Over 350 chiefs, fleet supervisors, EVTs, and safety officers attend the week long Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) 29th Annual Apparatus Symposium and Safety Conference in Orlando, FL.
Pre-conference programs on apparatus specification writing and fire pumps ran concurrently with testing for Incident Safety Officers, Health & Safety Officers.
The opening of the 29th Annual Apparatus Symposium began with the presentation of the 2016 Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year Award to Robert Corsi, chief mechanic, Cranston, RI, by John Slawson, president Spartan Motors, and co-presented by the FDSOA and Firehouse.
In the keynote address, “Even You Can Be a Hero,” Chief Steve Pegram, Goshen, Ohio, shared a difficult story of his wife’s battle with lung disease and heroic journey for a double lung transplant. Pegram’s story of “faith, family, friends and fire department” was inspirational and emotional. “Without heroes and without organ donors, more than 35,000 die waiting for an organ,” said Pegram. “Do the right thing. Sign up to be an organ donor at www.donatelife.net.”
In NFPA Updates, Ken Holland, Senior Emergency Services Specialist at NFPA, reviewed how a standard is created and revised. Holland reviewed updates on several NFPA Standards including NFPA 1901, 1906, 1917, 1911, 1912 and 1500. In Holland explained the process and encouraged attendees to participate on an NFPA Committee or join a Task Group. “NFPA membership is not required for any opportunity,” Holland said.
In the “Boston Apparatus Experience,” Ralph Craven, consultant, Robert Calobrisi, deputy chief, and Lt. James O’Brien, fleet manager, Boston Fire Department, reviewed the problems that have brought Boston Fire Department shops to a state of crisis, resulting in an apparatus fatality. As a result of Boston’s new mayor, fire commissioner and renewed working relationship with labor, Ralph Craven was brought in to review and make recommendations for the Boston fleet and shops.
Thirty years after winning the Joe Tynan versus Peter Pirsch Company, Neil Rossman provided an update on the continuing efforts to keep emergency personnel safe in emergency vehicles. Following three specific firefighter fatalities due to poor designs and lack of apparatus maintenance, Rossman continues to monitor line of duty deaths and expressed concern for volunteer firefighters responding in person vehicles at high rates of speed and adrenalin.
Mark Ober, chief, Anderson, Ohio, Township Fire & EMS, taught “Office for the Day” on designing safety in ambulances. “What’s a chief look for in an ambulance? Durability, service after sale, fuel consumption, how many personnel will it hold, how much will it cost and can it be re-mounted?” Ober said.
Other popular classes included one on winches by Steve Stein, Superwinch, and Steve Martin, ESI Equipment; Fleet Replacement Challenges by Brian Brown, deputy chief, South Metro, Colo., Fire Rescue Authority; and Building Apparatus to Fit the Users by Gordon Routely.
In a joint session of attendees from the final Apparatus Symposium session and beginning Safety Forum Wednesday morning, Dr. David Griffin, a captain with the city of Charleston, SC, Fire Department, held a captive audience with his story of his role as operator of the first due engine on June 18, 2007 to the Super Sofa Store fire that killed nine of his fellow firefighters. Griffin, author of “In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change…” told of the journey of recovery and healing from that horrific day.
The 30th annual Apparatus Symposium will be held in Scottsdale, January 15-17, 2018, and at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.
