, emergency manage-
However, the growing use and frequency of lethal VBIED in- ment, hazmat operations, and terrorism/WMD planning-
cidents overseas is cause for continuing concern. VBIEDs have response. He also provides specialized emergency services
been proven a favorite and effective mode for terrorists to planning and training on critical incidents at the local,
successfully penetrate a target and create injuries and chaos. regional, state, and federal level. Vernon is a member of
Two notable events that have occurred in the United States the IFSTA WMD/Terrorism Committee. He is the author
were the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the of First Responders Critical Incident Field Guide (Red Hat
Publishing, 2009).
1995 Oklahoma City bombing. In each case, a rental truck was
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Detection Equipment:
Have We Reached
the Technology Ceiling?
1 2
Photos by Chris Hawley.
BY GLEN D. RUDNER enthralled with the technology in-

3
troduced. However, in embracing the
E
MERGENCY RESPONDERS NEED technology, have we lost the impor-
portable, reliable instruments tance of taking a step back and analyz-
to quickly characterize material ing the hazards of the incident? Should
hazards in accidents, intentional releases, we look at incidents using a risk-based
and investigations of contaminated approach, or should the available
sites. This need is predicated on the re- monitoring and detection technology
sponse philosophies that (1) monitoring guide the response? Using a risk-based
and detection instruments are critical approach would include understand-
elements of any risk-based response; (2) ing the basic chemical and physical
instruments and technology are tools properties that would help to identify
in improving our response but do not fire, toxicity, corrosivity, and the ability
drive the response; and (3) emergency of materials to release energy (includ-
responders must be educated consuming explosive, reactivity, and radio-
ers and trained professionals to safely activity). By first understanding and
and effectively use the technology and identifying the hazard, the responder
interpret its results while ensuring the can then concentrate on identifying
safety of the public and emergency the specific product. The priority,
responders. This article will review the though, should be to concentrate on
current application and use of monitor- the hazard.
ing and detection technology and its
benefits and potential pitfalls. TODAY’S EQUIPMENT
In recent years, many in the first Detection equipment manufac-
responder community have become turers strive to make products that
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4 5
are smaller, lighter, and easier to use and that offer more
functionality than ever before. This has become a bull market
of attempting to draw in emergency responders to purchase
more sophisticated products for less money. But have we
reached the technology ceiling? Have we reached so far
into the future with these sophisticated instruments that the
emergency responder cannot effectively interpret the data
the instruments provide?
An emerging philosophy within the emergency response
community is that you should take a broader view when
purchasing monitoring and detection equipment. This should
include the application and use of multiple technologies for
the same hazards that are available today. Using multiple and
complementary technology enhances the ability to develop a exposure, and water exposure. The detector should also be
more accurate answer after using a risk-based approach. The waterproof and lightweight, have a long battery life, detect
division should be based on whether you are detecting chemi- and alarm at appropriate levels quickly and accurately, and
cal, biological, radiological, or explosive material. No matter be able to respond to target materials while remaining im-
which material you are detecting and then monitoring, you mune to others that could contaminate or adversely affect
must meet certain basic criteria. the reading.
Today’s portable chemical detector should be of a ro- Competition among manufacturers has brought the cost
bust design, able to stand up to expected rough use. The down, which greatly benefits the purchasers. Some models
manufacturer should include test data for the end-user that have dropped in cost by more than 60 percent—from $2,000
describes the type of ruggedness testing the detector went to $600-$700—making the newer technology much more
through. Examples of such testing are drop, heat and cold affordable. Today’s meters are lighter and smaller, allowing
6 7
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They Expect More Than 80%*

responders to use them in more situations. These units have
Preparation for a BioThreat
newer circuit boards and smaller, more powerful batteries
with technology that is simple to understand and interpret.
Emergency responders have now added additional detec-
tors to the standard four-gas meters in their cache, such as
photoionization detectors (PIDs), with the idea that such
technology will tell you what you have detected. Although
a PID is an excellent device for detection of volatile organic
compounds, many responders do not understand what a PID
does and cannot interpret the information it may provide.
This technology tells us how much there is but not what it
is—it reports quantitative but not qualitative results.
The bar is now set higher for response technology. Because
of concerns about terrorism and a possible chemical weapons
of mass destruction attack, more advanced chemical detection
devices have been made available. Responders have not been
able to keep up with all of the new technologies introduced.
They know how to turn a device on, sample with it, and even
maintain it, but they often do not grasp the entire concept
of how it works. The problem continues when the respond-
ers have to interpret the data from the meter and then make
informed tactical decisions. You Can with the RAZOR ® EX
THE SOLUTION
The solution is training. Most manufacturers provide train-
ing; however, much of it is done by the sales force instead of
Reliable & Accurate BioDetection
trainers with hands-on experience in the use and interpreta-
tion of the device in the field. Some manufacturers also fail
Less than 1% error rate
to update the training on the technology. The user needs
to be able to understand and interpret the data any time he
Screen ten targets in a single run
uses the detector and should be updated on a regular basis
on its use.
