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Below is information about the Fire Apparatus used throughout
Beavercreek Township Fire Department:
Fire
Apparatus:
What
is a…?
Medic (Ambulance)
Medics are the primary emergency medical response vehicles
for the fire department. These vehicles are staffed with
two state-certified EMT’s, with at least
one being a paramedic. Medics are equipped with Advanced Life Support (ALS)
equipment, including cardiac monitors/defibrillators and emergency drugs. Each
ambulance is capable of transporting one critical patient, or two non-critical
patients to any local hospital.
Engine
Fire engines are the primary first response vehicles for the fire department.
These multi-role vehicles are capable of providing the crews and equipment
necessary to begin handling any emergency that the fire department is called
to. Designed primarily to provide fire suppression, engines carry hose,
water and ground ladders. The crews ride in enclosed cabs and can don protective
equipment safely while seated in the cab. In addition to fires, Engines
are equipped with the same ALS equipment and paramedics as a medic and
can provide the same level of treatment. Engines are also first responders
to crashes, haz-mat spills, and technical rescues.
Truck (Ladder
Truck)
Ladder trucks (trucks for short) are toolboxes for the fire
department. These vehicles are designed to provide all the
tools necessary for fighting fire,
including hose and water. Their size allows them to carry more equipment than
an engine, but also makes them more expensive, both to buy and operate. The
aerial ladder is sized to reach both up and out, so while Beavercreek doesn’t
have many tall buildings, many residences are set back from the road. Trucks
also carry many tools to help minimize the impact of fire on a building, including
tarps, mops, buckets, squeegees, and fans-all tools that help prevent water
or smoke damage.
Tactical
Unit
The tactical unit is a multi-role vehicle. Its primary function is a heavy
rescue. It can be used to handle vehicle extrications with hydraulic and pneumatic
tools. It also has specialized technical rescue equipment and is the foundation
for any special rescue incident.
Its second role is air unit. It provides a compressor and refill
system for the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA or
air masks) that firefighters
use while fighting fire.
It can also be used as a command post. The vehicle has a walk-in
box, which has additional radio equipment, as well as a large
working area for paperwork
and reporting.
Grass
Truck
The grass truck is a small, four-wheel drive truck with a small water tank
and fire pump used for fighting fires off-road. Typically this unit is used
to fight grass, brush, or forest fires, but it can also be used in locations
not accessible to standard fire engines.
Tanker
The tanker is a specialized fire vehicle designed to support firefighting operations
in areas that do not have fire hydrants. This vehicle carries more than
double the water of a standard fire engine as well as two dump-tanks. The
dump tanks allow the storage of water at the scene of a fire which can
be used by a fire engine to extinguish the fire. The tanker is then freed
to make trips to shuttle water between a nearby fire hydrant and the dump
tank.
Squad
The squad is a first response vehicle that supports the operations of an ambulance
crew on emergency medical incidents. This vehicle is staffed with a paramedic
and is equipped with the same advanced life support equipment as an ambulance.
When an emergency medical call occurs, the squad responds with the ambulance
and either initiates care until the ambulance arrives, or provides help
with patient care to the ambulance crew.
Shift
Commander
The shift commander is responsible for running the daily and emergency operations
of the Fire Department. This supervisor responds to any multi-apparatus incidents,
as well as any that may require advanced supervision.
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How
many miles do fire apparatus travel every year?
For information regarding fire apparatus road miles, please see the following
charts:
§ 2004
Apparatus Ending Mileage
§ 2004
Apparatus Average Mileage per Month
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Why
does the Fire Department…?
Send
an engine and an ambulance to medical calls?
Due to staffing constraints, the fire department routinely sends two (or more)
vehicles to every medical call. Occasionally the second vehicle is a fire engine,
but it is usually the squad (a sport-utility type vehicle). The crew of the
second unit assists the ambulance call with carrying patients and equipment,
as well as supporting treatment on complex or critical patients.
Every
fire engine, ambulance and squad are equipped with Advanced
Life Support equipment, and their response is determined by
sending the closest available unit to medical emergencies.
Once at the scene all units can provide the same, high level
of care.
Have
crews at Krogers every day?
Our crews work a 24-hour shift. That means that in addition
to working through the day, they have to deal with basic
human needs as well. They typically eat
two meals in the fire station (lunch and dinner) and will send a crew to shop
for their day’s meals. This errand is usually done with coordination
with other errands that they’re running, reducing extra travel. During
the time that crews are shopping, they are also on-call, so it’s not
uncommon to see them leaving their groceries at the store and going on an emergency
call.
In
addition to meals, the crews also sleep, shower, exercise,
do house duties or chores while on-duty. They spend almost
1/3 of their lives in the fire station, and it is very much
a home-away-from-home.
Send
help to, and receive help from, other communities?
