SQUAD STANDARDS

A. All Squads to be numbered with a 1-digit number per your station number unless there is more than 1 Squad in your station, then 2-digit number for each additional unit.

    Example: Squad 2, Squad 3-1, Squad 4, Squad 5-1, Squad 6, Squad 7-1, Squad 8.

B. The vehicle shall consist of a motorized piece of apparatus of minimum capacity to carry the equipment named below without being overloaded.  The vehicle shall meet DOT specifications and shall not exceed the chassis manufacturer's G.V.W.  It must be registered as an emergency vehicle and meet all codes of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration or its successors.  If a canopy cab is present, there shall be safety devices at the canopy entrance - - i.e., door, bar, chain, etc.

C. It shall be equipped as follows:

D. All loose equipment shall be mounted brackets and fastened to the apparatus.

• Fire Pump

1.  Pump capacity of 1,250 GPM or more

2. One (1) 4-in. piped Hi-flow discharge.

a.      Two (2) 4-in. piped Hi-flow discharges with a 1,750 GPM flow or larger.

b.      No discharge larger than 2 ½-in. on the pump operator’s side of the pump.

3. Pump shall be tested annually in accordance with NFPA 1910 – Standard for Inspection, Maintenance, Refurbishment, Texting, Retirement of In-Service Emergency Vehicles, and Requirements of Marine Firefighting Vehicles.

a.      Test results shall be kept on file for a minimum of three (3) years for inspection by the Standards Committee.

• Water Tank

1. Water tank capacity of 500 gallons or more

2. Illuminated Tank Level Display shall be mounted on the driver’s and officer’s side of the apparatus.

a.      Display shall be visible from at least 100-ft. in normal daylight.

• Ground Ladders

1. All fire department ground ladders carried on the apparatus shall meet the requirements of NFPA 1930 – Standard for Fire and Emergency Service Use of Thermal Imagers, Two-Way Portable RF Voice Communications Devices, Ground Ladders, and Fire Hose Appliances.

2. One (1) 10-ft. folding ladder.

3. One (1) 14-ft. minimum straight ladder equipped with roof hooks.

4. One (1) 24-ft. minimum extension ladder.

5. Stepladders and other types of multipurpose ladders meeting ANSI A14.2, Ladders – Portable Metal – Safety Requirements, or ANSI A14.5, Ladders – Portable Reinforced Plastic – Safety Requirements, with duty ratings of Type 1A or 1AA shall be permitted to be substituted for the folding ladder.

6. Ground ladders shall be annually tested in accordance with NFPA 1960 – Standard for Fire Hose Connections, Spray Nozzles, Manufacture’s Design of Fire Department Ground Ladders, Fire Hose and Powered Rescue Tools.

a.      Test results shall be kept on file for a minimum of three (3) years for

   inspection by the Standards Committee

• Suction Hose, Supply Hose, Fire Hose, Nozzle and Adapters

1. A minimum of 20-ft. of hard suction hose.

2. One (1) hard suction strainer with a minimum of 1,500 GPM Flow rate.

a.      Optional – One (1) Low-Level strainer with a minimum of 1,500 GPM Flow

   rate.

b.      Optional – One (1) Floating strainer with a minimum of 1,500 GPM Flow

   rate.

c.       Optional – One (1) Jet Siphon – can be incorporated in the Low-Level

   strainer.

3. A minimum of 15-ft. of supply hose with pump intake connection on one end and local hydrant connection on the other end.

4. Minimum of 1,200-ft of 3-in. hose with NST couplings or larger hose with Storz couplings.

a.      Optional – One (1) Supply Hose size hose clamp.

5. If LDH is used for supply hose – One (1) 4 ½-in. female swivel x LDH size Storz with swivel.

a.      Optional – One (1) LDH with Storz Hydrant valve.

6. If 4-in or larger supply hose is used a minimum of 200-ft. of 2 ½-in or 3-in hose with NST couplings to be used as a hand line or for fill site operations.

7. Minimum of 400-ft. of 1 ½-in. or 1 ¾-in. or 2-in fire hose with NST couplings, with a minimum of Two (2) 150-ft. pre-connected.

8. Fire hose shall be tested annually in accordance with NFPA 1930 – Standard on Fire and Emergency Service Use of Thermal Imagers, Two-Way Portable RF Voice Communication Devices, Ground Ladders, and Fire Hose Appliances.

a.      Test results shall be kept on file for a minimum of three (3) years for

    inspection by the Standards Committee.

