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Here's my reply to a question from a NY State fire officer working on specs for a new rescue truck for their city department.
Question:
"Chief, just wondering if you had a preference of where to locate the extrication equipment (cutters and spreaders) on a Heavy rescue? We are in the process of building a new Heavy Rescue and we have conflicting opinions. Some REALLY want the tools in the front bumper. I am suggesting to put them in the rear compartment preconnected to hose reels. Any input would be appreciated."
My Reply:
I think over the past few years, the trend has been to extend the front bumper and have a reel there for a cutter and another reel there for a spreader. In between these reels, I see departments mount the two tools and a set of irons. With a front setup, the rescue vehicle blocks and crews work off the front which is most likely protected from moving traffic.
If you go with a rescue compartment on one side or the other of the apparatus, then you have to work out a way to get hoses or equipment from one side of the rig to the other if the crashed cars are on the opposite side of your rig. You'd probably need 00' reels to get all the way around your unit and still have working lengths of hose. On our Trucks in McKinney, we established a rescue compartment on the officer's side. With that layout, it is preferred that the apparatus arrive on scene and position in a block-to-the-left angle with the crash scene on their right side. That way, the tools are typically close to the scene and the work area is protected.
If you go with a rear rescue compartment, then you have to always position at an incident scene so that this work area is protected from moving traffic. You would need the rear of the rescue to always be protected by another apparatus upstream. Also, with a rear rescue compartment, your apparatus is not blocking for you because you will most likely have to get in the habit of pulling past the crashed vehicles to work comfortably off the rear.
Question:
"Chief, just wondering if you had a preference of where to locate the extrication equipment (cutters and spreaders) on a Heavy rescue? We are in the process of building a new Heavy Rescue and we have conflicting opinions. Some REALLY want the tools in the front bumper. I am suggesting to put them in the rear compartment preconnected to hose reels. Any input would be appreciated."
My Reply:
I think over the past few years, the trend has been to extend the front bumper and have a reel there for a cutter and another reel there for a spreader. In between these reels, I see departments mount the two tools and a set of irons. With a front setup, the rescue vehicle blocks and crews work off the front which is most likely protected from moving traffic.
If you go with a rescue compartment on one side or the other of the apparatus, then you have to work out a way to get hoses or equipment from one side of the rig to the other if the crashed cars are on the opposite side of your rig. You'd probably need 00' reels to get all the way around your unit and still have working lengths of hose. On our Trucks in McKinney, we established a rescue compartment on the officer's side. With that layout, it is preferred that the apparatus arrive on scene and position in a block-to-the-left angle with the crash scene on their right side. That way, the tools are typically close to the scene and the work area is protected.
If you go with a rear rescue compartment, then you have to always position at an incident scene so that this work area is protected from moving traffic. You would need the rear of the rescue to always be protected by another apparatus upstream. Also, with a rear rescue compartment, your apparatus is not blocking for you because you will most likely have to get in the habit of pulling past the crashed vehicles to work comfortably off the rear.
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