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Orono Fire Needs Assessment <br />76 | Page <br /> <br />Annex F – Equipment Standards <br />NFPA 1901 governs the design of fire apparatus while NFPA 150020 addresses firefighter healthy safety. <br />Together these two standards have assisted in developing the concept of the “Clean Cab”. In the typical <br />fire apparatus design, contaminated firefighter protective gear and equipment are loaded or bracketed <br />into the apparatus cab as firefighters leave a fire incident and return to the fire station. The smell of a <br />“fire” and associated carcinogen particles lingers in the cab and is noticeable even days later. The <br />science has proven that carcinogens attach to the PPE and equipment and continue to off-gas while <br />firefighters are in the apparatus. This concept focuses on specifically designing the cab of new <br />apparatus to be free from firefighting equipment that can be easily contaminated on the fireground. <br />This includes equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), tools, hand lights and other <br />small equipment. The design provides a nonporous interior so that the cab can be easily cleaned after a <br />fire to reduce any secondary cross contamination. The goal is to reduce firefighter exposure to <br />contaminated gear and off-gassing equipment and to address numerous other safety concerns. Long <br />Lake Fire does go through a gross decontamination process on scene after every fire incident before <br />going back to the fire station. The Orono Fire Department should incorporate this best practice into our <br />specifications for all new fire apparatus and push to make sure this is in any used fire apparatus that we <br />may purchase going forward. <br />Annex D of NFPA 190121 includes life cycle recommendations regarding frontline and reserve <br />apparatus. The standard recommends that apparatus should provide 15 years of frontline service and <br />then be turned over for reserve status. The annex further recommends that apparatus that are more <br />than 25 years old be retired from the vehicle fleet. Reviewing the above fleet, the fire department <br />should have 2 frontline engines and one reserve. Currently one apparatus is at the 25-year mark and in <br />need of replacement. There will need to be a significant investment in the fleet over the next 5 to 10 <br />years regardless of who is operating the fire department. This investment may need to be sooner due to <br />the ever-lengthening lead times for fire equipment, PPE and apparatus. Common life expectancy for <br />types of apparatus are as follows; Engine/Pumper 20 years, Ladder 25 years, Tanker/Tenders 25 years, <br />Rescue 10 years, Utility 10 years, Staff 7 years or if a vehicle is over 100,000 miles. <br /> <br /> <br />20 NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program; NFPA <br />21 NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus; NFPA