The Golden Curse of the Peruvian Amazon

Madre de Dios, the name of a region in southeastern Peru bordering Brazil and Bolivia, is a very common designation for the Virgin Mary, meaning Mother of God in Spanish. In real life, however, Mother of God, used as an oath and not a name, expresses what intense and unregulated gold exploration and extraction are doing to this up-to-now privileged area in Peru.

Madre de Dios is a region rich in cotton, coffee, sugarcane, cacao, Brazil nuts, and palm oil. However, plentiful gold has attracted tens of thousands of illegal miners whose activities are having a deleterious effect not only on precious species in the environment but also on the health and quality of life of both native and new populations in the region.

Alluvial gold mining in Peru’s Amazon rainforest has rapidly spread in recent years, driven by the high price of gold. Although many jungle-mining concessions have been granted by the energy and mines ministry, the informal sector has grown out of control.

It is estimated that almost a quarter of the gold produced in Peru, the world’s sixth largest producer, is illegal. The majority of this illegal gold comes from the Madre de Dios region. Local nongovernmental organizations believe that there are up to 30,000 miners in the area.

Gold deposits are mined by both large-scale operators and small-scale miners who use hydraulic mining techniques and heavy machinery to expose potential gold-yielding gravel deposits. Gold is extracted by a sluice box, a piece of gold prospecting equipment that has been in continuous use for over a hundred years. The sluice box is used to separate heavier sediment and mercury is also used for amalgamating the precious metal.Several studies have shown that small-scale miners are less efficient in their use of mercury than industrial miners. As a result, 2.91 pounds of mercury are released into waterways for every 2.2 pounds of gold produced. It is estimated that more than 40 tons of mercury have been absorbed into the rivers of Madre de Dios, poisoning the food chain.

Mercury not only contaminates waterways and becomes a serious threat to human health but is also a dangerous toxin to fish. Fish in the area contain three times more mercury than the safe levels permitted by the World Health Organization.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, “After fossil fuel burning, small-scale gold mining is the world’s second largest source of mercury pollution, contributing around one-third of the world’s mercury pollution.”

Mercury contamination is not the only drawback of small-scale mining, however. Another significant problem is the significant amount of deforestation it produces while clearing forests for the construction of roads to open remote areas to transient settlers and land speculators.

In addition, deforestation is the result of cutting trees to obtain building material and fuel wood.

The enormity of the damage has been documented in a study by American, French, and Peruvian researchers published in the peer-reviewed magazine PLoS ONE. According to the study, Using satellite imagery from NASA, researchers were able to assess the loss of 7,000 hectares (15,200 acres) of forest due to artisanal gold mining in Peru between 2003 and 2009. This is an area larger than Bermuda.

Jennifer Swenson, the lead author of the study, says that such enormous deforestation is “plainly visible from space,” and suggests that Peru should limit the importation of mercury.

In addition to these problems, illegal gold mining has significantly increased the number of 12-to-17-year-old girls and young women drafted by prostitution rings. These young women are brought from all over the country to brothels that have sprung up in mining camps. Many of the women that fall into these prostitution rings eventually disappear, and are never seen again. Miners also bring diseases to local indigenous populations.

While Peruvian authorities have sent almost 1,000 security forces to destroy river dredgers used by illegal gold miners in the Madre de Dios region even more drastic measures are needed, such as stricter vigilance and regulation. At stake is the survival of what has been recognized as one of the most biologically rich areas in the world.

Blastcrete Equipment introduce new mine mate machine

Blastcrete Equipment has introduced the Mine Mate, designed to mix and pump concrete material for underground mine sealing and stabilisation, grouting and various other shotcrete applications. The Mine Mate is a convenient solution when ready-mix concrete is not an option. Featuring Blastcrete’s X-10 ultra-high pressure swing tube pump, it is a highly productive and reliable machine that’s also easy to operate and maintain.

