Beyond the Flames – Water-Rescue Equipment a Prominent Piece of Equipment

Over the past four weeks, we’ve discussed four of the most commonly used types of fire apparatus in Cape May County – the engine-pumper, the ladder, the rescue, and the mini-pumper/brush truck, as well as the tanker/tender in the week preceding the start of our five-week series. But those previously mentioned pieces aren’t the only type of apparatus firefighters use in the county to keep us safe each and every day.
A prominent piece of equipment in our area is that of water-rescue equipment. Whether it be a small inflatable boat, medium sized aluminum boat, or lengthy fireboat, departments throughout the county utilize these types of equipment to perform water rescues and other emergency incidents that take place on the many water sources located throughout the county. Several departments even utilize equipment such as jet-skis to reach those in distress on the waterways.
Not only used for water rescues, the boats can be used for fighting fires on the waterways as well. Some boats are equipped with portable pumps that can be utilized to apply water to a fire upon a water vessel. In addition, in other parts of the surrounding area, departments have boats specially designed to fight fires aboard boats, and are equipped with much of the same tools and equipment you might find on an engine – the only difference being that instead of wheels, this apparatus is based on a hull and solely used in the water.
Another piece of apparatus utilized close to the area’s waterways is that of the rough terrain vehicles, or RTVs. Several departments own this type of apparatus, utilizing it to travel over terrain, such as beaches, that are not easily accessible to other types of larger vehicles. These units normally look like an oversized quad, and can perform a wide variety of functions, from fighting fires with a portable pump/tank unit to transporting injured patients on a stretcher.
Essential to any fire incident is an incident commander, and these particular members of the area’s fire departments often respond in apparatus known as Utility-Command Units. These types of vehicles can vary anywhere from a patrol car resembling that of a police cruiser, to a pick-up truck, to a utility-body work truck, to a common SUV.
These units typically contain radios, traffic control devices, and other equipment that may be necessary in a mobile command unit. Not only utilized by the commanding officer, these apparatus are often useful for the transportation of additional manpower and traffic control.
Another essential piece of equipment located in the county is a HazMat Response Apparatus. Hazardous Material Response Apparatus are utilized in the event of a hazardous materials spill, and carry equipment that can be deployed to safely stabilize, contain, and remove the material from the emergency site. In addition to the County-wide HazMat team available, the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Fire Department operates their own Hazardous Materials team.
Finally, an Aircraft Rescue Fire-Fighting Apparatus, or “ARFF,” is the type of fire apparatus used to attack airplane crashes. These apparatus normal have a large water-carrying capacity, as they must be able to sustain firefighting efforts at any portion of an airport until additional units arrive. They are normally four-wheel drive, enabling the truck to travel in rougher terrain. They also usually carry foam, as well as a chemical agent known as “Purple K,” a type of powdered chemical fire suppression used for the extinguishing of flammable liquids.
ARFFs contain pre-connected nozzles so that firefighting can be done from within the apparatus, allowing firefighters to get close to the scene of an aircraft crash without becoming exposed to the extreme heats produced by aircraft fuel. According to their website, the Erma Fire Department operated an ARFF at the Cape May County Airport until 2010 when the particular piece of apparatus was retired from use.
Knoll, 19, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at bknolljr4cmcherald@ yahoo.com. He is a student at Rowan University.
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