9. Two (2) 2 ½-in. 200 GPM minimum hand line nozzle.

10. Two (2) 1 ½-in. 95 GPM minimum hand line nozzles.

11. One (1) play-pipe nozzle with shutoff with 1-in., 1 1/8-in and 1 ¼-in. tips.

12. Optional – 1,000 GPM minimum Master Stream Device.

a.      It Master Stream Device is carried – One (1) 1,000 GPM minimum Master

   Stream Combination Nozzle.

b.      If Master Stream Device is carried – One (1) 1 3/8-in., 1 ½-in, 2-in. Stack

   Tips.

13. Four (4) combination spanner wrenches.

14. Four (4) LDH spanner wrenches.

15. Two (2) hydrant wrenches.

16. Two (2) 2 ½-in Gate Valves.

17. Two (2) 2 ½-in. NST double female.

18. Two (2) 2 ½-in. NST double male.

19. One (1) 2 ½-in. NST female wye reducer with two (2) 1 ½-in. NST male shut-off discharges.

20.  One (1) 2 ½-in. NST female to 1 ½-in. NST male reducer mounted.

21. If none of the pump intakes are valved, a hose appliance that is equipped with one or more gated intakes with female swivel connection(s) compatible with the supply hose used on one side and a swivel connection with pump intake threads on the other side shall be carried.

22.  Any intake connection larger than 3-in. shall include a pressure relief device. 

23. One (1) suction size to 2 ½-in. NST double female with swivel.

24. One (1) suction size to 4-½ in. NST double female with swivel.

25. One (1) suction size to 6-in. NST double female with swivel.

26. One (1) 3-in. Storz x 2 ½-in. NST female.

27. One (1) 3-in. Storz x 2 ½-in. NST male.

28. Two (2) 4-in. Storz to 5-in. Storz with swivel.

29. One (1) 5-in. Stroz Double Clappered Siamese.

30. Optional – One (1) LDH Storz x One (1) LDH Storz and Four (4) 2 ½-in. NST Gated

                            Wye or One (1) LDH Storz x Three (3) 2 ½-in. Gated Wye for use for fill

                           site operations.

31.  One (1) rubber mallet, suitable for use on suction hose connection.

32. Four (4) hose straps.

33. Assortment of spare hose gaskets.

• Generator and Electric Equipment

1. One (1) 5,000-watt minimum generator

2. One (1) safety gas can, if the generator does not use the apparatus fuel tank.

3. One (1) 5,000 CFM minimum explosion proof smoke ejector.

a.      Optional – One (1) positive pressure fan (PPV) of equal to or greater than

                      CFM’s can be substituted for the smoke ejector.

4. Two (2) 10,000 Lumens minimum portable flood lights with twist lock connectors.

5. Two (2) AC or DC 10,000 Lumens minimum direct wired flood lights.

6. Two (2) electric cord reels or other means to store and deploy 400-ft. of electric cord with twist locks.

7. One (1) 3-way eclectic junction box with twist locks.

8. Assorted electric pig tails and adapters.

9. Two (2) portable hand lights.

·         Rescue Tools and Equipment

1. One (1) hydraulic rescue tool power unit, gas or electric.

a.      Not necessary if using Battery Tools.

2. One (1) hydraulic or battery spreader rescue tool.

3. One (1) hydraulic or battery cutter rescue tool.

4. One (1) hydraulic or battery combo-rescue tool.

5. One (1) 30-in. minimum hydraulic or battery ram.

6. One hundred-ft.  (100) of hydraulic rescue tool hose.

a.      It is not necessary if using battery tools.