The Mine Mate uses the wet-mix shotcrete process. It was created at the request of several customers seeking a machine to apply shotcrete in underground coal applications. In contrast to the dry shotcrete (gunite), the wet shotcrete process minimises dust emissions and improves visibility making it much safer, particularly for underground use. Of compact configuration, the Mine Mate is designed for operation within a 1.2 m ceiling.

The Mine Mate includes Blastcrete’s X-10 76-mm, high-pressure swing tube pump, and a high shear continuous mixer. The unit is capable of mixing and pumping 9.2 m3/h and can handle aggregate up to 9.5 mm diameter. It can pump material in excess of 150 m, horizontally and vertically. Additionally, the hydraulic pump can run in reverse to eliminate line pressure from the delivery line should a hose plug.

The X-10 provides easy access for cleaning and maintenance. The receiving hopper of the pump is mounted with a heavy-duty hinge so that it can easily swing away from the swing tube section. The flat pack is held in place by four heavy-duty bolts so that the spare flat pack can quickly and easily be replaced.

Available power options include a V3,600, 50-kW Kubota water-cooled diesel engine or 37-kW electric motor with starter and disconnect. The machine can also be equipped with a material screw conveyor, with bin indicator for charging the continuous mixer. The Mine Mate’s X-10 is CE Certified, meeting European Union safety standards for equipment operation.

Eaton Announces Breakthrough in Hydraulic Hose Technology

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced the launch of a new breakthrough technology that enables reporting of imminent hose assembly failure by means of real-time monitoring of high pressure hose assemblies used in hydraulic systems.

Eaton's LifeSense(TM) hose, a patented hydraulic hose condition monitoring system, will be introduced to the North American market at the International Fluid Power Exposition (held in conjunction with ConExpo 2011) in Las Vegas, March 22 - 26, and to the European market at Hannover Messe 2011 in Hannover, Germany, April 4 - 8.

Eaton's LifeSense hose was developed in conjunction with Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to continuously monitor the health of hydraulic hose assemblies and alert users when an assembly approaches the end of its useful life. The LifeSense hose can monitor and track the health of each hose assembly in a hydraulic system. This system does not estimate or predict through arithmetic calculations when a hose is going to fail, like some products on the market today. The LifeSense hose actually detects when a hose is nearing the end of its useful life. Then an alert is sent to the user so that the assembly can be replaced to prevent downtime. A single monitoring unit can handle input from multiple hose assemblies.

"Most hydraulic maintenance programs are designed to avoid hose failures by replacing assemblies at regular intervals, using a schedule based on usage data or past experience," said Doug Jahnke, Eaton product marketing manager. "As a result, a large number of perfectly good hydraulic hose assemblies are discarded long before the end of their useful life out of fear that they might fail."

The LifeSense hose allows the user to utilize virtually all of the useful life of a hydraulic hose assembly, more than 50 percent longer life in a typical lab test, thus saving on replacement costs and associated downtime while providing peace-of-mind that productivity will not be impeded and safety not compromised by unpredicted hose failure.

"Additionally, hydraulic hose failure is one of the largest causes of unplanned maintenance events," Jahnke said. "Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues, environmental concerns and result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious economic impacts."

The initial LifeSense hose offering will include the widely-used -8, -12 and -16 two-wire hose assemblies. Eaton's LifeSense hydraulic hose condition monitoring offers performance equal to industry standard 2SN pressure-rated hose and is certified to the same industry specifications as conventional hydraulic hose products. The technology is currently available for trial with factory-made assemblies including straight JIC swivel fittings.

Eaton's Hydraulics Group is a segment of the company's Industrial Sector. The business is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a comprehensive line of reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic systems and components for use in mobile and stationary applications. Mobile and stationary markets include agriculture, alternative energy, construction, forestry, manufacturing, material handling, mining, oil and gas, processing, transportation and utility equipment.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety.

Equipment, training upgrades aid in prompt patient removal

Imagine traveling in a vehicle and are suddenly involved in a head-on collision. One is disoriented and scared, and are trapped in the vehicle.

On Nov. 8 this scary scenario did occur on Route 17 in Hope. Emergency units were dispatched to the scene. One of the responding agencies was the Camden First Aid Association Access Team.

