Effectiveness of Safety Interventions in Fire Engines to Reduce Potential Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Physical distancing and wearing a face mask are key interventions to prevent COVID-19. While this remains difficult to practice for millions of firefighters in fire engines responding to emergencies, the delayed forthcoming of evidence on the effectiveness of such safety interventions in this setting presents a major problem. In this field experimental study, we provided initial evidence to close this gap. We examined total aerosol burden in the cabin of a fire engine whilst manipulating crew size, use of FFP2 respirators and use of SCBA full-face masks during 15-min driving periods. At the same time, we controlled for crew activity and speaking, vehicle speed, cabin ventilation, cabin air temperature, pressure and humidity. Limiting the crew size, using FFP2 respirators and not donning SCBA full-face masks was associated with a reduction of the arithmetic mean of total aerosol burden of up to 49%. This study provided initial evidence on the effectiveness of safety interventions in fire engines to reduce potential airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through aerosols. More research about the physical and the clinical effectiveness of such safety interventions is needed.

Comprehensive Analysis of Housing Estate Infrastructure in Relation to the Passability of Firefighting Equipment

The article focuses on the assessment and evaluation of the passability in densely populated parts of cities with multi-storey housing estates, in terms of the operation of the integrated rescue system (IRS) in the Czech Republic. The aim of the research is to minimize the arrival times to conduct the intervention as efficiently as possible. The presented problem is caused by unsystematic development of housing estates and the emergence of secondary problems in the form of inability to reach the place of intervention by the larger IRS vehicles. The vision presented in this document presents a systematic approach to improve the serviceability of individual blocks of flats. The main aim is to ensure passability, even for the largest equipment, such as fire engine ladders. Detailed mapping of the selected sites by drones, construction of their digital model, and subsequent virtual verification of the passability by specific vehicle models on identified access roads was performed. The results obtained by this procedure can then be implemented in the navigation of the fire safety forces and facilitate their arrival at the site of intervention. At the end, specific ways are presented in which the whole system can be modified to be able to intuitively change and choose individual access routes in real time, based on the current situation in the area.

Developing a method for determining the dynamic parameters of the operator of a mobile fire engine based on a Segway

A method for determining the dynamic parameters of the operator of a mobile fire engine based on a segway, which fully characterize its dynamic properties – delay time and inertia was developed. The development of the method includes four stages. At the first stage, the problem of obtaining analytical relationships for determining the dynamic parameters of the operator is solved. These relationships include the frequency characteristics of the operator at a fixed frequency and its static parameter. At the second stage, the choice of a fixed frequency is substantiated using a criterion that minimizes errors in determining the dynamic parameters. It is shown that the fixed frequency for the characteristic parameters of the operator does not exceed 0.5 Hz. The third stage includes substantiation of the procedure for determining the frequency characteristics of the operator and its static parameter. The frequency characteristics of the operator at a fixed frequency and its static parameter are determined numerically. This procedure is based on using the data obtained by measuring the values of the operator’s transfer function at fixed time intervals. To obtain data, an interactive analog engine is used, which can also perform the functions of a simulator. The time intervals are chosen according to the Kotelnikov-Nyquist-Shannon theorem. At the last stage, the procedure for determining the dynamic parameters of the operator of a segway-based mobile fire engine is described. It is shown that the error in determining the dynamic parameters of the operator of a mobile fire engine does not exceed 9.0 %, if the error in determining its frequency characteristics at a frequency of 2.5 s–1 does not exceed 2.0 %

Physical Effectiveness of Safety Interventions in Fire Engines to Reduce Potential Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COFIRE)

Physical distancing and wearing a face mask are key interventions to prevent COVID-19. While this remains difficult to practice for millions of firefighters in fire engines responding to emergencies, the delayed forthcoming of evidence on the physical effectiveness of such safety interventions in this setting presents a major problem. In this field experimental study, we provided initial evidence to close this gap. We examined total aerosol burden in the cabin of a fire engine whilst manipulating crew size, natural ventilation, use of FFP2 respirators and use of SCBA full-face masks during 15-minute driving periods. At the same time, we controlled for crew activity and speaking, vehicle speed, cabin air temperature, pressure and humidity. Limiting the crew size, using FFP2 respirators and not donning SCBA full-face masks was associated with a reduction of the arithmetic mean of total aerosol burden of up to 49%. Natural ventilation as tested in this study was associated with both an increase and a decrease of total aerosol burden. This study provided initial evidence on the physical effectiveness of safety interventions in fire engines to reduce potential airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through aerosols. More research about the physical and clinical effectiveness of such safety interventions is needed.

DAMAGE FEATURES OF TANKS OF FIRE TRUCKS AND STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF THEIR WELDED JOINTS

The analysis of emergency rescue equipment usage on the territory of the Republic of Belarus made it possible to identify that the main technical unit involved into emergency situations is a fire truck tank. One of the main reasons for its repair and withdrawal from operational status is tank leakage that occurs due to peculiarities of equipment usage. As a result of a complex of studies, the recommendations for the modernization of a standard tank with 5 m3 volume of a fire truck were developed on the MAZ-5337 chassis. The stress state of a standard and modernized tank of a fire engine was investigated by the strain-gauge method under various operating modes of movement.