Chemical detection has come a very long way from the
days of the coal miners and their canaries. The tools we
have today are the best technology available. But have we Call 800.735.8544 or visit idahotech.com
reached the extent of our ability to use them properly? There to discover how to protect those you serve.
is a strong belief that with proper and recurring training,
the technology ceiling can be pushed up. The key, of course,
is training. We must train on the equipment every day to
become proficient enough so that we are prepared when
an incident occurs. Departments should develop a training
policy that allows each responder who may be assigned the
responsibility to use the instrument to schedule a training
session on a regular basis. Once you have such a policy in
place, the ceiling of technology may not be that high. ●
● GLEN D. RUDNER has been a hazardous materials of-

ficer for the Virginia Department of Emergency Manage-
ment for the past 11 years. During the past 31 years, he
has been involved in the development; management; and
delivery of local, state, federal, and international training *Most other field biohazard detectors have a 20% error rate.
programs. He has authored many public safety publica-

tion articles and is a voting member of the National Fire
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Protection Association and the International Association www.idahotech.com
of Fire Chiefs Hazardous Materials committees.
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Bioterrorism Response:
Does the Way Forward
Lie in Our Past?
B Y D AV I D M . L A D D severely criticized than was the failure to plan and prepare.
AND CHERYL GAUTHIER In retrospect, what had transpired was a national planning
failure. The focus of this failure became the field detection
E
VER SINCE THE “AMERITHRAX” ATTACKS OF 2001, technology; thus, the answer was sought through more tech-
a debate has raged throughout much of the collective nology. All eyes were on the development of an “assay” that
homeland security community regarding field testing worked. Yet, fundamental questions, such as the following,
of biological agents. Despite multiple reports and mandates went unasked and unanswered:
citing a priority of need to develop an improved biodetection • What was/is the role of emergency response in bioterrorism?
capability, no national strategy presently exists. • Why do we need detection at all?
The following commentary offers the hypothesis that we as • What will we do with the information?
the homeland security community, collectively, need to step • How do we conduct testing yet preserve a sample for
back and reevaluate our approach, shifting from a technology- laboratory confirmation?
driven solution to a deliberated strategy. For nine years, the • What level of fidelity is required of field detection?
“national” effort has been narrowly focused on finding the • Who is qualified to conduct field testing?
“perfect” technology without resolving the fundamental ques- • How do the responders in the field and the bioterrorism
tions of what we are seeking to accomplish. Although it is response laboratory work together to better protect the
late, it isn’t too late to take the lessons learned and work to public?
provide America with what it expects from us and what it has In effect, responders were attempting to fill an undefined mis-
invested tens of billions of dollars to achieve. sion with equipment that had no performance expectation, all of
which was not supported by specific experience in the field.
WHAT WENT WRONG The direct result was that responders who had purchased
In October 2001, vast differences in preparedness became equipment for biodetection operated on principles and
suddenly and boldly apparent as communities, institutions, expectations based largely on the performance cited in sales
and states responded to a national panic generated by a and promotional literature. Honest and well-intentioned de-
relatively small-scale bioterrorism attack. In some locations, velopers, manufacturers, and sales forces sold equipment to
well-planned responses using “advanced” detection
techniques were the order of business, while others 1
did the best that they could with what they could
pull together. Every conceivable level between these
extremes was demonstrated.
For a myriad of reasons, those who had invested in
preparedness for bioterrorism and believed that they
were highly capable quickly found themselves under
harsh criticism and their detection methods being
termed as unreliable and even irresponsible. Scientists
and government agencies lined up to literally warn the
public against responders using field detection. The
effort and objective of preparedness was now more
(1) Bioterrorism Lab Director Cheryl Gauthier evaluates

a hazmat technician on downrange sample screening.
(Photos courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Fire
Services.)
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responders to meet what they thought the responder mission The practitioners of this new capability became known as
was without fully comprehending the implications of its use paramedics. The story of how paramedics came to be, the ef-
and need for reliability and accuracy. forts to overcome opposition, and the successes and even the
While we need not revisit the result in detail, it is now clear failures should have served as a roadmap to developing an
that the proverbial cart had gained a substantial lead on the effective bioterrorism response. It did not.
proverbial horse. The essential relationship among public health, Today, paramedics are available in nearly every area of the
Laboratory Response Network (LRN) laboratories, and the re- country, though response times vary by population density. In
sponders and the very effort to develop and deploy an effective the early days, many dedicated physicians were firmly convinced
bioterrorism response remain as the predominant casualties. that it was neither prudent nor possible to train firefighters
Sadly, if the events of 2001 were repeated today, we would and “ambulance drivers” to provide sophisticated medical care
be in the uncomfortable position of advising the American including invasive procedures and the administration of danger-
public that, some $85 billion and nine years later, we are no ous medications. Many others held the position that, although
better off in detecting biological threats than we were in 2001. potentially useful where long-distance transports were required,
In fact, some would argue that we are in worse condition, as this level of care was unnecessary to counterproductive in urban
large numbers of field testing devices have been purchased environments with multiple fine teaching hospitals.