The CFAA Access Team is a group of volunteers whose mission at the scene is to “open up” a vehicle, or vehicles, providing EMS personnel space to work and remove injured persons. They use hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life), electric tools, hand tools, and air bags to perform this task.

A recent upgrade to the Jaws tools, as well as members commitment to training and education, permitted a quick patient removal from one of the vehicles at the Route 17 accident.

The equipment upgrade included: mounting a hydraulic pump in a cabinet readily accessible from outside the truck, three reels mounted in the rear of the vehicle connected to the hydraulic pump (three different colored hoses), hydraulic tools mounted near the reels providing quick connection and deployment (grab-and-go capabilities), quick connection couplings on the hydraulic hoses and tools which provide prompt initial setup as well as swapping tools. There is also a portable hydraulic pump and 30-foot lengths of hydraulic hose set up to be portable. A generator provides power for on-scene lighting and two reciprocating saws.

Training commitments included an all-day academy where members were educated on safety, response, scene control, cooperation with other agencies, and concluded with an afternoon of learning and practicing prying and cutting techniques using donated vehicles. Monthly drill sessions included “opening” vehicles, equipment familiarization, driver training, and locked vehicle entry.

Standard Operating Procedures and Policies are being reviewed and updated, and will be distributed to team members providing guidance, and ensuring consistent delivery of extrication operations.

Member commitment to training, education, team work, and use of the upgraded tools has resulted in efficient operations on scene.

The CFAA Access Team asks drivers to be careful as they travel, and assure drivers they will be there should the need arise.

The durable braid reinforced PC hose

Nylobrade, the reliable braid reinforced PC hose, was released in the direction of the U.S. in 1956 by Raymond Baker, founder of NewAge Industries, Inc. the organization is proud to recognize the 55th anniersary with this remarkable and durable product this month.

Baker, an businessman who began his indiidual metal hardness screening deices business, arried throughout a brand brand new sort of hose een although on the trip to England. He felt the product experienced marketing possible een although in the United States, howeer it didn抰 suit the hardness tester business. Baker began a brand brand new diision with this reolutionary product that he named Nylobrade.

For decades Nylobrade has long been employed for liquid, air, and gasoline moe in apps inoling chemicals, dinners and beerages, OEM, toys, pneumatics, minimal stress hydraulics, MRO, pools and spas, health care deices, fuels and oils, and instrumentation. it could be used as protectie jacketing.

Nylobrade recently gained NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) official certifications for potable consuming water (NSF 61) and dinners deices (NSF 51), permitting its use in these closely and ery carefully regulated applications.

Originally made with nylon braid reinforcement, these times Nylobrade is produced een although in the U.S. from polyester braid product and crystal-clear PC (polyinyl chloride) thermoplastic. The inside in the hose is extruded first, then wrapped with braid. An external layer of PC is extruded to encase the braid and type the finished hose. All Nylobrade components are non-toxic and conform to FDA and USP (United suggest Pharmacopoeia) school I standards. The hose also complies using the RoHS directie.

Nylobrade is stocked in sizes ranging from 1/8 to 2 I.D. and arries in three wall thicknesses  thin, standard, and increased pressure. NewAge also shares a broad range of fittings and clamps to mate with Nylobrade.

In company offered that 1954, NewAge sectors manufactures and fabricates thermoplastic and thermoset tubing in equally reinforced and unreinforced styles. the organization proides an all round product high quality rating of 99.7%, offers extensive customized extrusion and fabrication capabilities, and companies possible customers worldwide. NewAge sectors maintains a tremendous stock options and prides by itself on same-day shipment of 99% of orders for its major product lines. In 2006, NewAge initiated an ESOP (Employee stock options Ownership Plan) to the benefit of equally its employees and customers.

Couple Thankful for Wedding Ring Rescue, Men Behind It

Like most of us when asked what we are most thankful for each Thanksgiving season, things like family, friends and good health top our lists. But this year, Tina and Bernie Fornadley of Niguel Shores in Dana Point have added some interesting acquaintances to their list—a crew from the South Coast Water District.

