By Alan M. Petrillo Tankers (tenders), especially those carrying very large amounts of water, have sometimes been criticized for two major drawbacks: sacrificing compartment space to get to a specified...
More Thoughts on the Deck Gun
By...
PA Volunteer Fire Company Gets TDA from KME
By Alan M. Petrillo The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company, North Wales, Pennsylvania, wanted to replace a 1997 Simon LTI 75-foot quint with a longer ladder, but not necessarily another quint, as long as the...
Ask a Darley Engineer: Why this Drip Rate?
By: Darley Team Question: Why is the drip rate between five and 60 drops on Darley pumps equipped with packing rather than a mechanical seal such as our Darley P100 pump and P6 pumps that you build for the US Navy and US Coast Guard?—DCC Chief Petty Officer Jim...
Fire Apparatus Rollovers
In this article, we will examine some of the more serious safety issues faced by the fire apparatus operator. By reviewing recent case studies, it is apparent that our first topic should be that of fire apparatus rollovers. Rollovers are a common cause of fire...
Selecting Apparatus Components
By Bill Peters When you are selecting apparatus components to include in your specifications, there are three considerations: (1) Are you meeting mission requirements? (2) Are the components available...
KME Builds Custom CAFS Rear-Mount Rescue-Pumper for Seiverville (TN) Fire Department
The Seiverville (TN) Fire Department has had a lot of success using compressed air foam systems (CAFS) and rear-mount pumpers, so when it came time to replace an aging pumper, the truck committee wanted to have a similar vehicle built. By Alan M. Petrillo After...
Assembling an Apparatus Purchasing Committee
By Bill Adams Contrary to popular belief and the ramblings of pundits and commentators including myself, there is no single “best way” to assemble an apparatus purchasing committee (APC). Many so-called industry experts tout biased opinions expounding on the past...
Fall River (MA) Fire Department Acquires Ferrara 85-Foot Midmount Aerial Platform
By Alan M. Petrillo Fall River (MA) Fire Department wanted to replace a 14-year old, 81-foot midmount aerial platform and needed a truck with a narrow body, the shortest wheelbase possible, and the smallest...
Technology Developments Propelling Fire Apparatus Into Future
By Alan M. Petrillo Fire apparatus are getting smarter, easier to operate, and safer for firefighters thanks largely to electronic technology being incorporated into the veins of the trucks. AXIS™ Smart Truck Technology is one such system that connects to various...
Apparatus Specification Considerations: 10 Steps to Complete a Needs Assessment
By Bill Peters The first step in acquiring new fire apparatus is to determine the operational needs of the department. This is not always as simple and straightforward as it seems. Often the apparatus that is...
Ask a Darley Engineer: Helping Rural Budgets
Q: What has Darley done to ease rural department budgetary concerns? In recent years, the U.S. economy has experienced drastic swings. That has caused a chain reaction in all areas of the economy. As a result, municipal budgets have been hard hit. With already tight...