and fielded since 2001 in the absence of joint planning and Ultimately, the concept and practice proved to be highly
training. Such claims foresee a possibility of more widespread effective and has now become the standard across America.
confusion and more frequent disagreement with response ac- Although there is a vast difference from bioterrorism response
tions and field testing results. in that medical and traumatic injuries happen every day in
staggering numbers, the approach, evolution, and deliberate
PARALLELS FROM OUR PAST narrow focus of paramedicine should have been applied or
Older responders in America may have memories of the now should be applied to the development of a national bio-
1960s and 1970s, when provocative advances in emergency terrorism response strategy.
response were emerging across the country. In various loca-
tions throughout America, and supported by a national study,1 A MISSION
a new approach was taking shape to improve survival from When paramedics were trained in those early days, they
out-of-hospital medical emergencies and traumatic injury. were told that it was not their job to cure patients but rather
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the patient” or resolve the entire
2 3 issue—e.g., initiate prophylaxis
of those potentially exposed or
decontaminate a building. The
medical practitioners tell us that
where medical care is indicated,
it need not be initiated in less
time than is required to conduct
confirmatory testing and that
prophylaxis itself poses some
health risks. Decontamination
(2) The Hazard Assessment Field Isolation System (HAFIS) invented by Mass Hazmat for field ana- and clearance of a contaminated
lytics. The HAFIS is a negative-pressure, HEPA-filtered shelter with a disposable liner. (3) A view building can be a multimillion-
inside the HAFIS, where analytical instruments can be used. It’s like a glove box, only bigger. dollar and long-term process. So
it is necessary, then, to examine
to deliver a stable patient to the emergency department. The the appropriate mission of response.
lack of a clear and consistent mission in bioterrorism response As a continuum, the priorities are protection of the public and
is the first fundamental flaw. Absent a clear mission, every responders, collection and transport of a suspicious substance
other aspect is open to broad interpretation and expectation. to an LRN laboratory for testing, and providing the necessary
The mission directly impacts the training and competency of data and materials to healthcare to make its decisions on medical
the responder in both procedures and technology. The mission treatment. An aspect of protecting the public that must also be
also drives what technology is needed and its performance addressed in the strategy is the support of criminal investigations
requirements. The mission should be scalable, proving an ap- through the preservation of the potential crime scene/evidence
propriate and sustainable capability level that can be assumed and support to law enforcement in investigative operations.
and targeted in large, resource-rich and high-risk jurisdictions The stabilization activities required of the responder mostly
through small, low-probability rural communities.2 revolve around public protection and “short-term tactical decision
By analogy, the hazmat responder’s mission is not to “cure making.” Among the decisions are matters such as the following:
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Issues and Answers
As the deliberation of field biodetection has evolved, the sought to address each of the issues and to train its hazmat
objections/issues have become clear and consistent. In a four- teams in effective procedures for sampling and field testing.
year development and training project, the Massachusetts The table below provides a crosswalk of the issues and how
Department of Fire Services and the Bio-Terrorism Response they were addressed in the Massachusetts Joint Biological
Laboratory of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Threat Response System (JBTRS):
ANSWERS (FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS

ISSUES/CLAIMS JOINT BIOLOGICAL THREAT RESPONSE SYSTEM)
Lack of independent evaluation of kits. • Assay used was evaluated and received AOAC approved method for anthrax.
Users have no data regarding the actual perfor-
mance of the instruments.
Consequences of false positives • All samples are sent to the lab as a priority. Thus, a false negative has no more
and false negatives. impact than not testing in the field would.
The reliability of field testing is far less than that of • Field testing occurs only on credible events to reduce the number of possible
laboratory testing. Reliance on field testing carries a false positive results.
risk of unnecessary actions (false positive) or missed • Results are not termed positive, only as an “increased index of suspicion.”
events (false negative). • Field results are used for short-term tactical decision support and internal
alerting of resources.
Important decisions are being made based on • FBI WMD and the LRN are aware of all hazmat responses.
preliminary results from field testing rather than • Direct and frequent consultation occurs between on-scene hazmat teams and
on-scene circumstances and confirmatory analysis. the LRN regarding threat assessment, sample collection, and screening.
These decisions include risk communication, de- • Direct consultation with FBI regarding threat assessment is routine.
contamination, and medical prophylaxis. They also • Decisions from field testing are limited to short-term tactical, as above.
include determination of no threat. • No incident is deemed “clear” without concurrence by the lab.
