When Pumper No. 3, the main response vehicle at the Stephenville Fire Department, races to an emergency in the future, it will be accompanied by a partner vehicle that promises to make the firemen’s work much more efficient.
The town council recently took delivery of a 1991 International rescue support truck, purchased from a New Brunswick company, Eastcam, for $55,000, plus tax.
“This is a very well-equipped and much-needed vehicle that we’ve been wanting to get for years,” says Fireman Andrew Pilgrim. “ It holds a lot of tools that will really enhance our work at the scene.”
Features
A major feature of the new vehicle is the space in the back of the truck for a command centre. This is where the fire chief will have instant access to radios, telephones and other communications devices, enabling them to be in constant contact with his firefighters and support personnel as they control the emergency scene.
Another significant feature is the provision for lighting. Four large floodlights, mounted on each of the four corners will “pretty well turn night into day” for the responders when the vehicle is parked at the site of an emergency, says Mr. Pilgrim.
Two of the floodlights are mobile so they can be removed from the truck and mounted on tripods as required.
“This is a major advantage for nighttime fire fighting, car accident scenes and other emergency situations,” he says.
A third feature of the rescue support truck is the storage compartment for bunker gear used by the fireman.
“There’s lots of space here for a large amount of bunker gear,” notes Mr. Pilgrim.
This ensures that all of the gear the fire fighters need gets to the scene. Previously, firefighters would have to bring the gear in their private cars or pick it up at the station. Now, once they arrive on the scene, all the gear will be readily available. “Everything we need is there,” notes Mr. Pilgrim. “We won’t have to go looking for anything.”
The vehicle is equipped with two 200-foot electrical cables, one on each side and each with the capability of powering up anything electrical that would be required at an emergency scene. Plus the truck has an onboard diesel generator, capable of providing 120 or 240-watt service, which will ensure a ready source of power whenever it is required.
An electrical hydraulic pump, with 100 feet of hose on board and much more available, can operate tools used for extrication and penetration. It will operate such equipment as the jaws-of-life rescue apparatus. It enables fire fighters to cut doors off cars, cut through steel doors of commercial establishments, and do other similar tasks.
A 100-foot air hose, mounted on the rear of the truck, is intended to handle any kind of pneumatic tool including those used for such tasks as lifting vehicles and stabilizing them, says Mr. Pilgrim. There is also, located on the front, a heavy-duty winch for hoisting purposes.
Once the fire chief has designed the truck for its local uses, necessary training will take place.
“The firefighters are already trained on the individual pieces of equipment,” says Mr. Pilgrim. “So it is just a matter of becoming familiar with where each item will be situated on the vehicle and how it will be handled.”
Eight full-time members make up the Stephenville Fire Department and about 20 auxiliary fire fighters provide support as needed.
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