game changers in the fire service

major game changers in the fire service

switching from hand drawn to horse drawn to motor powered vehicles

introduction of mobile two way radios - made dispatch much faster in
some situations

sprinkler systems

widespread telephone service - made reporting of fires faster and more accurate

widespread cellular phone service - for fast reporting of urban and
suburban incidents outside of buildings

smoke detectors brought residential fire deaths way down

improved bunker gear - ??? - has it made anyone safer or fire attack
more effective?

upgrade to SCBA - certainly has made entry into dangerous areas much safer

fire protection engineering - high rises and refineries do not go up
in flames daily - some engineers must be doing something right
somewhere

otherwise - hose is still hose - ladders are still ladders - axes are
still axes - water is still water (although FDNY tried Rapid Water -
and some FDs tried CAFS - Boston FD for one)

less successful upgrades - master plans - pre plans - yellow - mini
pumpers - tiller trucks - unions - oaths of office - management school
for chiefs - 24 on / 72 off - MDTs (mobile data terminals - except for
getting directions and addresses - have not heard of any lives saved
by having a preplan on a MDT)

just thinking outloud