Lack of training and/or understanding • All hazmat techs are required to undergo a statewide standardized training
of the results generated. provided by the HazMat Division and the LRN lab.
No standardized training. • Techs must pass a scenario-based written test on threat assessment, devices/
Responders are “trained” by vendors instruments, sample collection, procedures and risk, and communication.
to take results at face value.
Need for proficiency testing/competency • On obtaining a passing score of 80 percent on the written test, technicians
assessment. must pass a demonstrated proficiency on ALL aspects of the JBTRS before
There is no process in place that ensures that ALL being permitted to conduct field testing.
the users are proficient in doing the test, under- • Proficiency testing includes sampling, radiation screening, Fournier Transfer
stand the nuances of the testing method, and can Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) use and analysis, sample preparation, testing
interpret the data. procedures, handheld assay use, and documentation.
Lack of quality control procedures. • Field screening, which consumes the sample, occurs only after it is deter-
Responders are not trained in good laboratory mined that a sufficient sample has been segregated for LRN lab testing.
procedures to understand why quality control is • Strict step-by-step methods are trained.
done. Many responders repeat tests until desired • The testing environment is a negative-pressure, HEPA-filtered, “clean room”
or acceptable results are obtained and deplete the deployable shelter.
available sample. • The developed procedure uses a minute amount of sample contained
on the FTIR surface.
Lack of studies factoring the environmental • Understood in the consideration of validity of field devices until data become
effect on instrumentation. available. Until then, the only means currently available to ensure equipment
The effects of temperature and humidity and is working properly is to perform check tests with a known source.
changes to either or both have not been assessed
by standard testing.
Need standards to determine what • Standards are currently under development at the national level.
an actionable level is. • Methods, instruments, and procedures will be adjusted accordingly.
No guidance exists on acceptable levels of detec- • The present system does not seek to determine this level of action based
tion, sensitivity, and specificity as they relate to risk on field testing.
of disease.
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4 5
Demonstrated competency assessment: (4) A hazmat technician

examines a packaged sample. (5) A team of hazmat technicians 6
collects a small sample from a desktop. (6) A hazmat technician
uses two sterile plastic cards to collect trace samples.
• Committing emergency resources for an extended period

of time to the scene, pending confirmatory testing.
• Activation and commitment of additional resources from
the state or federal levels, including law enforcement.
• Prioritization of samples for laboratory testing in the face
of multiple incidents.
• Denying reoccupancy, with its associated impacts on
infrastructure and commerce.3
• Risk communication.
• Identifying for future contact all “exposed” persons. certification is the certification by the employer of competency
If limited to these objectives, the responder mission in bio- without definition or scope. In fact, certified hazardous materi-
threat situations is, as in prehospital care, limited to stabiliza- als technicians vary widely in training duration, depth, and
tion and protection. With this narrowed mission, training and content. Thus, it cannot be stated with any documented sup-
technology requirements become clearer and more realistic. port that a hazmat technician has a singular training standard.
Significantly, for the discussion of detection, modern detec-
TRAINING AND THE NEED tion technologies in use for chemical, biological, radiological,
FOR A NATIONAL STANDARD and nuclear (CBRN) detection have not been in existence long
As the benefits of extending medical care into the field were enough to have been included in the primary training and
recognized, so, too, were the risks. Clearly, the need existed for certification for a probable significant percentage of hazardous
confidence from both patients and the medical community in materials technicians. Thus, new technologies have likely been
the training and competence of those providing invasive medical introduced as in-service or annual continued training, which is
care under austere and critical conditions. To address the critical even less defined in standards or regulations.
matter of confidence, a national training curriculum was devel- Anecdotally, it is widely accepted that the manufacturer or
oped and state certification and optional national registry created. seller provides training for most new detection technologies.
Adherence to a national standard training curriculum and While this is often excellent training, its objectivity is often
demonstrated competency through examination, internship, and questioned and diminishes confidence in responder knowl-
skill performance evaluation were critical elements to ensur- edge among laboratories and others.
ing competency and gaining confidence from the collaborators The complete retraining of all hazmat technicians to a
and “customers” of these services. Although the paramedics single, national standard, hazmat technician curriculum is an
have vast responsibility for a single patient under their care, the unrealistic objective. However, the development and delivery
hazardous materials technicians carry the responsibility for the of a national program of training and certification, specifically
safety and security of populations in the accuracy of hazard and in detection, should be achievable. Given the potential nation-
risk analysis and in the responsible use of information. al implications of reported results from advanced detection
Generally, it can be assumed that hazardous materials tech- technologies, the ability of a responder organization to report
nicians undergo a certification process at the conclusion of that detection methods were conducted, interpreted, and acted
training. In accordance with Occupational Health and Safety on in accordance with a standard that is accepted and familiar
Administration regulations,4 however, the only recognized nationally will prevent or limit the present conflict and as-
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sumed inaccuracy. Removing the doubt and lack of confidence
expressed by laboratories and public health will improve
TOWN MEETING
public confidence and thereby its sense of security. On September 12, 2008, a Town Meeting was convened
An additional lesson learned from the past should be applied in Rockville, Maryland, as part of the Stakeholders Panel
with regard to who provides training in sampling and detection. on Agent Detection Assays project for the Department
In the early days of paramedicine, the very nurses and physicians of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology. The
meeting offered five “warrant” articles that were debated
who would be working with the paramedics in day-to-day prac-
and voted on by the assembled body of responders, sci-
tice provided training. The trainers were often the same clinicians
entists, public health organizations, and federal agencies.