Just how did SCWD’s collection systems supervisor Ernie Garcia, system operator Justin Davis, senior operations and maintenance technician Artie Garcia and closed circuit TV operator Jimmy Gomez land on the Fornadley’s Thanksgiving list? It all started on an early morning in September when Tina woke to find her precious diamond engagement ring missing from her finger.

After hours of frantic searching, Tina’s husband Bernie asked, “Are you sure you didn’t flush it?”

Tina paused and thought back to the early morning hours and remembered getting up to use the bathroom at about 5 a.m. She recalled that during the night she had moved her ring to her pinky finger because it was bugging her.

“I never take my ring off but it felt itchy that night so I moved it to another finger. I realized that it must have slipped off when I got up to use the restroom.”

So by the process of elimination—and funnily enough, during the process of another kind of elimination—the Fornadleys realized the ring had most likely gone down the toilet.

By the time they came to this conclusion, it was 9 a.m. and in the four hours that had passed, the ring could be long gone.

Bernie tried, to no avail, vacuuming the toilet drain with a shop vac, hoping that by some miracle the ring had not made it to the main drain.

The couple has been married since August of 2000 and that ring—nearly 4 carats in weight—was the ring Bernie presented to Tina when he proposed.

Both were terribly distraught, Tina even more so after calling the water district to inquire whether they would have any recommendations to offer.

“At first they said there was nothing we could do,” said Tina. “I was so upset.”

With panic and the obvious sound of desperation in her voice as Tina tried desperately to hold back tears, the SCWD customer service representative on the other end of the line told Tina she would refer the problem to Ernie.

Ernie promptly called back to tell the Fornadleys he would be sending a crew shortly.

“My first thought when I heard Tina’s story was that their home is in a low flow area so if it did go into the main line there would be a chance to catch it,” said Ernie. “I told them not to use the sinks, showers or toilets and we would do our best.”

Justin installed a debris trap—a screen inside the 8-inch diameter pipe where it flows into at a manhole downstream—to hopefully catch any heavy debris. He also brought a hydraulic line cleaner along to try to flush the ring into the trap.

“I was confident that if it was in there we’d catch it,” said Justin. “I put two traps in just to be sure.”

After that Artie, Jimmy and Ernie put a video camera inside the main line and ran the camera 176 feet down the line but couldn’t see the ring on the video monitor. Justin also cleaned the line from downstream up a couple times that day.

Despite their efforts, the crew had no luck locating the ring and they packed up their truck and left.

“We had the cleanest line in Dana Point,” said Bernie, “but we still had no ring.”

Ernie suggested that Bernie call a plumber to video the line from the house. After about the third call Bernie placed, he got someone to respond. Bernie pulled the toilet off its mount in preparation for the plumber’s arrival.

The plumber told the couple that he checked the private line between the house and the main line and gave them a grave explanation—or according to Bernie, more of a sales pitch—saying the ring was most likely there but their line was clogged and had root blockage.

“The plumber had us thinking that to get the ring back the line would have had to be dug up and completely replaced, to the tune of thousands of dollars,” Bernie said. “He had us thinking that the expense to get the ring may not be worth it and he also put my wife in a panic, fearful that the pipes were busting and full of roots and our house was in jeopardy of a future flood. Incidentally, our private lines turned out to be just fine.”

Still heartbroken, Bernie reached out to Ernie once again.

Ernie was with his boss Joe McDivitt when Bernie’s call came in. Joe encouraged Ernie to go back for another try.

The next day the SCWD crew returned and replaced the debris trap for another go at it and repeated the same procedures—again to no avail.

“Next we brought a portable camera, ran it down the toilet drain and didn’t see the ring after quite a few attempts,” said Ernie. “We were just about to tell Bernie that there was no hope. Then in a last ditch effort we finally spotted it on camera and began trying to flush it down the line with a high pressure, 1000-psi jetter hose. The ring still wouldn’t come out but the sight of it gave us our second wind.”

