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Thursday, September 12, 2013
Fire Shelters: A Wildland Firefighter's Last Line of Defense
Firefighters who do battle with wildfires must constantly plan and revise their escape routes and safe zones in case a change in the fire's direction or speed forces a retreat. But if they find themselves trapped by flames, their only hope is a fire shelter.
The shelter's outer layer of foil backed by silica reflects about 95 percent of radiant heat, and the inner layer of foil laminated to fiberglass, as well as the pocket of air between the layers, provide additional protection. But the shelter simply absorbs the convective heat of direct contact with flames.
The shelters used by wildland firefighters today are actually the second generation of fire shelters, and they have been standard equipment since 2002, when the Forest Service selected a design called the New Generation Fire Shelter to replace the older version.
During their first decade of use 116 firefighters deployed the New Generation Fire Shelters, and?until the Yarnell Hill Fire?all but two of those firefighters survived the experience. One fatality occurred during the July 2008 Panther Fire in northern California. About to be overtaken by the rapidly advancing flames, a division supervisor deployed his shelter correctly, but, in the stark language of the incident report, "the intense heat of the fire and its residence time exceeded the capability of the fire shelter."
Since its adoption in 2002 the New Generation Fire Shelter has seen a few relatively minor design changes, but the Forest Service is not looking to fully replace the current design. Ferris told PM, "there is work being done both independently and in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service to improve fire shelters." Just after Yarnell Hill, another Forest Service spokesman told the press that much of that work focused on improvements to the adhesive that binds the layers of the shelters.
"As far as last-ditch safety equipment, that's pretty much the one thing that we carry," says Wildland Firefighting Team Lead Kyle Bylin of East Pierce County, Wash.
A fire shelter is made of an outer layer of aluminum foil, backed by a silica weave, that reflects heat away from the shelter. A layer of air separates this layer of foil and silica from an inner layer of foil laminated to fiberglass. In an emergency firefighters only need to grab two plastic handles and shake the shelter open like a pop-up tent.
The crew pitches their shelters as close together as possible and talk to one another until the flame front sweeps down and makes communication impossible. "If you hear anything at all, the things you hear you don't want to hear," said a survivor quoted in March 2003 training manual.
Each firefighter lies in his shelter with his face pressed against the ground, taking shallow breaths. Even inside the shelter hot gases can sear his lungs if he raises his head. With fire comes wind, so each firefighter lies with his arms through the shelter's hold-down straps, struggling to keep the shelter from flipping in winds that may exceed 50 mph. This may last for up to an hour and a half.
Although the experience is harrowing, many firefighters have emerged unscathed from shelter deployments. Others have suffered burns from minor to third-degree but survived. However, not every firefighter makes it, as the loss of 19 firefighters in Arizona earlier this summer shows.
Limitations
The shelter's outer layer of foil backed by silica reflects about 95 percent of radiant heat, and the inner layer of foil laminated to fiberglass, as well as the pocket of air between the layers, provide additional protection. But the shelter simply absorbs the convective heat of direct contact with flames.
"We're taught to pick an area that the fire won't burn right up to the shelter; distance from flames will reduce heating," Bylin says. "Unfortunately, when you can't find a good location like that or the temperature is too hot, it's made out of foil and silica, and those will slow heat transfer but won't prevent it." This may have been why shelters could not save the 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot crew who died fighting the Yarnell Hill, Ariz., fire on June 30. "Unfortunately, it appears the situation they were in was just so far beyond the [shelters'] capacity," Bylin says.
That capacity, according to the Forest Service, is usually around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, a limit imposed by the weakest part of the shelter?the adhesive that binds the layers together.
The aluminum foil begins to melt at 1220 F. Between 1350 and 1610 F, the fiberglass of the inner layer becomes brittle, and by 2000 F, the silica that forms the backing of the first layer is brittle. Long before those temperatures are reached, the adhesive breaks down (around 500 F), leaving the outer layer of reflective foil at the mercy of the fire's winds. When that layer is torn away, most of the shelter's protection goes with it.
Yet even with some limitations, the Forest Service says that fire shelters have saved approximately 300 lives since 1977, including 21 in the past decade.
Selecting Today's Fire Shelters
The shelters used by wildland firefighters today are actually the second generation of fire shelters, and they have been standard equipment since 2002, when the Forest Service selected a design called the New Generation Fire Shelter to replace the older version.
The selection process started in the lab, where materials from each proposed design underwent small-scale testing before the full fire-shelter designs were tested. Evaluators needed to ensure that the materials used in fire shelters were strong enough for the job, would not give off toxic fumes, and would transfer as little outside heat as possible to a person inside the shelter. Because firefighters carry fire shelters and other gear into the field, Forest Service evaluators also had to consider the weight and bulk of proposed designs. The Forest Service considered over 60 materials and combinations of materials, and they eventually tested 17 full-scale fire-shelter designs.