who would be communicating with them by radio, recommend-
The results were expanded into a “white paper” and for-
ing or directing care and receiving patients and continuing that warded to the new administration as a consensus on the
care. The mutual trust and confidence gained during training desired direction. The approved “articles” are as follows:
then translated to the communication and trust in actual emer-
gencies. Since hazmat teams responding to bioterrorism threat ARTICLE #1
incidents are effectively an extension of the LRN laboratory, this Should DHS expand its effort to coordinate the develop-
principle should strongly carry into detection training. ment of CBRNE detection technologies and devices?
The LRN lab for the jurisdiction being trained must be ac- 78 in favor, none opposed.
tively involved in the training. Such involvement clearly creates The motion passed.
the desired understanding, trust, and communication between
the lab and the hazmat team.5 By extension, the Association of ARTICLE #2
Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is a well-suited and logi- Should DHS develop, in collaboration with other agen-
cal home for the national delivery and certification. The APHL cies, standardization organizations, and industry, a pro-
includes chemical and biological laboratories and presently gram to qualify detection technologies and devices by an
delivers training to laboratories under contract to the Centers independent third party and make this program available
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a national vehicle, to the private sector as a best practice?
delivering training in conjunction with local or regional LRN Sub-Article:
laboratories, the APHL would be in a position to support the Once the program is available, detection technologies
validity of training conducted in one region to all regions and and devices must be qualified prior to their purchase by
thereby support national confidence in the strategy. grantees and federally regulated venues.
56 in favor, 32 opposed.
The motion passed.
TECHNOLOGY, THE LAST FRONTIER
It’s not by accident that technology appears here, as the last
ARTICLE #3
portion of a strategy. This placement is largely because tech-
nologies, or devices, have driven our response to such a degree In cooperation with other agencies, should DHS lead the
development of guidelines and standards that lead to the
that we find ourselves in the current dilemma. For the past nine
implementation of training, proficiency testing, and cer-
years, a successful and coordinated bioterrorism response strat-
tification of the operator in the use of qualified detection
egy has been effectively stalled in this country as we argued
technologies?
over and awaited “the perfect detection device.” Public health 78 in favor, 1 opposed.
laboratories want responders to use detection technologies that The motion passed.
are comparable in sensitivity and specificity with those that are
used in the LRN laboratory. Responders sought reliable, afford- ARTICLE #4
able, simple-to-use technologies that required little to no main- In cooperation with other agencies, should DHS lead the
tenance and limited training and worked under any condition. development of guidelines for SOPs which shall include
Both groups have had to learn to deal with disappointment. the appropriate use and operation of qualified detection
The ability of any field detection technology to meet all of technologies, as well as interpretation and response by
the desired, or necessary, characteristics of responders and the end user?
public health laboratories has proven to be, thus far, impos- 79 in favor, 1 opposed.
sible. It is entirely likely that no single system will meet these The motion passed.
requirements until experience and an active market provide
the means to do so. Moreover, just what technology needs ARTICLE #5
to do remains unclear as the objectives of detection have not The DHS, in cooperation with other agencies, should de-
been defined. Two analogies can be used to demonstrate the velop strategic guidance on standards for CBRNE detec-
technology question: the smoke detector and the defibrillator. tor technologies for use by relevant critical infrastructure
Smoke detectors are highly unreliable instruments when sectors, key resources, and others.
compared with the standards sought in biodetection. The false 79 in favor, 0 opposed.
positive alarm rate of smoke detectors is astronomical, likely The motion passed.
exceeding the correct detection rate on orders of magnitude
in the tens or hundreds. Yet smoke detectors are encouraged,
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and even required in some states, in every occupancy. Smoke technology that supports the integration of all other aspects: com-
detectors clearly save lives! munication. In the comparison provided in this article, the need
When a smoke detector alarms, the fire department does for collaboration and communication has been a constant thread.
not arrive and start breaking windows and spraying water. Communication is the area of technology that has made, perhaps,
The smoke detector alerts us to take protective actions (such the greatest gain in the past 40 years. Yet communication is com-
as evacuation) and to have qualified persons look further for pletely missing in the technology discussion of biodetection.
a cause. So it is with biological handheld assays. In a deliber- In 1967, Dr. Eugene Nagel built the first electrocardiogram
ated strategy, handheld assays may not indicate the need for (ECG) radio telemetry unit from two police motorcycle radios
medical prophylaxis but can be used as part of a risk assess- in his garage in Miami, Florida. This invention allowed a phy-
ment to provide qualitative support for short-term tactical sician to be “virtually” on-scene with paramedics, discussing
decision making such as the following: medical care and actually reading the ECG in real time from a
• Securing a building. remote base station hospital.
