The use of 12-volt outlets, "cigarette lighter sockets," as power outlet can be another potential cause of fire. Even when rubber grommets are used, the rubber can become old and cracked, causing wire casings to erode and make contact with the metal edge. When this happens, the exposed wiring can come in contact with grounded metal causing arcing and creating a flame.Īdditional electrical equipment such as inverters, hazard warning signs and charging stations for biomedical equipment and hand lights, are another cause of truck fires.Īftermarket installation of such equipment requires drilling holes for the passage of wires, and it doesn't take long for the wiring to chafe against the edges of the hole. This new configuration can cause additional stress on the wires and produce a greater risk of damage to the wire's insulation. Replacing a starter or alternator may require the wiring to be stretched beyond its original configuration. The wiring configurations may be different on aftermarket engine parts. This potential hazard is a red flag for any fire department and its maintenance technicians given the amount of aftermarket electrical equipment like radios, computers and portable equipment chargers, which most fire apparatus undergoes following delivery.Įnsure that such work is always done by knowledgeable and skilled technicians who are licensed to do those types of installations. Technicians should look for thinning, cracked or otherwise compromised wiring that poses a fire risk. Even though most truck manufacturers wire their vehicles cleanly and safely, over time the wires grow old or wear out, especially in certain configurations. TMC's initial findings were that the majority of commercial truck fires result from the routing, clipping or chafing of the vehicle's electrical wiring. Here are some of TMC's recommended actions that vehicle operators, fire departments, and emergency vehicle technicians should be on the lookout for to mitigate the chances of a fire breaking out. Mahanoy City, Pa: Flames destroyed the aerial truck of the Washington Hook and Ladder Co.Philadelphia: Ambulance catches fire and torches a Philly fire station.Auburn, Maine: A group of firefighters found themselves engulfed by smoke as they rode south on Washington Street aboard one of their pieces of apparatus.Engine 50 had just returned from a call when the fire started. Baltimore: Mechanical issues caused a Baltimore fire engine to catch fire in its quarters.ambulance bursts into flames while transporting patientĪnd because of that, fire and emergency apparatus are not immune to fires. The local private school, Sharkey Issaquena Academy, was not damaged at all and has power, but it also is being used for the foreseeable future in an emergency capacity.N.J. Even schools like South Delta Middle School in Anguilla do not have students as the school is being used as a shelter and staging area for emergency needs. According to an emergency management official, there is no timetable for getting children back in schools. South Delta High School has been damaged and does not have power. Schools in the area continue to be closed. Hopefully, we will have power very soon," Anderson said. While there was no electricity at the bank Tuesday afternoon, Anderson said there were three utility trucks parked outside the Rolling Fork branch working to connect lines. We are trying to get as many folks the money they need as we can." "We have a hot spot tied into a computer there and working on it that way. "Even in the Bank in Rolling Fork, we have a cash drawer outside and we are cashing checks," Andy Anderson, president and CEO of Bank of Anguilla said. While damaged by the storm and without power, the Rolling Fork branch is still open for business on a limited basis. Neither were branches in the communities of Cary and Mayersville, and they remain open. The main branch in Anguilla, five miles North of Rolling Fork, was not impacted. The Bank of Anguilla, which most people in the area use, has four locations for customers. She said while the store is at full strength with generator power, Wells is hopeful the utility power is restored soon. The store, Stop-N-Shop, is using a generator to stay open. "We're trying to get some things to keep us going," Gibbs said, Tuesday. Verna Gibbs of Cary, Miss., a water and wastewater operator for Cary who is in Rolling Fork helping with water restoration and leak repair after the Friday night tornado hit the town, takes a few moments to grab groceries for her family.
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