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Allen Park to lay off entire Fire Department

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You just cannot make this stuff up!  Allen Park to lay off entire Fire Department.  That’s right the entire department except for the Chief.  Just in case you are wondering, Allen Park is small city just outside of Detroit with a size of 7 square miles.  However, there are 27,000 people packed into that small space!

The best part of the whole story, is city officials do not have a backup plan to provide fire service! For more information on the story, check WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit.

The average pay for an Allen Park Firefighter is about $55,000 a year without overtime.  There is additional pay for working as a paramedic or an officer in charge. How many calls do they run at of their only station?  About 2,800 calls for help in 2010 with a projection of 3,050 calls this year.

The information above was taken from the Detroit Free Press article, Allen Park fire department still reeling over layoff news

This is not the first time that city officials have used the “layoff” card.  Just last year, 9  Firefighters were laid off.    According to City Administrator Eric Waidelich, an agreement between the city and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1410 was signed that through concessions, the nine firefighters were brought back.  So what did the Allen Park Firefighters give up??? The Fire Department conceded about $800,000 out of its $3.3 million budget, with concessions in effect until June 30, 2011.  The department’s minimum staffing requirement went from seven to six.

Just so everything is out on the table, there has also been a little messing around with the overtime.  After you read this, please tell why $5k is enough for an entire year?  I’m not talking about a $5k limit per firefighter, it’s a $5k limit on the department’s overtime budget for the year!

Overtime canned at Fire Department after it tops $80,000 in one month

The Fire Department will not be allowed to pay overtime for the remaining 11 months of the fiscal year because it already has exceeded its budget. On July 30, the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution that no overtime will be allowed in the Fire Department due to budget constraints. According to the resolution, the allocated amount for Fire Department overtime in the 2010-11 budget was $5,000. In the first month of the fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, the overtime cost was more than $80,000, which equates to 1,600 percent of the budget, the resolution said. Former Fire Chief Mark Hogrebe, grant writer Tammy Jones and two captains took early retirement incentives from the city last month. In addition, a firefighter is on leave for being injured on duty.

There are several major roadways that run thru Allen Park, I-94, I-75, and a short stretch of the Southfield Freeway.

If you have drove I-94 thru Detroit than you most likely have seen a very large tire on the side of the road.  Allen Park is home of the Uniroyal Giant Tire which was constructed by the Uniroyal Tire Company and is the largest non-production tire model ever built. The tire resides on the list of the world’s largest roadside attractions.  The giant tire serves as a symbol of Michigan, and pays homage to the rich automotive heritage of Detroit. The tire is located in Allen Park along the Interstate 94 (I-94) corridor, near Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW). 

 

Posted by on February 23, 2011 • Filed under: firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, funding-staffing, news • Tagged: , , ,

Terc US Presents Top Gun of Vehicle Rescue

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Leave it up to David Dalrymple from RoadwayRescue, LLC to post a training event that makes me want to jump in the car and drive out to New Jersey.  The training event is called Terc US Presents Top Gun of Vehicle Rescue.  Read the info below and visit the website for more information.  Sounds like a great laidback weekend of training. 

A weekend of vehicle rescue to recharge your system for 2011
Saturday April 16th – Assessor workshop – 09:00am to 4:30pm
Facilitated by Carl Avery -Judges Committee

Topics to include:  

  • Vehicle Technology update & what YOU as the assessor should be looking for
  • Judging Criteria review & commentary
  • Sample scenarios
  • Scenario set up and evaluation
  • Debrief methodology  

Sunday April 17th- Educator/Instructor Congress
09:00am to 4:00pm Facilitated by Dave Dalrymple-Education Chair & Al Sergio Sr.   

Topics to include:What’s being taught & what’s not 

  • What are we missing as educators in this field?
  • Best practices or Standards? 1670 &1006
  • Where did common sense go or is it still there?
  • Vehicle Technology-hype or serious?  