• Holding companies (hazmat). Today teenagers carry on televised conversations with each
• Accounting for potentially exposed persons. other from pocket-sized devices around the world—millions at
• Expediting sample delivery and testing at a qualified LRN a time. Whatever the technology, with any level of detection,
laboratory. sensitivity, and specificity to be used, it can be enhanced as a
• Advising more senior officials of an increased suspicion. tool for decision making by adding the means to share its data
All of these actions can be taken without delaying sample with more specialized personnel. This relatively simple addition
delivery to an LRN laboratory, consuming the sample in field can increase the confidence in detection and interpretation and
screening, or actually declaring a “positive” test result. Al- substantially improve the confidence in field biodetection.
though the technology is not conclusive, all of these actions •••
are better supported by testing with some established level of As a nation, and as those entrusted to protect the public, we
reliability. The field test then becomes one of several indica- cannot simply refuse to resolve the issues impeding an effective
tors, not the sole indicator, for the incident commander to bioterrorism response. The “we” in this instance refers to the entire
make decisions regarding protective actions and commitment body of the “homeland security community.” It is vital to this dis-
of resources, pending laboratory confirmation. cussion to recognize that technology alone will not be our solution
In the early days of paramedics, defibrillation was undertaken and that no single solution can be applied in every community.
with great concern. Prior to administering the electric shock, a We must come together, as was accomplished in the ’60s
paramedic was required to obtain a doctor’s order over the radio. and ’70s, to define our bioterrorism strategies from deterrence,
Today, defibrillators are found hanging in airports and shopping through detection, and to recovery. Along the way, we need to
malls so as to be readily available for the general public’s use. be mindful of the need for confidence in each other and, most
We have evolved this life-saving measure from a guarded importantly, from the public and take steps to provide that con-
skill of a specialist to that of a layperson because we found fidence from coast to coast and with consciousness of the effect
out, through experience, that it saves lives. Companies in- of the instant media. And in this process, we will identify what
vested heavily in advancing the technology because there was our real technology needs are, but not until we first determine
a market. The end result is clear: Advancement saves lives! what we need to know and how we will use that information
The development of technology and the testing to prove its to meet our overarching objective of protecting the public and
performance are expensive. Had we not studied the outcomes, maintaining their confidence in our ability to do so. ●
including error rates and losses, from defibrillation, we would
not have advanced this life-saving treatment. Had we said that
ENDNOTES
we could not introduce early defibrillation in cardiac arrest
1. Research paper “Accidental Death & Disability—The Neglected Disease
until a perfect defibrillator was produced that the layperson of Modern Society,” The National Research Council, 1966.
could use, we would never have seen it. No one would have 2. The “low probability” referenced in rural areas should only be viewed
invested the cost of development for an uncertain market. So with regard to target. Rural areas are actually a high probability for clan-
it is with biodetection. To support the development of better destine laboratories, smuggling, and weapon development and, as such,
cannot be ignored or underserved in the strategy.
detection technology, we need to use what acceptable technol-
3. Consider the extended international economic impacts of securing the
ogy exists to meet our needs and thereby gain experience and international flight terminal of a major hub airport, for example.
create a market to support further development.
4. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120.
This analogy should not be taken to imply that we should
5. Based on the Massachusetts experience in the development of the Joint
embrace every device or technology. We should independently Biological Threat Response System.
test every technology used to influence decision making in
a potential bioterrorism scheme to established and accepted ● DAVID M. LADD is the director of the Hazardous
performance standards. It is not sufficient to market a device by Materials/Counter Terrorism Response Division for the
saying it was “evaluated” by a particular user (e.g. military) as the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
methods, parameters, and intended use may not be the same for ● CHERYL GAUTHIER, MA, MT (ASCP, NCA), is the
civil responders and the protection of the general public. director of the Bioterrorism Response Laboratory for the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Throughout this debate, we have also overlooked an area of
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Controlling
Communications
During a Critical Incident
BY GARY MACNAMARA ter preparing and planning for the secondary change, we have
to convince others that they themselves must change to pre-
I
F YOU HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED IT YET, YOU WILL. SOME vent themselves from becoming victims of crime, by protecting
day, somewhere, as your department responds to an themselves and their money, as a result of the original change.
incident, it will be there. Beyond the perimeters, past the Some people fear change, worrying about the unknown.
