News
- Training with the "Can"
- Two Alarm Fire destroys apartment on Cottage St.
- Boat Fire Quickly Contained
- 2 Alarm Structure Fire on Talbot Ave.
- New Rescue Engine Delivered to Rockland
- Vehicle Stabilization Kit Makes Extrication Safer
FD live fire training
Rockland Firefighters recently conducted live fire training evolutions using the 2.5 gal. pressurized water exitinguisher. Crews practiced using the "can" to hold the fire while hoselines were stretched and to conrol the fire so the fire room door could be cloed minimizing heat, smoke and fire spread. The training reinforced the fact that a small amount of water properly placed can provide valuable time to searching firefighters and help minimize damge. The training was conducted at the RFD training site at the landfill utilizing makeshift training rooms fashioned from old trach compactor trailers.
Apartment building held at 2 alarm fire
6/6/11 1612 hrs. RFD responded to a reported structure fire at 1 Cottage St. Chief Jordan arrived on scene with heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor rear of three story wood frame apartment building. A second alarm was struck as first due crews went to work. An aggressive attack via the interior held the fire to the unit of origin, while a second line cooled the nearby exposure and extinguished the extension to the rear porch area. Searches proved that all occupants had safely egressed the building and crews went about opening up and overhauling the fire. Rockport FD responded to Rockland on the 2nd alarm and worked along side RFD personnel to help extinguish the blaze and minimize further damage. The State Fire Marshal's Office was called to assist RFD and RPD with the origin and cause of the fire, which was ruled accidental/electrical.
Fire in dry docked boat contained
Rockland Fire/EMS responded to Rockland Marine for a reported fire on a boat in dry dock.
A Shift firefighters responded under the command of A/C Mazzeo with Squad 3 and a rescue to a fire reported to be contained in a large fishing vessel in dry dock.
The fire on the Alaskan Patriot was started when workers were welding on the outside of the hull, allowing heat to ignite the sprayed on insulation below the deck in the stern of the vessel. Rockland Marine employees flooded the area with Carbon Dioxide extinguishers and called the FD. The responding firefighters quickly assessed the situation and were able to finish extinguishing hot spots and ensure the space was safe for further entry by marine yard personnel.
Apartment Fire at 25 Talbot Ave held to 2 alarms
Rockport Firefighters assist RFD personnel to minimize fire
12-1-11: RFD responded to a reported structure fire in a four unit apartment building at 25 Talbot Ave around 8 pm. Upon arrival A/C Elwell found heavy smoke emanating from the first floor prompting a 2nd Alarm. PD units were busy helping residents escape the building, as crews went to work on the fire. Rockland firefighters were assited by Rockport FD who were summoned on the 2nd alarm. Crews held the fire to the apartment of origin and removed smoke from the rest of the two and a half story structure. The fire was investigated by RFD, Rockland Police and the State Fire Marshal's Office and has been determined to have been intentionally caused.
New Rescue Engine Delivered to Rockland
Rockland’s new Rescue Engine arrived Wednesday February 18th after a two year long evaluation and build process. The new “Squad 3”, as it has been designated, was built by Toyne Fire Apparatus of Breda, Iowa. The new unit replaces two older FD apparatus, a 1978 pumper that was previously removed from service and a 1988 utility body squad. The combining of the two apparatus serves to cut down on maintenance of two vehicles, manpower issues for calls requiring the service of both types of apparatus and floor space in the crowded apparatus bays in the station.
Squad 3 features Waterous fire pump capable of flowing 1250 gallons per minute, carries 750 gallons of water and 25 gallons of class a foam. The unit carries 600 feet of small diameter (1.75”) fire attack hose in three hose wells, 600 feet of medium sized (2.5”) attack hose in the rear bed, 300 feet of 3” hose attached to a portable attack monitor, and 1200 feet of large diameter (5”) supply hose. Squad 3 also features a 15 kW hydraulic generator which powers flood lights on both sides of the unit as well as a Command Light tower, a new capability for the Rockland FD.
