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Post by RAYFF2 on Mar 13, 2004 21:05:54 GMT -5
Urban Interface.... This will get Canton 1 started or do I mean steamed..I know what Canton 2 thinks. Lets see what everyone else thinks..
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Post by canton1 on Mar 14, 2004 0:04:19 GMT -5
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Post by canton1 on Mar 14, 2004 0:08:43 GMT -5
I moved this post to its new location so it was with all the other polls
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Mar 14, 2004 9:56:24 GMT -5
I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for in this post, but I thought I'd say a few words on Urban Interface. Urban Interface is an issue that is a concern nationwide. Some areas have more of a concern than others but none the less we all have this problem. More times than not there are structures threaten by wildfire. Our incident goals need to reflect them. This in turn affects our tactics we will use. DO WE TRY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT OR PREP BUILDINGS TO SURVIVE THE WILDFIRE? I have taken a national course strictly for Wildland Urban Interface (S-205). This course is 32 or 40 hours in length. It's a good course but don't think that's the only Federal course that deals with this issue. There are several other Federal courses that have sections devoted to Urban Interface. There is a tremendous amount of emphasis Nationally for Urban Interface training. There is a program called "FIREWISE" that is just for Urban Interface. Locally Pennsylvania has developed a program called "Pennsylvania Firewise Communities". www.firewise.org - This site has some good publications that are FREE!!!www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/ffp/index.aspxPennsylvania recently hired a consultant firm. The firm's goal was to establish one FIREWISE COMMUNITY in each of the 20 Forest Districts. I gave the firm three pages of communities / developments within our District. Unfortunately not one of them is interested. There is grant money there for the taking but the community / development must be in the firewise program to take advantage of it. I believe this is in large part due to several factors: - It won't happen here!
- When it does happen "here" memories lapse after about 5 years and return to the it won't happen here thought.
- Lack of knowledge.
- Require quite a bit of work and it time consuming.
9 URBAN/WILDLAND "WATCHOUTS" 1. WOODEN CONSTRUCTION AND WOOD SHAKE ROOFS. 2. POOR ACCESS AND NARROW ONE WAY ROADS. 3. INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY. 4. NATURAL FUELS 30 FEET OR CLOSER TO STRUCTURES. 5. EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR. 6. STRONG WINDS. 7. EVACUATION OF PUBLIC (PANIC). 8. STRUCTURES LOCATED IN CHIMNEYS, BOX CANYONS, OR ON STEEP SLOPES IN FLASHY FUELS. 9. BRIDGE LOAD LIMITS.
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Post by chief322 on Mar 14, 2004 12:06:45 GMT -5
I can tell you that when we accepted the Attack truck from DCNR, it was originally intended for Urban Interface. We took this model because of some of the areas in our jurisdiction that were unaccesible by a Class A structural engine during the winter/spring months. It is euipped to fight both structural fires and act as a support unit to our 4X4 brushtruck.
As you all know with military conversion apparatus, it is not the speediest or the most manuverable in certain circumstances. But we believed that the pump size and its capabilities outweigh the negatives.
The next time you all drive from Towanda to Monroeton, look up on Kellog Mt. at that beautiful log home on the North face. It has a juge pond out front and during the winter/spring, the only rigs I could get there would be the attack and the brush. This home was the model for our getting the attack unit.
Tim
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Post by 911wacker on Mar 16, 2004 14:59:24 GMT -5
While I am in favor of the Interface units for rural fire departments now and have expressed this before is for several reasons: * Given strict budgets these vehicles can become multi-purpose pieces of equipment that may save your bacon someday. If specified well they could perform many roles from wild fire suppresion to attack engine. - These vehicles often are biult with 500-1000 gpm pumps with 300-500 gallons of water, typically with 4x4 chassis and foam units. - While not being as light and mobile as a traditional brush trucks and certianly for our area not to replace a front line "brush truck" from service, but as a second unit to support and perform other vital roles such as structure protection, water supply, and remote access where a class "A" pumper just won't go. - As for other roles, speced with a large enough pump this could become a very handy water supply or fill site unit for any department, or even as an attack pumper in a rural hard to reach structure fire. Certainly these units are far better equiped than brush trucks to handle these duties. ;D Now I must bend over before my Chief and take it like a man.
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Post by canton1 on Mar 17, 2004 7:29:56 GMT -5
yea yea yea yea Urban Interface
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Post by RAYFF2 on Mar 19, 2004 19:54:01 GMT -5
Well its good to see some imput on the topic. I will have to agree with Canton 1 a 2nd Brush truck would be nice in the future , but we wont let him forget about Urban Interface...Keep the comments and replys coming. Good or Bad we want your opinion.
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