Members of the Broadview Fire Department and Grenfell Fire Department attended a demo of a new fire truck Tuesday evening in Broadview.
Larry Fenning of Colya J Fire Services from Allan, SK, demonstrated the B-27 Minuteman fire apparatus. The B-27 Minuteman is designed to meet the initial response needs for rescue, extrication, medical emergencies, wildland and structural fires.
With its ability to change functions, at a moment’s notice, makes the truck the most practical truck for any and all fire departments, said Fenning.
The B-27 Minuteman, with 400 gallons of water and CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System), using correct tactics, will extinguish the same amount of fire as a large fire truck with a 1250 GPM pump and 3200 gallons of water. The CAFS causes little to no water damage as compared to using strictly water and will eliminate most rekindle.
CAFS equals ten times the suppression power of water.
Fenning also demonstrated an interior attack from the exterior using “The Beast”. The Beast allows firefighters to attack an interior fire safely from the outside. The method prevents having to open up a structure or the need to enter a hostile environment, eliminating a flashover.
The piercing slide hammer makes an entry point in which the 90 degree Fan-Tail wall nozzle can be inserted either through the wall into a room, through the roof into the attic, or through the threshold into the basement. The nozzle’s fog pattern can be directed to reach up to 75 feet.
A unique feature of the B-27 Minuteman is the three bumper sweeps mounted on the front of the truck that can be controlled by the driver for grass and wildland fires.
Another feature was the BLESS (Blanchat Lift Emergency Stabilizing System) in the power lift mode enables emergency personnel to life objects in difficult configurations, which are otherwise inaccessible with airbags. The BLESS in the recovery configuration also allows for movement such as raising a stokes basket back into a bridge.
The B-27 Minuteman also features a fixed and portable power and lighting system. The 2000 Honda generator is light weight, reliable, quiet and fuel efficient. This make sit easy to move from working onboard the truck to operating in any location where it is needed.
There are two, separate and removable telescoping light poles. Each pole is equipped with a 650 watt hi-infrared halogen bulb, which emits 25,000 lumens.
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