The fire service uses a principal known as “mutual aid” to
assist neighboring communities during times of unusually
high activity. Mutual aid
can be given or received, and is used for fires, emergency medical calls, or
other emergency functions. By utilizing mutual aid, communities are able to
staff for normal levels of demand, and call for help during major emergencies,
or periods of high demand.
For
more information on mutual aid calls, please see the following
chart:
§ 2004 Mutual
Aid Responses
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How
many people…?
Ride
a fire engine?
Our fire engines have seating for four firefighters. However, due to budget
constraints, our daily staffing is typically two firefighters. This requires
multiple engines to respond to a single scene to gather enough firefighters
to make crews to perform firefighting tasks.
Ride
an ambulance?
Our ambulances are typically staffed with two emergency medical
technicians-usually one paramedic and one basic. Two state-certified
EMT’s is a state minimum
requirement. Up to four EMT’s may be used to transport a single, critical
patient.
Are
needed for a car wreck?
A typical car crash (e.g. two cars with moderate damage) will require five
units and eight personnel, performing the following tasks:
- Shift
Commander-this senior officer provides scene supervision
and ensures that all required tasks are performed.
- Fire
Engine-this
apparatus and its crew of two ensure that all fire safety
concerns are addressed, including stopping of fluid leaks,
disconnection of battery cables, minor extrication issues
(e.g. opening jammed doors), and assistance with lifting
and moving patients.
- Ambulance-typically
there is one ambulance required for every two minor injuries,
or every one moderate to critical injury. The crewmembers
assess injuries and begin treatment. They also direct the
removal of patients from vehicles and provide care during
transport to the hospital.
- Safety
Officer-this officer observes the overall scene
and coordinates safety precautions for the responding crews
and the patients. Car crashes are notoriously dangerous
scenes, with the strong possibility of being struck by
other vehicles on the road.
- Tactical
Unit-in the event of more significant damage,
a rescue unit, with a crew of two, may be required to
operate specialized rescue equipment. This hydraulic
and pneumatic
equipment includes the “jaws-of-life” and
other equipment designed to remove a wrecked car from
around
a critical patient.
Are
needed for a cardiac arrest?
A typical call for a person who is unresponsive and is not breathing will require
the four units and seven personnel, performing the following tasks:
- Shift
Commander-this senior officer provides scene supervision
and ensures that all required tasks are performed.
- Squad-this
EMS response vehicle crew supports the ambulance crew during
the cardiac arrest. Typically they will maintain the airway
(breath for the patient) and will perform chest compressions.
- Ambulance-the
ambulance driver will ensure that the patient and crew are
transported safely and quickly to the nearest available hospital.
The paramedic will use the cardiac monitor/defibrillator,
and will administer any drugs required.
- Engine-the
engine crew will assist the medic and squad with carrying
equipment, moving furniture or other obstacles to moving
the patient, and lifting and moving the patient.
Are
needed to fight a house fire?
A typical call for a house fire will require nine units and seventeen personnel
performing the following tasks:
- Shift
Commander-this senior officer provides scene supervision
and ensures that all required tasks are performed.
- First
Engine (Fire Attack)-this engine crew will provide
the first hose line for fire extinguishment. One crewmember
will operate the engine’s fire pump, while the
second will pull the line to the fire.
- Second
Engine (Water Supply)-this engine crew will
lay a large hose line from the first engine to the nearest
fire engine. One crewmember will work with the first
engine’s
crew to advance the hose line to the fire, while the second
will operate the engine’s fire pump.
- Third
Engine (Backup Line)-this engine crew will abandon
their fire engine and pull a second hose line from the
first fire engine.
- Fourth
Engine (Rapid Intervention Crew)-this engine crew,
typically from a mutual aid community, will standby outside
of the building on fire and provide a rescue team in the
event a firefighter becomes trapped or injured.
- Ladder
Truck (Ventilation and Overhaul)-the ladder truck
crew may perform a variety of tasks, depending upon the
situation. They may perform search and rescue if someone
is still trapped in the building. The can also ventilate
the structure by opening doors and windows, or cutting
vent holes in the roof. They may also place ground ladders
or operate the aerial ladder.
- Tactical
Unit (Support Operations)-the tactical unit provides
light and air support to the scene. The crewmembers can
be used to perform any unassigned tasks, and the equipment
is used to ensure that crews have fresh air. The unit can
also be used as a command post.
- Medic (Medical
Services)-the medic crew can provide medical care to any
building occupants injured during the fire, as well as monitor
the health and wellness of firefighters operating at the
scene. If necessary they can transport patients, or provide
first response care while another unit is called for the
transport.
- Safety
Officer-this officer ensures that all crews operating
at the fire scene is accounted for and working properly.
The safety officer has the authority to stop or correct
any unsafe act that occurs.
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