The crew went in through another sewer line access point with a portable jetter. It didn’t work. They tried flushing all the toilets in the house at the same time and turned on all the faucets at once. The ring still wouldn’t budge.

They kept trying and watched on camera as the ring started to be nudged along slowly by the water pressure and the movement of the camera.

“Once the ring was pushed into the main drain, we thought we stood a good chance of retrieving it,” said Ernie. “When we first videoed the main, once again we couldn’t see the ring but we kept flushing the line.”

Justin, who was waiting down at the manhole cover on the street, saw a pile of foam accumulating in his debris trap, but no ring. Someone on the street was doing laundry and soap suds were coming through the main line, he said.

“As soon as we shut off the water pressure to the basket and the water calmed, I looked in and there it was,” said Justin.

Cheers rang out and high fives were exchanged all around.

Artie said that in his 27 years with SCWD he had taken a couple of similar calls, but this was the first time he’d actually found a ring.

New services in pumping

There has been a flood of activity in the site dewatering and slurry pumps sectors both in terms of new products and the structure of the industry, which should have a positive impact for contractors.
One development has been the establishment of a new company - Xylem, which was launched as a spin-off of the water-related businesses of ITT Corporation. 

Xylem comprises Godwin surface-mounted and Flygt submersible pumps for sale and rent, and it has also launched a new range of compact, multipurpose Flygt pumps called the Ready range, which is offered as part of its on-site service.

Marketing manager for Xylem's rental and dewatering services Stefan Swartling said the company had identified a growing need for turn-key solutions.

"We are noticing an increased demand within the construction industry for dewatering services to be supplied as a complete package including the pump and water treatment systems, engineering expertise and project management.

"The beauty of the service means that customers don't have to invest in auxiliary equipment purchases which are needed for just as long as the project requires. The capital expenditure required to purchase, maintain, service and store the equipment isn't an issue when customers choose the on site dewatering package," said Mr Swartling.  

The Ready range is designed for use in small- and medium-sized applications, removing water, abrasive and corrosive liquids, contaminated water and water containing sand and gravel.
Ready pumps handle flows up to 7 l per second, heads to 14 m, and solids up to 38 mm in diameter. Power ratings range from 0.5 kW to 0.82 kW.

Xylem's Ready pumps product manager Pete Hansen claimed the new range is unique in terms of serviceability.

"They feature a removable top that allows quick access for cable changes and component replacements. By servicing the replaceable components, instead of throwing the pump away and buying a new one, users can reduce environmental impact as well as lower total cost of ownership. In addition, the pumps are exceptionally durable, intended for a long life of repeated use," Mr Hansen explained.

Another change in the pumps sector came in July when Swedish manufacturer Sulzer acquired Cardo Flow Solutions, including the ABS, Scanpump and Pumpex brands.

And Pumpex has expanded its product portfolio with a new high head dewatering pump, the P3001 SH. Powered by a 9.4 kW motor, it delivers over 80 m of head but weighs just 67 kg. The P3001 SH was designed for tough applications on construction sites, mines and tunnelling projects where easy handling, safety and reliability are crucial.

Like the rest of the pumps in the Pumpex dewatering range - which covers the 0.48 kW to 56 kW motor sizes - a key feature in the new P3001 SH is its modular design, providing easy service and maintenance access.

Eaton Announces PowerSource - a Strategic Mobile Field Sales Tool

Industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has launched Eaton PowerSource, an interactive, multi-media mobile iPad app that delivers comprehensive information on more than 200,000 hydraulic products and makes it available anytime, anywhere to Eaton’s 400+ sales representatives and network of distributors. PowerSource enables these users to search, spec and create significantly improved selling opportunities.

By digitizing its extensive and dynamic product catalog on the PowerSource app for iPad, Eaton’s goal is to empower reps with always current and engaging content, such as 3-D parts modeling, promotional and training videos, and pricing configurations to help them sell smarter – and get a competitive edge.  Built for content consumption, the app is different from a website in that it takes advantage of the iPad’s unique mobile strengths - easy portability, portrait and landscape viewing modes, and multi-pane touch navigation. In particular, user adoption is not an issue compared to other PC or Web solutions due to the iPad’s popularity and cachet.