Experimental studies of adapted medium-duty fire trucks for emergency response

Fire trucks should be maximally adapted to the elimination of emergency situations, in particular, to provide the necessary intensity of supply of extinguishing agents, that is, to be multifunctional. Special requirements are imposed on fire-fighting vehicles: high cross-country ability and speed, the ability to transport one compartment, transport tools and equipment for grabbing, backfilling with soil, filling the edge of the fire with water or chemical solutions, and the like. Scientific research is aimed at developing ways to assess the effectiveness of new models of fire and rescue vehicles for compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine, in particular, through comparative analysis with alternative samples, to determine the factors affecting the operation of a fire truck, to develop a method for adapting vehicles for emergency response, to improve their level of operational excellence and operational efficiency. To realize the purpose of the assessment tests, a test procedure was developed and an experimental model of a fire-fighting vehicle for emergency response was created. The obtained relationship between the number of revolutions of the crankshaft of the engine and the value of the dynamic torque in the transmission of the test fire vehicle in the case of a sharp engagement of the clutch in the vehicle starting modes can be represented graphically. It is proposed to compare different variants of fire engine designs to take this characteristic as an efficiency criterion. Experimental studies were carried out: starting a car from a place on a steep rise, followed by an increase in gears; overcoming a roadside ditch with flat walls 0.2–0.6 m deep and at an angle of 45° to its axis; running over with wheels of one side of a fire engine on a curb 140–150 mm high; entering a turn from straight-line movement to the minimum possible turning radius on an asphalt surface in II and III gears at a constant speed of 10-12 km/h. To confirm the validity of the accepted assumptions of the mathematical model, the accuracy of applications and the reliability of the results obtained, the adequacy of mathematical modeling was checked by comparing the test problems of statics and dynamics of the movement of fire trucks for emergency response. A fire truck for liquidation of emergency situations, modeled on the basis of the proposed adaptation method of the base chassis for the needs of extinguishing forest fires and the formation of a container module, makes it possible to increase the efficiency of its use according to the selected criteria by 18%. The use of the longitudinal flexibility of the container modules in comparison with the conventional body mount provides a reduction in fuel consumption when driving a fire truck up to 4%.

Artificial Intelligence based rule base fire engine testing model for congestion handling in opportunistic networks

Opportunistic network is emerging as a research domain nowadays with the introduction of Internet of things phenomena. In recent years, storage level congestion issue due to handheld devices is considered as a key challenge to be handled in the opportunistic networks. The prime objective of conducting this research is to develop artificial intelligence rule-based fire engine model to be tested using artificial intelligence latest classification algorithms further implemented using ONE simulator tool over MaxProp protocol. The achieved results show 98% accuracy in terms of classification using k-fold validation technique over six algorithms. The achieved results have been compared with MaxProp protocol over evaluation parameters such as delivery ratio, throughput, routing load, and overhead; whereas delivery ratio increase about 20% for node level and 5% for buffer level and throughput tends to increase 500 and 150 kbps for network and buffer levels, respectively.

How we roll: A fire engine to every call? Fire department resource allocation and firefighter support in the United States

PurposeEmergency service departments face changing mission requirements, budget constraints and a demanding work environment. This study examined the perceptions of fire chiefs, officers and firefighters who attended the National Professional Development Symposium on the use of a tiered approach when responding to calls, the continued increase in medical calls and mental health services available to fire service personnel.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined the perceptions of fire chiefs, officers and firefighters who attended the National Professional Development Symposium on the use of a tiered approach when responding to calls, the continued increase in medical calls and mental health services available to fire service personnel.FindingsSurvey respondents indicated that they either are currently or would consider using a tiered approach to sending a fire engine and crew or a lighter vehicle to medical or other calls based requirements identified using a tiered approach.Research limitations/implicationsThis idea has future implications regarding the vehicle mix of fire stations as administrators seek to meet the needs of the public most effectively. Survey responses also noted the need for mental health services arguing that care seeking firefighters should have the option of getting mental health services within the station or at an external location. Calls involving babies or young children were overwhelming cited as the most difficult. Additionally, 95% of respondents indicated a belief that most firefighters suffer from PTSD.Practical implicationsRecommendations include: A larger scale survey and analysis of first responder perceptions based on this study. Identifying “best practices” of the most effective “tiered response” approaches to deploying emergency services resources to calls. Studying Mental Health services combating PTSD to identify best practices. Lastly, emergency services administrators should consider changes to the “vehicle mix” when equipping or reequipping stations.Social implicationsSocial implications include use of a “tiered response” approach to emergency calls and focusing how best to support the mental health needs of firefighters.Originality/valueFire Departments are only beginning to explore the idea of using a tiered response to respond to emergencies. This study identifies both short and long term implications of using a tired approach. A secondary emphasis of this study explores difficult calls and PTSD issues faced by firefighters.