One of those designs came from engineer Jim Roth. He claims that because the adhesive is the first thing to break down in temperatures above 500 F, fire shelters constructed without adhesive could withstand greater temperatures, possibly including direct flames. His company, Storm King Mountain Technologies, developed a fire shelter whose layers were bound by tufting?the sewing method used to make layered winter garments?rather than adhesive.
Ultimately, the Forest Service selected the New Generation Fire Shelter rather than Storm King Mountain's proposed design. Roth believes that the decision was economic. At the time, Roth told PM, his design would have cost $300 per shelter, which he says was higher than the expected price tag for the New Generation Fire Shelter. Today New Generation Fire Shelter prices range from $300 to $400 at retail.
However, the Forest Service says that although all proposed designs included cost estimates, no design was turned down purely on the basis of cost. "Storm King Mountain's proposed fire shelter design did go through preliminary and final testing along with several other designs," said Forest Service spokesman Mike Ferris. "The final selection was based on results of extensive testing, peer review, and performance."
The selection of the New Generation Fire Shelter made it mandatory equipment for all federal, state, and local wildland firefighters, and all agencies that fight wildfire made the transition to the new shelter by 2010. Standardization is important, partly to ensure that in the event of an emergency, all firefighters are working with the same, familiar equipment.
10-Year Track Record
During their first decade of use 116 firefighters deployed the New Generation Fire Shelters, and?until the Yarnell Hill Fire?all but two of those firefighters survived the experience. One fatality occurred during the July 2008 Panther Fire in northern California. About to be overtaken by the rapidly advancing flames, a division supervisor deployed his shelter correctly, but, in the stark language of the incident report, "the intense heat of the fire and its residence time exceeded the capability of the fire shelter."
During the August 2011 Coal Canyon Fire in South Dakota, the leader of a fire-engine crew deployed his fire shelter in the cab of his fire engine just before flames fully engulfed the vehicle for several minutes. A later report suggested that sheltering inside a vehicle may have placed him too high off the ground, where he was vulnerable to inhaling superheated gases from the fire, although it cannot be known for certain.
The Yarnell Hill Fire claimed the lives of 19 wildland firefighters from the Prescott Fire Department. However, more firefighters have survived, thanks to their shelters. Since 2002 New Generation Fire Shelters are credited with saving 21 lives and preventing 90 probable injuries.
An Ongoing Effort
Since its adoption in 2002 the New Generation Fire Shelter has seen a few relatively minor design changes, but the Forest Service is not looking to fully replace the current design. Ferris told PM, "there is work being done both independently and in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service to improve fire shelters." Just after Yarnell Hill, another Forest Service spokesman told the press that much of that work focused on improvements to the adhesive that binds the layers of the shelters.
For wildland firefighters such as Bylin, "the whole goal of everybody who's issued one is to go through a whole career and never have to pull it out of its package."
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Hannah Davey, from London, touches the worlds largest polar bear...
Hannah Davey, from London, touches the worlds largest polar bear puppet, unveiled by Greenpeace at North Weald airfield in Essex. The bear has been made to lead an Artic parade through central London on Sunday15th September to highlight the need for more protection for the Arctic.
Picture: Sean Dempsey/PA
http://telegraph.co.uk
Source: http://tic-tag.tumblr.com/post/60757958606
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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Inmate stabs deputy, steals uniform, carjacks minivan at Detroit courthouse
Bystanders describe a prisoner's violent escape from a Detroit courthouse after he stabbed a deputy, stole the officer's uniform and keys and carjacked a woman. WDIV's Lauren Podell reports.
By Lori Brusehaver and Tracy Connor, NBC News
A manhunt lasted all day and into the night Monday for an inmate who escaped from a Detroit courthouse by stabbing a sheriff's deputy with a makeshift shank, stealing his uniform and keys, and carjacking a minivan, authorities said. He was finally apprehended late Monday night, cops said.
"He is armed and dangerous," Detroit Police Chief James Craig had said earlier of the suspect, identified?as convicted armed robber Abraham Pearson, 25, who uses the alias Derreck White.
The injured deputy, who was unarmed and working alone, was putting three inmates in a seventh-floor holding cell at the?Frank Murphy Hall of Justice and had just uncuffed Pearson when he pulled a homemade weapon, officials said.
Wayne County Sheriff's Department via AP
This undated photo provided by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department shows Abraham Pearson, alias Derreck White, 25.
"He used a comb that had been fashioned into a shank to overcome the deputy, stabbed him several times in the neck," Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon told reporters.
"After he stabbed the deputy, he took the deputy?s clothing, he took his keys, he got on the prisoner elevator and he escaped from the building."
The unidentified deputy had several puncture wounds to the neck but they were not life-threatening, officials said. He was able to call for help using a courthouse phone, but the inmate was in the wind by then.
Once outside, Pearson stole a 2000 gray Dodge Voyager from a 58-year-old woman but later ditched the vehicle and the deputy's uniform, police said.?
More than 13 hours after the escape, cops announced that they caught Pearson, just before midnight local time. Napoleon said it was a joint effort of his office, Detroit police, Michigan State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol.