7. Assorted cribbing able to secure at least one (1) passenger vehicle.

·         Miscellaneous Equipment

1.  One (1) 6-lb. minimum flathead axe.

2.  One (1) 6-lb. minimum pick head axe.

3.  One (1) 6-ft. minimum pike pole or plaster hook.

4.  One (1) 8-ft. or longer pike pole.

5.  One (1) Holmatro Forcible Entry Tool T1.

6.  One (1) 30-in. minimum Halligan-type tool or Fire Service Claw Tool or Hammerhead Wall Pick.

7.  One (1) “K” tool.

8.  One (1) approved dry chemical portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 80-B:C rating.

9.  One (1) 2 ½-gallon or larger water extinguisher.

10.  One (1) approved CO2 portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 10-B:C rating.

11.  One (1) scoop shovel mounted.

12.  One (1) pointed shovel mounted.

13.  Two (2) 12-ft. x 14-ft. minimum salvage covers.

14.  One pair of insulated bolt cutters with 7/16-in. minimum cut.

15.  One (1) broom.

16.  One (1) mop.

a.  One (1) Wet Vacuum may be substituted for the mop/

17.  Two (2) sprinkler stops or wedges.

18.  One (1) Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC).

19.  One (1) Lockout/Tag Out Kit.

20.  One (1) 4-gas Detector/Meter.

21.  One (1) HCN Detector/Meter.

22.  One (1) Bucket of Absorbent.

23.  Optional – Five (5) Heavy Duty trash bags.

24.  Optional – One (1) Non-Sparking Shovel.

25.  Optional – One (1) Foll of Duct Tape.

26.  Optional – One (1) Leak/Plug Kit.

27.  Optional - One (1) 36-in Crowbar.

28.  Optional – One (1) Portable pump.

29.  Optional – One (1) Toolbox.

·         SCBA

1.  One self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) complying with NFPA 1970 – Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Firefighting, Work Apparel, Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Emergency Services, and Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) for each assigned seating position, but not fewer than four, mounted in brackets fastened to the apparatus or stored in containers supplied by the SCBA manufacturer.

2.  One spare SCBA cylinder for each SCBA carried.

3.  One (1) Kent County RIT Pack.

·         Rope

1.  One (1) 125-ft. length of 9,000-lb. lifeline.

2.  One (1) 125-ft. length of 5,000-lb. utility rope.

3.  One (1) Kent County Large Area Search Bag.

·         Foam Equipment

1.  Ten (10) gallons of foam shall be carried on Engines that respond on Haz-Mat Boxes.

2.  One (1) foam educator shall be carried if the fire pump does not have a built-in foam proportion system.

3.  One (1) foam nozzle or foam tube.

·         EMS Equipment

1.  One (1) first aid kit.

2.  One (1) O2 kit.

3.  One automatic external defibrillator (AED).

4.  One (1) per crewmember; Respirator and gloves as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for airborne pathogens.

5.  One (1) Bio-Hazard Kit, consisting of:

a.   Four (4) each surgical mask.

b.  Four (4) each eye protection devices

c.   Four (4) protective gowns.

d.  Two (2) red bio-waste bags.

e.   Ten (10) plastic trash bags.

f.        Twenty-four (24) paper towels.

g.  Twenty-four (24) clean towelettes.

h.  Two (2) cans of foam alcohol hand scrub.

·         Safety Equipment

1.  Two (2) or more wheel chocks, mounted in readily accessible locations, that together will hold the apparatus, when loaded to its GVWR or GCWR, on hard surface with a 20 percent grade with the transmission in neutral and the parking brake released.

2.  One (1) traffic vest for each riding position.  Each vest complies with ANSI/ISEA 207, Standard for High-Visibility Public Vests, and have five-point breakaway feature that includes two at the shoulders, two at the sides, and one at the front.

a.  Traffic Vest may be part of the members issued PPE, at which point traffic

      vest would not be required to be carried on the apparatus.

3.  Five (5) fluorescent orange traffic cones not less than 28-in. in height, each equipped with 6-in. retro-reflective white band no more than 4 in. from the top of the cone, an additional 4-in. retro-reflective white band 2-in. below the 6-in band.

4.  Eight (8) 30-minute Safety Flares or Incendiary, or Battery Powered LED Type.

5.  One (1) set, at least three (3), of emergency road triangles

6.  One (1) roll of fire-line tape.

7.  Apparatus shall have warning signals in accordance with NFPA 1900 – Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles, Automotive Fire Apparatus, Wildland Fire Apparatus, and Automotive Ambulance.

8.  Apparatus shall have a means of communication (buzzer, bell, or intercom) from the rear step to the driver.

9.  Apparatus shall have an audible back-up alarm.

10.  Apparatus shall meet Federal DOT Standards for lighting, axle loads, tire size, frame capacities, height, width, etc.

11.  All equipment shall be mounted, maintained and in good working order at all times.

·         Radios, Maps, Etc.

1.  One (1) two-way radio to meet county standards

2.  One (1) portable radio for each riding position to meet county standards.

3.  One (1) current Kent County Map Book

4.  One (1) Map Book for all surrounding counties in which the company responds to an alarm.

a.  GPS or Table/iPad maybe substituted for Maps.

5.  One (1) Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

6.  One (1) Kent County Knox Box.

7.      Optional – One (1) pair of Binoculars.

·         Reference Material

1.  Kent County Chiefs Association Squad Standards – 2010

2.  Maryland State Firefighters Association S.O.P. No. 001 – Pumper Standards – 2024

3.  Maryland State Firefighters Association S.O.P. No. E003 – Rescue Company Standards – 2011.

4.  NFPA – 1900 – Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles, Automotive Fire Apparatus, Wildland Fire Apparatus, and Automotive Ambulance – 2024.

5.  ISO – Apparatus and Equipment – 2017.

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