Cost- $40 for Entire weekend or $25 for one day session payable to TERC-US
Please include your Name, address and judging/assessor level if attending the judging workshop.  

http://www.topgunvehiclerescue.com/

Posted by on February 21, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, training-development • Tagged: , , , ,

Moditech February 2011 Newsletter, The Inflatable Seatbelt Airbag

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First off, if you do not receive the Moditech Newsletter than go straight to their website and sign up for it!   Archive newsletters as far back as 2006 as also available on their website.  Take advantage of the free very useful information that Moditech Rescue Solutions provides in the newsletter.  While you are at the Moditech Site, make sure you take a look at the Crash Recovery System (CRS) .  Below is an image of the new 2011 Ford Explorer that id from the Crash Recovery System.  If this is the first time you have seen an image like this, I’m sorry!  Many of the top extrication experts in the world have promoted how useful Crash Recovery System is.  Those name’s include Ron Moore, David Dalrymple, and Randy Schmitz.

Now…. go read the “Technology update February 2011 | THE INFLATABLE SEATBELT AIRBAG” newsletter and learn what other vehicles have seat belt airbags and airbelts.

Posted by on February 21, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Detroit Fire St. Paddy’s Day 2011 T-Shirt

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Are you looking for a cool St. Paddy’s day fire shirt?  Check out the 2011 St Paddy’s Day T-Shirt sold by Detroit Fire Tees.  Detroit Fire Tees  is owned and operated by a Detroit Firefighter and his wife.  They have been making and selling  Detroit Fire shirts for years and their solgan is ”as long as you continue to love them we will continue to make them”.  For only $15, you cannot go wrong!

Posted by on February 19, 2011 • Filed under: fires • Tagged:

2010 Bentley Continental GTC Convertible

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Bentley Motors developed an advanced rollover protection system that is installed beneath the rear headrests for occupant safety.  The way the system works is, if the car’s on-board computer senses that it is about to roll during an accident, the two reinforced steel hoops pictured below are deployed in a split second.  The steel hoops work in conjunction with the strong windshield frame to protect passengers in the front and rear seats. 

Posted by on February 19, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

Extrication of a Patient with a Pole Embedded in Car

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A video of an extrication where a car was embedded around a metal traffic signal pole was post on YouTube a couple of years back.  The extrication was handled by the Santa Fe Spring Fire Department and LA County Fire Department. What is good about the video is how much of the extrication process that was recorded.  The video is a great training aid because it makes you think about having a plan A, B, and maybe even C and D.  This was an actual extrication.  So if in the video you would have done something different than please post a comment. I always like to hear the different approaches and techniques that other departments would have used.  A comment was posted on YouTube that there was some cutting and spreading done with the vehicle glass still in place.  However, what is the first thing you notice about the glass?  Tinted?  Aftermarket tint?  I would say definitely aftermarket tint because at 1:46 in the video you can see two firefighters handle the shattered rear glass in one piece.  It’s a great video, give it a look and let me know what you think?

Posted by on February 19, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, training-fire-rescue-topics, vehicle-operation-ambulances • Tagged: , , , , ,

Dodge Magnum Battery Location?

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Let’s say a Dodge Magnum rear ended the vehicle in front of it and your officer tells to you to secure the 12volt power on the Magnum.  Is your first thought to go straight to the hood?  Better not!  Instead, look like the firefighter who knows that the battery in the 2005-2008 Dodge Magnums is located in the rear cargo area by the spare tire.  Just lift up the cargo carpet cover secure the battery!

Posted by on February 18, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

2011 SEAT León Body Structure

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The body structure of the 2011 Seat León is unitised made from galvanised steel and uses 50% more high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels than in the previous León, 63% of the steels used are high-strength and 5% are ultra-high-strength.  The sheet-metal components that make up the top section of the body (which are the roof, side panelling, pillars and side skirts) as well as the protective bars in the doors are mostly high-strength steels.  The frame structure in the lower section of the new León is also composed of a high percentage of high-strength steels.

One manufacturing process that I have cover on this site before is hot stamping or hot pressing.  The B-pillar is built from ultra-high-strength steels which are also manufactured using a hot-pressing process.  This technology deviates from conventional pressing and replaces it with a combination of techniques, including heating the sheet-metal blank prior to forming it in the press.  After the blank is formed a refrigeration system built into the stamping press cools the part which is trimmed to its’ final shape by laser-cutting.

Laser welding is another process that was covered a while back.  The tremendous static rigidity of the new León has been achieved by assembling the body using 5,100 mm of laser welding and 5,000 mm of structural bonding. Assembly furthermore involves applying 3,700 resistance-welding spots as well as 3,200 mm of arc welding.

