NEWS IN BRIEF
NFPA 1500 revision approved without minimum staffing amendment
National Fire Protection Association members voted 567 to 131 to accept a revision of NFPA 1500, Standard for Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program, without an amendment to establish minimum starting levels. The voting took place at the association’s annual meeting in New Orleans in May.
Pivotal to the amendment’s defeat were the proposed language of the amendment, which some members said could be interpreted as establishing a requirement of four persons per engine and ladder company, and nonpublication of the proposed amendment for general public review.
The revised 1 500 standard, passed with no amendments, will be published by the NFPA later this year.
At press time, the possibility of presenting a technical interim amendment (TLA) that addresses the minimum starting issue was being considered. Fhe proposed language for the T1A, developed at the annual meeting, would be put out for public comment, after which the NFPA 1 500 committee, chaired by Chief Alan Brunacini of the Phoenix (A/) Fire Department, would process the comments and vote on the final language.
Juvenile firesetting factor in murder trial
Do three-year-old children demonstrate curiosity about fire? Do they have the manual dexterity to light a match or lighter? A man’s life could hinge on the answers to these questions.
John Henry Knapp, of Arizona, already has been tried three times for murdering his two children, who were killed in a fire, and he is expected to be tried again. During the third trial, Paul Schwartzman, president of National Fire Service Support Systems, Inc.—outside consultant to the City of Rochester (NY) Fire Department— was called as an expert witness to testify about the characteristics and behaviors of juvenile firesetters and the nature and scope of the problem of juvenile firesetting. Schwartzman was one of the developers of the Rochester Fire Department’s Fire Related Youth (FRY) program.
Knapp’s first trial ended in a hung jury. He was found guilty and sentenced to death in the second trial. The third trial was granted on the basis of new fire science research that expanded the body of know ledge on flashover, raising serious questions about the cause of the fire. Schwartzman testified at the third trial, which also ended in a hung jury after the jury’ had deliberated for a week. As part of his testimony, he presented national and local statistics documenting the thousands of fires that occur annually as a result of children playing with matches and lighters, and research that shows children’s lack of understanding about fire. Several aspects of the evidence—such as the children’s propensity for playing with fire, confirmed by neighbors; the site of the fire, the children’s room, and lack of parental supervision —all make it possible that the children had started the fire.
The fourth trial was expected to begin at press time, but it has been postponed.
EVS issues advisory of apparatus recalls
The National Institute of Emergency Vehicle Safety (EVS) has announced the following safety recalls of apparatus:
- Collins Ambulance Corporation: In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on February 14, 1992, the manufacturer indicated that 767 of the 1990 and 1991 Collins Type II and III ambulances on Ford E350 chassis, production numbers FI6344 through FI7705, may present a fire hazard. A waring loom containing two wires for the ammeter—and routed through the upper left area of the dash —may be chafed by the emergency brake arm when the emergency brake is depressed. Since the tw o wires do not have in-line circuit breakers, the chafing possibly could lead to short circuits that may result in a vehicle fire.
- Pierce Manufacturing, Inc.: In a document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 9, 1992, the manufacturer indicated that 1,225 vehicles manufactured between August 1989 and May 31, 1991—and equipped with Detroit Diesel engines and Vickers V2() power steering pumps—may have a safety defect. An investigation initiated by Pierce revealed that the key that holds the mating gear and power steering pump shaft was coming out of the keyway, allowing the drive gear to spin on the shaft and cause a loss of power steering. The key, Pierce found, was breaking at the point where a hole had been drilled for the roll pin to be inserted through the gear, key, and shaft. (Twelve reported failures occurred within 15 months after the vehicle was placed in service.)
- Seagrave Fire Apparatus, Inc. (FWD Corporation): In documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, dated April 3, 1992, Seagrave noted the following models of tillers were found to have cracks in the lower beam assemblies and the swy bar mounting bracket on the Ridewell suspension used to install the tiller axle: 6T09, 1991, one vehicle; HT07, 1986, two vehicles; HT07, 1988, seven vehicles; HT07, 1990, two vehicles; HT08, 1987, two vehicles; HT08, 1988, one vehicle; J707, 1988, four vehicles; J707, 1989, three vehicles; J707, 1990, five vehicles; and J707, 1991, 11 vehicles.
The defect can be corrected by rerouting the wiring loom out of the emergency brake arm pathway and installing circuit breakers on the ammeter wires. Collins has prepared a repair kit and is authorizing one hour of labor to make the repair. For additional information, contact Collins Ambulance Corporation; Attention: Keene L. Schaaf. Plant Manager; P.O. Box 2828; Hutchinson, KS 67504; (800) 237*5318.
Pierce has engineered a power steering pump field retrofit to prevent the key from coming out of the shaft keyw’ay. Parts for the retrofit kit are available from Pierce dealer organizations. Owners of Pierce trucks that fall into the category described above immediately should contact Pierce Manufacturing, Inc.; 2600 American Drive, P.O. Box 2017; Appleton, WI 54913; (414)-832-3000.
Seagrave has developed a repair procedure that takes 16 labor hours for each vehicle. Vehicle owners can be reimbursed by sending a manufacturer certificate along with an invoice for the labor. For additional information and to obtain the certificate, contact Seagrave Fire Apparatus, Inc.; c/o Product Support Department; 105 E. 12th Street; Clintonville, WI 549291590; (715) 823-2141.
Accreditation Congress meets
The second annual meeting of the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in April. The agenda included amending the by-laws, administrative policies, and criteria for accrediting certified training programs. The Congress is dedicated to planning and administering a high quality, uniform, international accreditation system, based on state and provincial certification. At present. 28 states, three federal government agencies, and six Canadian provinces participate in the Congress, which has issued 1,385 certificates to date. ■
