Everyone Goes Home - Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program

By Susan Nicol

Fire officials call the number of apparatus crashes across the country unsettling.

"The recent wreck involving a ladder truck in Boston that claimed the life of Lt. Kevin Kelley spells the need for mechanics with expertise in fixing emergency service apparatus," said Mary McCormack, Executive Director of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association.

"You have to know what you are doing. Maintaining a fire truck is not the same as working on a car," she said.

With the economy the way it is now, many departments across the country also will be considering refurbishing their rigs instead of purchasing new ones.

That option may sound like a good cost-saving idea, but McCormack said fire officials need to be very careful. They must ensure that the work is done properly.

McCormack said the report that followed the tragic Boston crash should serve as a wake-up call. "This is a prime example of what can happen when vehicles are not maintained properly…"

Although the nation is in the midst of a recession, about 600 people attended the recent FDSOA seminar in Florida that focused on apparatus design.

Manufacturers, mechanics, as well as fire and safety officers participated in the event that featured a myriad of issues relating to vehicle design, safety and technology.

McCormack said manufacturers can add all the latest safety technology in the world to a vehicle. But that alone won't make a difference if the person behind the wheel lacks skill and training.

"We have to change the culture or mindset," she said, adding that she is surprised at the way some firefighters still act behind the wheel.

McCormack said the number of crashes across the country almost daily disturbs her. Driver error is often cited as a cause.

She said people need specialized training before they get behind the wheel especially in a tanker or tender. Any movement or shift in water can cause the driver to lose control.

A number of fatal crashes last year involved tenders and tankers.

McCormack said 21 years ago she was approached by two concerned people. "They said we needed to do something about the number of apparatus wrecks and lack of driving skills."

"I took it to my boss, who said he'd think about it," she said, adding that the boss also was her husband, the late Ed McCormack.

She was relentless, and eventually sold the idea to her husband, then Executive Director of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, which would become FDSOA.

"I finally convinced him that we needed to tackle this issue of apparatus safety," she said, adding that safe driving naturally went hand-in-hand.

"It's unfortunate," she said, "that firefighters across the nation continue to be injured and killed in crashes."

McCormack said her organization's commitment to reducing those statistics remains as dedicated as ever.