Posted by on February 18, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

People Die – Firefighting Stories

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I found this on Facebook from CMD FD Blog’s page.  They got it from Erik Then’s Facebook page.  Anyway, the video is a tough watch.  The video is titled People Die – Firefighting Stories, posted by GreatAmericansDotCom. Listen to the story how Rick showed up on scene by himself in the truck.  Manpower shortages put him in that position.  He talks about how everyone on scene thought then when the fire truck got there everything was going to be ok.  I’ve watched this video a few teams now and hope no one else is ever put in the same situation that Rick was put in.  However, too many cities are playing Russian Rolette with reducing the number of firefighters.  Now some cities are hiring, most are not.  This is not a career or volunteer problem.  This is a fire service problem.  Many cities will never have career departments and many will never have volunteer departments.  One thing I think about is who is going to respond to help my family and friends outside of my city?  Chances are, career firefighters will be the ones called.  Never forget that just because your city hasn’t cut any firefighters doesn’t mean you are always protected.   Think about that when you read about layoffs and station closings, it affects ALL of us!

Posted by on February 15, 2011 • Filed under: firefighting-operations

BMW Security Vehicles

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So you roll up on a MVA and you notice some rich guy crashed his high-end BMW.  What you may run into is a BMW Security Vehicle that is a factory made armored car.  Now I know the chances are between slim and none.  However, you never know.  Just look at the 3 BMW models below and tell me if they look like armored cars?  Believe it or not, they are!

 

A spectacular way to go unnoticed.

Anonymity is a powerful security measure. BMW Security Vehicles are instantly striking and spectacularly elegant vehicles – but only because they look the same as the standard models. The security modifications are almost invisible.

From the armour plating and reinforced glass to the runflat tyres, all the security equipment has been designed to offer optimum protection while attracting minimum attention.

Just in case you think that these vehicles are only designed to stop a gang banger with a 9mm, think again.  The High Sercuirty model is design to protect the occupant from a AK47!

  • Security – The BMW 5 Series Security and BMW X5 Security offer class VR4 ballistic protection (against blunt instruments and handguns of up to .44 Magnum calibre, tested as per BRV 1999 guidelines), making them the ideal way to counter the threat of street crime.
  • Security Plus – The BMW X5 Security Plus offers class 6 ballistic protection (tested as per VPAM-APR 2006 and BRV 1999 guidelines), meaning it is also secure against the world’s most widespread firearm, the AK-47.
  • High Security – The BMW 7 Series High Security safeguards high-ranking politicians and corporate executives against terrorist attack with heavy-calibre ammunition and explosives. The vehicle as a whole meets the new class VR7 ballistic protection standard, and many areas in fact offer class VR9 protection.*

 

The image below is a door from a BMW High Security X5

Another feature in the BMW High Security X5 is the cargo area is seperated from the paasegnger compartment by bullet proof glass.

Posted by on February 14, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: ,

2010 Mercedes-Benz GL550 SUV Body Structure

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The uni-body construction of the GL-Class SUV uses advanced technology and robust materials to create a virtual fortress for the vehicles’ passengers. High- Strength/Low-Alloy steel is used in important areas of the vehicle. Roof pillars employ three layers of steel, and doors feature steel crossbeams. Full-width front and rear crossmembers, along with a reinforced floorpan and door sills, combine to provide protection in a variety of impacts. Advanced front and rear crumple zones progressively deform to help absorb the energy of an impact, while underhood components are staggered to help prevent them from stacking up in a frontal impact, thereby reducing the likelihood of intrusion into the cabin. An ellipsoidal front bulkhead helps channel some of the forces of a frontal impact under, over and around the passenger cabin.

There are 9 air bags that offer 13-ways of occupant protection. Dual two-stage front air bags, front and 2nd-row side-impact air bags, a driver’s knee air bag, and window curtain air bags for all three seating rows are standard.

Posted by on February 14, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

Wooden Cribbing Basics

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I was wandering around the Internet and ran across a Canadian Public Safety site that has some good basic information about wooden cribbing.   The information below is basic 101 cribbing but it never hurts to review the basics.

I decided to be fair I should look and see what the United States government has available on the Internet. Below is the FEMA National US&R Response System Structural Collapse Technician Course – Student Manual.