The light tower features four 1500 watt lamps and two 750 watt metal halide lamps and raises seven feet above the units cab allowing the operator to make night into day in any direction. To help with winter conditions, the unit is equipped with On Spot tire chains, which deploy small spinning chains to the rear wheels for traction in icy road conditions, this feature alleviates the need for personnel to jack the unit up and mount standard tire chains as has been the practice with past apparatus.
The apparatus is set up to play two distinctive roles, as a fire engine or pumper, and a rescue apparatus. To accomplish these critical tasks the driver’s side Squad 3 has been designed to carry the Jaws of Life, cribbing and blocking, vehicle stabilization equipment, air bags, air-powered cutting tools, confined space and rope rescue equipment and numerous other specialized tools. The unit also features a portable winch that can be connected to receivers on all four sides of the apparatus.
Similarly, the officer’s side (or right side) is set up for its firefighting mission. The rear compartment on this side contains the pump panel, a feature not found on any other apparatus in the area. This feature was chosen to reduce the overall length of the unit and as it prevents the need for the operator to climb up and down numerous times to operate the pump and perform other duties, which has led to many minor injuries in the past. Also, the side panel has no hose connections keeping the operator out of the direct line of fire in case of hose failures which can occur. The rest of the officer’s side contain space for 16 SCBA air cylinders, salvage covers and tarps, power saws, fire extinguishers, hose appliances, specialized nozzles and numerous hand tools.
Squad 3 has seating for five personnel with four of these seats having SCBA mounted in the seatback and tools mounted in the cab near each position. Another interesting feature of this unit is that the driver’s side rear cab door opens to a cabinet rather than seat access as would normally be found. This allowed the FD to mount mission specific electric powered tools in a heated cab, but still readily available for use without climbing inside. These tools include a RAD-57 carbon monoxide monitor for measuring a victims exposure to the deadly gas and a four gas meter. The unit also features large “coffin compartments” along the top sides of the truck for carrying equipment less likely to be used on a routine basis, such as haz-mat suits and tools or other requisite but highly specific tools. These compartments are accessed by a rear mounted access ladder. The unit also carries three smaller ladders in an enclosed compartment at the rear where they are kept out of the elements but still readily accessible to rapid deployment.
The unit also features an attention getting reflective fluorescent yellow and red chevron on the rear as well as reflective graphics on the sides all designed to maximize the units visibility to other drivers. These graphics features are mandated by fire apparatus code as many units and emergency personnel are hit each year as they compete with the emergency scene for the passing drivers’ attention.
Rockland fire department personnel will be mounting existing equipment and training on the new apparatus in the upcoming weeks and hope to put it in service in mid-March. Once in service, the unit will be the primary apparatus for almost every call within the city and will be available for rescue duty through the mutual aid system, the previous lead pumper, Engine 2 will serve as the FD’s mutual aid pumper for mutual aid fire responses outside the City.
The Rockland Fire Department is thankful the taxpayers recognized the FD’s need and allowing the purchase of an apparatus specifically suited to meet the needs of the citizens and businesses of the City and surrounding communities.
Vehicle Stabilization Kit Makes Extrication Safer
A vehicle on it’s side secured with the Res-Q-Jack system.
The system is made up of four telescopic steel tubes that secure in multiple lengths between 36 and 96 inches. These tubes are secured to the vehicle on an angle by two lower straps and an upper connection or chain thereby affixing the vehicle into position. This is especially important where extrication requires numerous persons or hydraulic equipment which threatens to topple an unstable vehicle. In the past, personnel have utilized many other means to secure unstable vehicles, ranging from the use of winches, come-a-longs and rope to wooden blocking. While these makeshift methods were effective, they are generally more time consuming and do not provide the same margin of safety as the new system does.
The new Res-Q-Jack system will be part of Rockland’s rescue arsenal which primarily will be stored on the new Squad 3 which will be in service later this month. As with all FD assets, they can and will be utilized to assist neighboring agencies throughout the Knox County Mutual Aid System.