emergency response teams and hazmat teams, past the media, Others resist change, fearing it will disrupt established
the police officers, the firefighters, and the crowds. It just may processes or rules. The events of February 12, 2002, on the
change how you respond and how successful the outcome. campus of Fairfield University in Connecticut revealed what
What is it—a new threat, gang, or crime trend? No. A new can happen when there is resistance to change. The incident
weapon, explosive, or hazardous material? No. It is the cellular began when a former student entered a classroom, claimed to
telephone. have a bomb, and refused to let anyone leave. It ended almost
With the increase in the use of cellular telephones, from eight hours later when the subject released the final hostage
33.8 million in 1995 to 270.3 million in 2008, according to the of the original 28 and surrendered.
Cellular Telephone Industry Association, emergency respond- As the hostage negotiator, conducting my first negotiation,
ers now more than ever are going to confront their use while I remembered my training, “Isolate to negotiate.” It always
responding to an incident. This applies not only to telephones looks so easy in the movies: Police respond, cut the phone
but also to all cellular devices—sym lines, and control all communications
cards, wireless cards, and the myriad 1 with the subject. This was different.
other devices using our frequencies. Could 27 students and a professor,
What you may also discover is how held in the classroom, possibly mean
ill-prepared and ill-equipped we are to 28 cell phones were in the classroom?
properly address threats and to safely Although the negotiations wouldn’t
resolve incidents involving the use of initially answer that question, they
these devices. gradually revealed that whether it
Cellular devices have changed all our was one or 27 cell phones in that
lives in so many ways. Some changes classroom, cell phones were a disrup-
have caused other changes, such as tion and a hazard to the safety of the
new laws created to prevent driver dis- students held in the room and to the
traction. New technology always seems (1) Controlling the disruptions caused by the safety of the hundreds of responders
to create the need for change. Some- use of frequencies during a critical incident has outside the room trying to help. The
times that change is easy; other times, proven quite difficult given current rules and threat from remote activation of a sec-
the resistance seems too strong. regulations. (Photo courtesy of ETGI.) ondary device to firefighters and po-
Emergency response personnel as lice officers staged nearby, along with
much as anyone else understand change. We should, because students calling radio stations and the hostage taker himself
we have to adapt to it constantly. Even a small change can calling the media, led to difficulties in handling the incident.
cause responders to react with a great change. We not only My first thought was to not worry about it. Cell phones in
have to adapt to the direct change, but we also must prepare the classroom should be no problem. Cellular phones have
and plan for the secondary change. Although most people been around since the 1970s; there must be a way to deal with
adapted and welcomed the advances of the Internet, investiga- them to isolate the suspect. Sure, there are no wires to cut, but
tors had to change and adapt to the secondary change of the law enforcement technology must have changed with the new
Internet. Policies, evidence handling, and the new criminal cellular technology. There has to be something we can do to
charges were just some of those secondary changes. Then, af- isolate the cell phones.
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Was I wrong? Well, not exactly. The technology has changed; strategically placed improvised explosive devices (a suspicious
the rules haven’t. In fact, it appears that just as the technology package near a critical infrastructure or even a school bus).
has changed to allow for smaller, better, and longer-lasting Are there means to help emergency responders better pre-
cellular telephones, so has the technology designed to disrupt pare for some of the issues cellular devices create at critical
it changed. Just don’t try to use it. It appears the Federal Com- incidents? Yes, according to Kevin Otto of Enforcement Tech-
munications Commission (FCC) has found the change difficult nology Group Inc. (ETGI), a long-time partner and supporter
to handle. of emergency responders: MFDs can be a solution. MFDs are
The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block designed to provide a managed, controlled, and directed area
wireless communications, commonly referred to as multiple of disruption, allowing frequency containment at an incident.
frequency disruptors (MFDs), is a violation of the Commu- Fire trucks, barrier tape, and other perimeter controls can
nications Act of 1934, as amended (see 47 U.S.C. Sections contain the crowds but not the frequencies.
301, 302a, 333). The overall rule makes sense; we can’t allow A contained incident is the first step toward a safe, effec-
anyone to shut down cell service. These regulations, how- tive resolution. Uncontained incidents tend to expand, often
ever, prohibit local and state emergency responders from the affecting a larger area with potentially more victims for a
procurement, possession, and operation of MFDs under any longer period of time. The threat of activation of primary or
circumstances. If you need to disrupt cell service to protect secondary devices, or unintentional ignition by nonintrinsi-
children on a school bus, disrupt frequencies for fear a suspi- cally safe radios and cellular phones, can enlarge a hot zone
cious package in a shopping mall might contain an explosive to unmanageable proportions. And, unlike more drastic steps
set to detonate with a cell phone, or have a suspected hazard- responders often take to cut cell service—including shut-
ous material and fear cellular detonation, you cannot do so. ting down towers, which cuts service to a wide, uncontrolled
Hopefully, this change will occur before the

tragedy, providing a great example of how things
really can change when emergency services,
elected officials, and the private sector
come together for public safety.