Posted by on February 12, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , ,

Exploded Mercedes Benzs Body Structure

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If you clicked the title of this post and were expecting pictures of Mercedes Benz cars blown to pieces than accept my sincere apologizes.   An exploded view is a diagram, picture or technical drawing of an object, that shows the relationship or order of assembly of various parts. Below are several “exploded” pictures of with the sheet metal removed.   

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

A range of precision safety elements work together to protect you and your passengers in the event of a collision. While high-strength/low-alloy (HSLA) steel in important areas of the vehicle forms an exceptionally rigid structure, advanced front and rear crumple zones deform progressively to help absorb the energy of an impact. An innovative front bulkhead also helps channel some of the forces of a frontal impact under, over, and around the cabin.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

A range of precision safety elements work together to protect you and your passengers in the event of a collision. While high-strength/low-alloy (HSLA) steel in important areas of the vehicle forms an exceptionally rigid structure, advanced front and rear crumple zones deform progressively to help absorb the energy of an impact. An innovative front bulkhead also helps channel some of the forces of a frontal impact under, over, and around the cabin.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 Roadster

A range of precision safety elements work together to protect you and your passengers in the event of a collision. While High-Strength/Low-Alloy steel in important areas of the vehicle forms an exceptionally rigid barrier, advanced front and rear crumple zones deform progressively to help absorb the energy of an impact. A front bulkhead also helps channel some of the forces of a frontal impact under, over, and around the cabin.

 

Posted by on February 12, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

2011 Mercedes Benz E-Class Wagon Body Structure

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Leave to German engineering to add features like PRE-SAFE that can detect instability suggesting that a collision or rollover is imminent. PRE‑SAFE can then tighten the front seat belts, adjust the front passenger seat, and close the windows and sunroof.  Part of the PRE-SAFE system are radar-based sensors that can detect an impending collision with a vehicle ahead of the E‑Class.  PRE‑SAFE Brake then automatically applies up to 100% of the car’s braking force to help reduce the severity of impact.

Body structure: E‑Class body structures utilize ultra-high-strength steel in critical areas to expertly manage both weight and impact forces. Wagons integrate an elaborate network of reinforcements to provide a generous crumple zone even with three rows of seating.

With 78% of its body panels made from high-strength steel, the body structure of the new E-Class Wagon is even more rigid than its renowned predecessors. The advanced front crumple zone has been refined with thousands of computer-simulated collisions and countless crash tests. An innovative front bulkhead and deformation zones that act on four independent levels to help divert the energy of a frontal impact under, over and around the passenger cabin. The rear crumple zone includes specific design features for the wagon body style, including a high-strength steel floor and spare-tire well with an additional metal shell, diagonal reinforcements beneath the floor, and box-section longitudinal members. The fuel tank is located forward of the rear crumple zone.

Airbags:  An advanced system of 9 air bags offers 11-way occupant protection. Dual two-stage front air bags, front side-impact air bags, front pelvic air bags, a driver’s knee air bag, and window curtain air bags for both seating rows are standard. Rear side-impact air bags are optional.

Posted by on February 12, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

2005-2010 Mazda 5 Body Structure (MAZDA5)

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Below is the body structure shell for the 2005-2010 Mazda 5.  The Mazda 5 is built with Triple H body construction.  The Triple H construction gives superb strength to the unitary construction body.  Unitary construction is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object’s exterior.  This is why higher strength steels are used in locations of high stress to increase strength and rigidity without adding weight.

The B-pillars are made of high-tensile steel. The side sills and B-pillars have large cross-sections for extra strength.  Reinforcements were put in below the B and C-pillars to strengthen their joints to the side sills. 

As for airbags:

  • Advanced dual front air bags
  • Side-impact air curtains with third-row coverage
  • Front-seat mounted side-impact air bags

Posted by on February 11, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , ,

San Jose firefighters cut apart truck to save toddler’s stuck finger

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Here is an unique extrication story that could happen anywhere. A 2-year-old boy drops a Hot Wheels car inside a hole along the wall of a pickup truck, he naturally reaches his little arm inside to fish it free. And that’s what began the four-hour ordeal Tuesday to separate Caleb Colmenero’s right index finger from his daddy’s Ford F-150. Read more at the Mercury News

Posted by on February 10, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged:

2012 Fiat 500 Body Structure

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Fiat ExtricationThe Fiat 500 is not a new car to the many European Nations, but for the United States, it is.  The Fiat 500 had to undergo some changes before it could be sold in the US.    The plant in Mexico, yes Mexico is now producing sell-able vehicles so chance are you will start seeing them on the road very soon.  Here in Detroit, the Chrysler/Fiat employees have been driving them for months for testing.  I’ll update this post with better images as seen as i get them.