Said Eric Stager, Product Manager, Web and Mobile, Industrial Sector, Eaton Corporation, "The iPad sells itself, making user adoption a snap. The new app is also one of the first to be part of Apple’s new Volume Purchasing Program (VPP) for B2B apps.  We are excited to break new ground in the mobile space and demonstrate the value that the mobile channel can deliver not just for consumer apps, but for strategically connecting employees and partners, too."

The app makes it easier to keep the sales force and distributors updated on current product inventories in a centralized, cost effective and efficient manner.  It is automatically updated weekly and provides product information, technical specifications, competitor cross references, comprehensive catalog access, lead times, model code builders, hose assembly builders, Eaton Sales Resource and Distributor Locator and pricing.

The app is designed for use anytime, anywhere, and of particular interest, approximately 10 GB of data and files are pushed to every device weekly from the Antenna cloud and stored so that each rep can quickly access the most current information whether online or offline.  Some features such as email, GPS integration, and app synching require a connection .

Off-duty nurse helps save two people trapped after car smash

The two injured teenagers suffered through a long ordeal trapped in a car after it smashed into a pole in Ballarat.

Four people were on board when the accident happened in Humffray Street South, Golden Point, about 8.15pm.

But the female driver, 18, and a man in the front passenger seat were trapped from the waist down.

Sen-Sergeant Patrick Clearly told Radio 3AW all four were lucky to survive, as a result of the "quick action of passers-by", including the off-duty nurse.

"She actually got into the back of the car, while it was burning and shielded the faces of two trapped … while another neighbour used a garden hose to put the fire out."

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said Both were given pain relief and remained conscious while emergency crews worked to free them.

Mr Mullen said the pole, which had snapped off and was resting on the car, had to be stabilised with a crane before the rescue began.

"The force of the impact had pushed the front seat right to the back of the car," he said.

Mr Mullen said the front seat passenger, also believed to be about 18, was trapped for almost five hours.

"He had 'crush injuries' – leg, pelvic – after also being trapped from the waist down," Mr Mullen said.

"He was put into an induced coma and he was flown to the Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition."

Mr Mullen said the driver was trapped for almost two hours before being flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.

"She was treated for leg injuries and possible spinal injuries," he said.

CFA spokesman George Ellis said crews used hydraulic cutters to remove the pair.

"The last person was removed from the car at 12.40am," he said.

A police spokeswoman said officers were investigating the smash.

"It’s believed a Holden sedan was travelling along Humffray Street South when it lost control and struck a power pole," she said.

"The vehicle caught fire but was extinguished."

Two other people on board were taken to Ballarat Base Hospital with minor injuries.

Frac Tech to pay $450K settlement to woman burned by acid

Frac Tech has agreed to pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a transport driver who claimed she could not find any working safety showers after suffering chemical burns at Frac Tech's Aledo facility, according to a statement released Wednesday by the woman's attorney, Fort Worth-based John David Hart.

According to the statement, Joyce Burton, a worker for L&B Transport, was unloading hydrochloric acid in February 2008 when a hose fitting came loose, spraying the acid onto her face and body.

Frac Tech Services, which has corporate offices in Cisco and Fort Worth, zoomed to prominence by providing hydraulic fracturing services to drilling sites, using pressurized rigs to shoot so-called "fracking fluid" into casings deep underground in efforts to fracture rock formations and free natural gas.

Burton alleged that of the two safety showers in the Aledo facility, "one was not working properly and that the second was locked and not accessible," according to the attorney's statement, which notes that Burton, a Jackson, La., resident, suffered serious chemical burns to her face, chest and abdomen.

A spokeswoman for Frac Tech declined to comment.

"Safety must be the No. 1 priority of any business, especially an oil field services company utilizing hazardous chemicals," Hart said in a statement. "We were pleased to reach a settlement for Joyce Burton that will compensate her for her economic and personal injuries."

Blaze threatened whole street in Fairfield

THIRTEEN homes were evacuated last night in Fairfield after a house fire threatened to engulf the street.

Residents waited outside for more than three hours while Cheshire Fire crews battled the blaze on Algernon Street.

A house at the end of the road was on fire when they arrived at 7.35pm.

Heat from the fire had begun to damage the attics of neighbours when firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and

using two hose reels managed to quell the flames.

Crews remained at the scene throughout the night while utility companies isolated supplies.

Watch Manager, Frank Williamson, said: "When we arrived we were confronted with a significant fire in an end terrace

property.

"Flames could be seen coming through the window and roof of the home.

"The fire was also beginning to spread through the roof space to the two neighbouring houses.

"We ensured that all the nearby properties had been evacuated as we began fighting the fire.

"We tackled the fire with jets of water on ground level. We also used the hydraulic platform to spray water on the

fire from above.

"The firefighters involved in this incident did a great job in containing this fire, if it was not for their actions

and professionalism more homes could have been lost in this incident.”

No one was in the property at the time of the fire, according to Cheshire Fire.

The cause is currently under investigation.

For eye witness accounts and photographs see tomorrow's issue.

A Fitting Out Checklist Including Rig Checks and Testing

Sometimes known as a ‘shakedown’, we have to wake the engine from its hibernation, slap on the antifouling, grease the winches, check the safety gear. The excitement of seeing our precious vessel craned into the water is followed by the trepidation of rediscovering just how rusty our seamanship skills are after a prolonged winter lay-up. Hopefully, the old magic will return as soon as the tiller or wheel is back in your hand.
A Fitting Out Checklist Including Rig Checks and Testing

The batteries go flat, no VHF radio, no GPS, no navigation lights. The water in the tanks smells of rotten eggs. The log impeller gets stuck and the winches are stiff. But it’s when things don’t go to plan that true seamanship and friendship is put to the test. Riggers will tell you about catastrophic rig failure all because a humble split pin fell out. Better to have a shakedown than a mast fall down.

Boat repair includes woodwork and joinery, hull repair, deck repair, grp repair and sterngear repair.

Not all rig failures are catastrophic, but most are inconvenient, expensive and avoided. Check your rig and you can detect and prevent problems before they happen.

Checking the rig, sails, standing and running rigging for safety doesn’t end with fitting out. Safe sailing is a season-long issue.

Insurers differ where rigs are concerned. Some say rigging needs replacing after 10 years, others want a survey after five. Many rigs don’t have history or service records. All this tells you your rig is something of an unknown quantity.

10% of genoa cars can fail between seasons. Check split pins and grub screws as some makes are prone to coming apart. If the car’s plunger stop or towing system fails under load, the car could knock off the aft end block and in a flash you’ll have bearings everywhere and a useless car. Check the genoa track bolts and end blocks.

Check that everything is secured with good condition split pins (on clevis pins and bottlescrews) or locknuts. Lift shroud covers regularly and clean out the salt and grit. During maintenance, add stainless steel washers inside the clevis pin split pins to limit wear and working if there’s room as the clevis pins rotate.

Check all shrouds and stays at upper and lower terminals

as well as at spreader ends. Replace any where stranding is found. If stranding is detected on one shroud, replace both it and the opposite shroud. Rust-coloured deposits at the neck of a swage can indicate that one of the strands was not properly polished before the wire was twisted and the impurities have flowed to the terminal and oxidised. Scotchbrite clean and check again.Tying warps to shroud bases deforms and weakens rigging screws and toggles.

If you have single roll-swaged terminals (look for opposing flashlines on the terminal) and one strand has gone, it’s likely the opposite strand has gone too.

Check all mainsheet and traveller blocks for damage or distortion, make sure split pins are in position and taped, and shackles tight and seized. Check all mainsheet track bolts and end blocks are secure… the mainsheet car can overpower the travellerjammer while gybing in a blow and smash through the end of the track.