These regulations don’t allow emergency services any excep- area—MFDs only affect the transmission of wireless devices in
tions. And don’t think the FCC won’t enforce the rule; it will. If the immediate area and can allow service to be immediately
you use a disruptor at an incident, thwarting the criminals and restored. Communications using devices that are connected
saving the victims, you can be fined for it. to networks through wires such as landline telephones and
Incidents all over the country show how the lack of effi- public telephones, as well as computers with wired Internet
cient, safe, and effective ways to deal with cellular telephones connections, are not affected. And MFDs are designed to not
in a crisis leaves emergency responders searching for other, interfere with the 434 MHz Public Safety Communications
more extreme, and often less safe ways to address these Frequency Band.
threats. The sound of axes, chain saws, and hydraulic cutting Some say that allowing emergency responders to use MFDs
tools permanently cutting a five-foot swath of fiber optic cable will result in the unregulated and expanded use by private enti-
to disable cellular communication is one such example from a ties and civilians, but they are already in use at some restaurants
real-life incident. and movie theaters by owners who obtain them to restrict an-
It is clear that the threats and risks to emergency responders noying phone calls. In October 2008, a Canadian police agency
during the response to more traditional crimes and incidents located an MFD in a vehicle occupied by a Hell’s Angels motor-
have been elevated because of the greater reliability on cel- cycle gang supporter. “It’s ridiculous,” says Otto. “You can buy a
lular communications, including school violence incidents and disruptor on eBay®, but emergency responders are forbidden.”
hazmat responses. The use of cellular equipment to detonate Some also argue that disrupting the ability to use a cell
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is as well-documented as phone during an emergency will limit others from making
the more common use for cellular communication. calls to provide further information to responders. MFDs are
And the threat is not just on the local level. Terrorists have a tool for emergency responders. Every incident requires
used and can use radio communications and devices such proper assessment to determine which tools will be success-
as cell phones to coordinate attacks that terrorize the world. ful for circumstances that present themselves. Having those
These have included hostage situations/takeovers (Mumbai, tools available at an incident will help in the successful and
India, for example) and deadly attacks on public transporta- safe outcome of an incident while limiting the amount of time
tion (Madrid train bombings and London subway attacks, for service is disrupted.
example). Additional threats include the remote detonation of Some even argue that MFD use should be limited to fed-
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eral agencies responding to an incident. By nature, critical It appears that change is coming, but it is not here yet.
incidents are unpredictable and random, and initial response There are those, mostly in the communications sector, who
is almost always from state and local emergency responders, fear this change. They believe it’s not needed, it’s too drastic,
who are on-scene within minutes of the initial incident. Quick or that emergency responders are overexaggerating the prob-
deployment and use of an MFD, after scene assessment, is lem. All of us in the emergency services need to actively push
essential for limiting expansion of an incident to cause more our legislators to support future legislation. Legislators need to
property damage and loss of life through remote activation. hear from us; they need to know of incidents that could have
The incident commander must have the resources to accom- been helped with such tools.
plish this task at his disposal on-scene, to use as needed. To There are plenty of examples of how quickly change comes
not have them will cause unnecessary and costly delays, lead- after a tragedy. Hopefully, this change will be different. Hope-
ing to potentially more injury and loss of life. fully, this change will occur before the tragedy, providing a
What can emergency responders do? We can respond to great example of how things really can change when emer-
these incidents and complain when we don’t have the proper gency services, elected officials, and the private sector come
tools, or we can listen to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, together for public safety.
who said, “We change, whether we like it or not.” To support a change allowing emergency services to use
In early 2009, Fairfield (CT) Fire Department Assistant Chief MFDs or to share an incident where a disruptor would have
Christopher Tracy, representing the fire service; Kevin Otto, pro- been useful, send an E-mail to changetherule@sbcglobal.net. ●
viding technological insight; and I, representing law enforcement,
began discussion and ultimately met with members of Senator ● GARY MACNAMARA is chairman of the Connecticut
(I-CT) Joseph Lieberman’s staff to discuss how to put forth legis- Department of Homeland Security Region 1 Training
lation modifying these outdated regulations. The change appears Committee and instructs on crisis response and school
to be starting, as a 2009 article written by Spencer S. Hsu in the violence. He is the deputy chief of police in Fairfield, Con-
necticut, overseeing the Field Services Division. He has
Washington Post quoted a Lieberman spokeswoman as say-
also served as a hostage negotiator and team command-
ing that the senator, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security
er. He has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from
Committee, plans to introduce legislation that would give law the University of New Haven and is a graduate of the FBI
enforcement agencies “the tools they need to selectively jam” National Academy.
communications in the event of a terrorist attack.
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