The US Fiat 500 has more high strength steel when compared with the European 500 platform that reinforce the side rocker panels, the rear cross member and frame rails. The roof on the US Fiat 500 has been strengthened for the US rollover crash tests and the reinforced rockers and side members will help cope with higher speed US rear and side impact tests.

The 2012 Fiat 500 has seven standard air bags. The driver and multi-stage front-passenger advanced air bags, driver’s knee bag, full-length side-curtain air bags and standard seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags. Another safety feature are the Reactive head restraints.

Posted by on February 8, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , ,

2011 MINI Cooper Clubman Body in White

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Illustrations are used in service manuals by many manufacturers.  Below are some illustrations of the 2006 thru 2011 MINI Cooper Clubman.

 

 

 

Posted by on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL Class Coupe (MHSS)

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Most of know all the names for the new steel used in the body structures of vehicle.  Well, I’ll add one to the list, Mega high Strength Steel (MHSS).  Leave up to the safety kings of vehicle, Mercedes Benz to add this material to the list.  However, it makes sense in the 2011 MB CL Class Coupe because there are no visible B-pillars.  Mercedes Benz states that thru ”Extensive use of ultra-high and high-strength steel in critical areas helps it manage both weight and impact forces. Advanced crumple zones help dissipate impact energy over, under and around the reinforced passenger cabin.”  Just because you cannot see the B-Pillar does not mean there is not one.  There is a B-Pillar that extends from the window line down to the rocker panel that looks wider than the average B-Pillar.  Also note in the image below, you can see the roof rail is made from Mega high Strength Steel (MHSS) and connected to the reinforce rod in the A-Pillar. 

 

Posted by on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , ,

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS: ARE THEY TO BLAME FOR OUR BUDGET CRISIS?

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If you can make it through both videos, you are better than me. But try! The stuff that will really tick you off is in the second video, Part 2. Then watch the IAFF’s recap at the very bottom.

Some interesting stuff at 6:40 in Part 2, fishing and farming are more dangerous than firefighting????? Really, give me a break. Dave Low from Californians for Health Care and Retirement Security really defends the public sector and fights back. But then some SOB says that “Police and Fire are not in the top 10 most dangerous jobs” than he follows that up with “most of the time they don’t have much to do”? Dave Low

Posted by on February 3, 2011 • Filed under: funding-staffing • Tagged:

GMC Acadia Battery Location??

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So you roll up on a MVA that involves a GMC Acadia and your officer assigns securing the 12 volt power-source.  Is your gut reaction to go straight to hood?  With this vehicle is better not be.  Also forget looking in the rear storage area too.  The battery is located in the floor pan behind the front passenger seat.  There is one small screw to deal with on the battery cover underneath the 2nd row cross car floor mat, a T20 Trox screwdriver/bit.  Since you are securing the power you should just be able to pry the plastic cover up.   Check it out below.

Also keep in mind that the GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook share the GM Lambda platform.  The Saturn Outlook is not made anymore, but those vehicles can still be on the road. 

The two images below are from the Crash Recovery System made by Moditech Rescue Solutions.  The Crash Recovery System is a computer program that provides real-time on scene vehicle information.   This program can save you time during your extrication by knowing the locations of Ultra-High Strength Steels, Airbag and lift assist  cylinders and much more.  For more information, visit their website: http://www.moditech.com

Posted by on February 2, 2011 • Filed under: extrication • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

RAW VIDEO: Firefighters pull car from underneath semi

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 A good portion of the extrication of the man trapped in the vehicle under the semi trailer was captured by a cameraman from NBC 25.  The accident was on Southbound I-75 between Clio and Birch Run around 6 am.  The car spun out into a ditch and A semi tractor-trailer rolled over onto a car.  The driver of the car was not killed.  In fact, it is reported that he was able to send text messages while trapped in the vehicle.  

Click the image above to go to NBC 25's website to view the video. Sorry, NBC 25 does not allow embedding of their videos!”

 

Pictures, video and Report by NBC25 in Michigan

Posted by on February 1, 2011 • Filed under: extrication, fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , ,