This month, we proudly present our annual Fire Truck Issue. It sure makes you feel good when you and the members of your department, having spent all the time, effort and money to purchase a new apparatus, have that apparatus and equipment work well and just as you expected under actual fire conditions. Recently, my department responded to a reported car fire in a garage. Upon my arrival, heavy fire was venting upward to involve the front of a 2 1/2-story house, fed by two fully involved cars in a garage under the house. With a minimum crew of members who had been out on driver training, the fire was quickly knocked down when the water tank was dumped through the deck gun on the apparatus.
Plans for handling everything from a trash can fire to almost a nuclear war can be handled by our firefighters utilizing versatile fire apparatus. It sure seems like it was well worth the time and money spent on that apparatus and equipment when things go right.
Knocking down fire and limiting fire extension is what this business is all about. On page 48 we present an article aimed at helping firefighters after they have purchased a vehicle and are preparing for a factory visit. We spotlight the procedures they should use when going to inspect their vehicle on the assembly line. The vehicle will be in service for many years so you should make sure everything is the way you ordered it from the beginning.
Our annual feature, Road Warriors, showcases the latest and greatest fire apparatus around the nation and can be found on page 36. A new feature, Apparatus Inventory, can be found on page 58. This month we took a look at the apparatus fleet of the Phoenix Fire Department. A wide variety of apparatus to fit the department's specific needs and response area is shown. Speaking of apparatus, we also present a feature on cranes used in the worldwide fire service. Included are several fire department cranes from Europe, where they have been in service for many years. Recently, these special units have found themselves becoming more prevalent in the U.S. fire service.
Ladder Company Captain Robert Morris continues his look at the truck company and its fireground mission on page 66. I was watching a TV newscast one night and saw three firefighters dive head first out a second-floor window down a portable ladder at a two-alarm fire on Thanksgiving Day. I was amazed as I wondered how could they have read an article by Syracuse, NY, Rescue Captain Mark McLees about escaping from a burning building in the same manner before we published it. Those firefighters apparently had to dive through the window out of necessity. See page 70 for this article on how to get out alive if you get into a tough spot.
The fireground can be a dangerous place. The NFPA estimates that during 1995, we went out the door to help somebody about 16.4 million times. I'm sure there were more than a few close calls.