He was caught while walking eastbound on the I-94 service drive near Mount Elliott, police said.
Pearson had spent more than five years in prison for assault during an armed robbery and breaking and entering before being paroled in January 2012, officials said.
He was locked up later that winter for a month for failing to report to his parole officer, and absconded again when he was released. In September 2012 he was arrested on carjacking, armed robbery and weapons charges and convicted in a non-jury trial, prison officials said.
He was due to be sentenced for those crimes when he bolted.
His lawyer, James Howarth, said he believes Pearson has mental issues and wanted to mount an insanity defense, but two psychiatrists found him competent.
"In my initial conversation with him, he had no knowledge of the incident and talked about hallucinations," Howarth told NBC News. "He appeared not to be in any touch with reality whatsoever."
Howarth said Pearson was offered a plea deal that would have given him the minimum sentence of nine years but turned it down. After being convicted, he was likely facing 15 years.
"I imagine it weighed pretty heavily on his head," Howarth said.
He encouraged his client to surrender.
"I have concerns of him hurting himself, concerns of him hurting someone else and concerns of people hurting him," the lawyer said. "He's got to know?the amount of trouble he is in right now can only get worse unless he gives himself up."
Officials said courthouse procedures would be reviewed because of the escape, but it does not appear the deputy broke any rules.
A massive manhunt is underway in Detroit, Mich., for a prisoner who escaped from the courthouse after taking a stabbing a sheriff's deputy and carjacking a minivan. WDIV's Shawn Ley reports.
?Usually, we have a deputy transport anywhere up to five prisoners alone -- it?s a staffing issue,??Napoleon told NBC station WDIV.
He said courthouse metal detectors would not have picked up the plastic comb smuggled in by Pearson.
"He obviously paid very close attention to how the process works," the sheriff said.
Follow Tracy Connor on Twitter at @TracyConnorNYC
This story was originally published on Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:34 AM EDT
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Sunday FFX with Mark Haas and Lina Washington coming up after Cowboys/Giants on...
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Five Best Bluetooth Speakers
Speaker cables are so 1980, and if you're looking for an upgrade Bluetooth speakers are the logical next step. That said, the quality of Bluetooth speakers isn't always predictable, so we're going to look at five of the best speakers currently available, based on your recommendations.
Earlier this week, we asked you which Bluetooth speakers you preferred. You responded with a bunch of great nominations, but we only have room for the top five. Here's what you said, in no particular order.
Logitech UE Mobile Boombox
The Logitech UE Mobile Boombox is designed to be very small and easy to use. It has a built-in rechargeable battery, speakerphone capability for those random phone calls, and sounds about as good as you'd expect a tiny speaker to sound.
The Mobile Boombox also comes with the ability to let multiple people take turns selecting the music that goes to the speaker and offers up a 50 foot distance for wireless playback. At around $90, it's also one of the cheaper options on this list and is Wirecutter's pick for best portable Bluetooth speaker.
Bose Soundlink Series
The Bose Soundlink series comes in two flavors: the Mini and the Mobile speaker II. The former is extremely light at just 1.5 pounds, while the latter gives you even better quality sound at the sacrifice of its larger size.
Either way, at $200 and $300 respectively, neither are cheap options, but you'll get the sound quality you'd expect from Bose. The Mini doesn't charge via USB, and it doesn't have a mic so you can't make speakerphone calls through it.
Jawbone Jambox Series
The Jawbone Jambox series got a new addition this week, and the original Bluetooth speaker is still going strong. Most striking about the speaker is it's unique design, but it comes packed with everything you'd expect from a Bluetooth speaker, including a rechargeable battery and compatibility with most Bluetooth devices.
Coming it at around $160-$200, it's certainly not a cheap option, but the Jambox features firmware updates, apps, and a surprisingly powerful speaker driver to justify the cost.
Braven Series
Braven's line of Bluetooth speakers range from around $100 all the way up to $300 and you get the quality you pay for. Most of the speakers come with battery backups, the ability to charge external devices, and the ability to make hands free calls.
Braven's real claim to fame is their design. They're built for portability, so they're lightweight but still rugged enough to throw in your bag for a day trip. Many models also come packed with waterproof bags to keep the speakers safe no matter where you are.
JBL Flip
The JBL Flip is made to work in any situation you might need it in. The speaker design is set up so it can lay both horizontally or vertically, and sounds good either way. It's lightweight enough that you can pack it with you pretty much anywhere you go, and the fact it works in two directions means it's easy to find a place to put it.
At around $100, the JBL Flip is one of the cheaper options on this list, although it's a bit larger than the comparably priced Logitech UE Mobile Boombox. The JBL Flip charges with a charger as opposed to USB, so you'll always need access to a wall outlet if you want to charge on the go.
Photo by abhisawa.
RelatedBest Bluetooth Speaker?
Bluetooth speakers are growing in popularity but you still have a ton of options of varying quality. This week, we want to know which Bluetooth? Read?
RelatedSource: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/p4CXCNiefd8/five-best-bluetooth-speakers-1265389497
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