The amount of equipment carried on apparatus varies greatly among departments. I think it is safe to say that, regardless of the department, fire apparatus carry more equipment today than ever before, with a few rare exceptions.
This is likely because we have evolved from being just a fire department to an all-hazards response department. All the fire equipment is still needed, but we also need a lot of other equipment.
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I often marvel at apparatus manufactured more than 70 years ago that had no compartments or four small compartments. The overall height, width, and length of the apparatus was less than that of today’s half-ton four-door pickup trucks with an 8-foot bed. And many of today’s trucks can be likened to container boxes on wheels, except they look a lot better. This creates challenges in accessing the rigs, both for equipment and for firefighters to enter and egress from the cabs. As apparatus got taller, manufacturers realized that firefighters needed steps to climb on top. The initial answer was the small fold-up steps that were no more than “toeholds.” Eventually, the National Fire Protection Association set minimum step size requirements.
You may be thinking, what does this have to do with safety? It has a lot to do with safety. There have been many firefighter injuries and a few fatalities resulting from firefighters trying to access apparatus. Back in the day, as my department’s health and safety officer, I recall three left-shoulder injuries that occurred within about a six-month period. These were a bit odd in that none could be tied to an emergency incident. More noteworthy was that all of them occurred to drivers and operators and all impacted personnel were placed on light duty. I decided to interview each of them to see if there was a common denominator. Anecdotally, we surmised that the injuries were due to the repetitive motion of grabbing the steering wheel while climbing into the driver’s seat. Naturally, the steering wheel would move when grabbed and tugged. This led to the idea of installing a fixed grab handle on the left side of the windshield post.
Also, back in the day, my department suffered a firefighter line-of-duty death from a pulmonary embolism due to a blood clot from knee surgery. The surgery was required to fix damage done to the knee when the firefighterwas climbing on the apparatus to help pull hose from the back of the rig.
The ultimate goal would be to design apparatus so there is never a need to climb on it, and all equipment could be easily accessed from the ground. But, this is not likely to happen, as it is not feasible based on what we know and do today. So, the next best thing is to design and arrange equipment to minimize the need to climb and to make any needed climbing as safe as possible.
For the best climbing design, there should always be three points of contact with the feet and hands. For example, firefighters should keep both feet and one hand or both hands and one foot in contact with the apparatus at all times. The steps and standing surfaces must be slip-resistant and with drain holes to minimize water accumulation. Grab rails and grab handles must also be slip resistant to wet gloves.
Equipment organization is also critical. There are companies that specialize in equipment mounting hardware and sliding compartment trays. If sliding trays are mounted a bit high, having a design with a tray that tilts when fully extended is an immense help. Of course, ladder racks have been common for several years, and they make total sense. I have even seen a hosebed that extends backward and lowers to a level where the hose can be stowed while you stand on the ground.
Remote-controlled deck guns can also be used to reduce the need to climb aboard an apparatus. Speaking of remote controlled, the day of the remote-controlled pump panelbecoming common cannot be far from reality. Does this eliminate the desire for a top-mount pump panel? An extended front bumper with a preconnected 1 3/4-inch line will handle so many fires, and reloading the hose can be accomplished from the ground level.
Of course, all steps and standing surfaces should be well lit, including the ground around the apparatus. This ground lighting must be activated any time a cab door is open and must remain lit throughout an event scene.
Another feature we may see becoming common in the future is the ability to lower the entire apparatus when parked, like a lot of transit buses do today. It also appears that all-electric fire trucks, without diesel backup, are easily designed to be lower to the ground.
When requiring a new apparatus, be sure to take equipment accessibility into account with your specifications. And, look at your existing apparatus to see if accessibility can be improved.
ROBERT TUTTEROW retired as safety coordinator for the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department and is a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. His 44-year career includes 10 as a volunteer. He has been very active in the National Fire Protection Association through service on the Fire Service Section Executive Board and technical committees involved with safety, apparatus, and personal protective equipment. He is a founding member and president of the Fire Industry Education Resource Organization (F.I.E.R.O.).