Check they are not perished and seal with rubber-friendly sealant. Before refitting, make sure the mast is chocked stable, otherwise the mast wall rubs against the deck ring, damaging both deck and mast. UV is hard on gaiters so pay extra attention if you keep the boat somewhere sunny.

Check the furling line from end to end. Check all the lead blocks are fair and the guide arm and drum are secure. Most importantly, check the securing screws where the drum meets the tuff tube and Locktite or tape over with PVC tape. They often work loose and fall out.

There’s a huge amount going on at both the gooseneck and kicker/vang attachment – rotation, tension and compression under load. Often this distorts aluminium fittings.

Remove the fitting, file back into shape, grease and replace, using stainless steel or nylon washers to restrict the amount of working, then secure with good condition split pins.

Check sheets and guys for wear. Whip if the cover is partly chafed, replace if the core is damaged. Whip or burn both ends to prevent fraying. If you haven’t done so on laying up, remove, mouse and check all halyards. Wash all running rigging in soapy water, rinse thoroughly and keep any spare line below when you’re not at sea as it degrades in UV. For the same reason, give the mainsheet and jib sheets your particular attention.

With halyards and sheets, always buy 3-6ft more than you need so that you can take lft off the working end every season to change the contact points and limit the danger of parting due to chafe.

Check masthead clevis pins are secured with good condition split pins as they work considerably and can straighten and work loose, or break and fall out.

Check the spinnaker block shackles are nipped up and seized with wire.

Check main and genoa halyard separators and sheaves for wear. If your mast has a bolted-on head unit and you find wear, replacement means removing, repairing and refitting the head unit with the mast unstepped. Damage indicates the main halyard has been over-tightened. Mark your halyard every season so that you hoist to 6in below the separator, then rig a cunningham for luff tension or recut the sail.

Wire halyards can wear through your genoa halyard separator

If your fractional spinnaker halyard is retained with eye bolts, there will be greater wear on the halyard. Pulleys or trumpet fittings give a larger contact point, which reduces wear.

Check radar brackets for excessive working and pack with washers to limit this. Check light fittings, bulbs and wiring, spinnaker pole track bolts and end fittings, spinnaker pole cars – and any other fittings.

Check shroud attachments. If the backing plates are worn, cracked or pulling away from the mast, consult your rigger. It may not be critical but it’s not a good sign. Get it checked. Clean the entire section with white spirit and Scotchbrite to check for cracks and bring up the colour of the anodising.

Check spreader sockets, clevis pins and split pins for wear and excessive working. Replace and pack with stainless steel or nylon washers during maintenance.

Check the spreaders ends are secure and not heavily pitted or corroded. If they’re not covered, protect them with plastic covers but still check regularly.

Check the spreaders’ leading and trailing edges for wear from badly stowed stays and halyards. Slice lengths of PVC tubing, fit over leading and trailing edges and tie and tape on with self-amalgamating tape to prevent wear, both on the spreader from stays and on the sail from the spreaders.

The humble split pin holds your rig up so check them all regularly. If they’re not properly fitted, they can straighten

or break as the clevis pin works around, and fall out, followed by the clevis pin, then your rig. Curl back both pin legs, packing stainless-steel washers to limit working, then secure with tape or silicon.

Check all lead blocks (especially around the mast base) and shackles for tightness, then seize (shackle pins with a flat tab instead of a hole can’t be seized effectively and aren’t recommended for any load-bearing purpose). Seizing wire is best, cable ties are satisfactory but will degrade in UV and need replacing regularly. Replace blocks showing signs of cracking, wear or distortion.

on modern rigs with swept-back spreaders, the lowers are likely to go first because they work fore and aft, and transverse. When sailing, check you have enough shroud tension to prevent the leeward shrouds becoming slack. With more traditional rigs with inline spreaders, the leeward rigging should slacken slightly.

Lubricate all sheaves, luff tubes and tracks with Teflon spray. Silicon grease is fine for sheaves but, if used on main tracks or luff tubes, will leave marks on your sails.

While inspection is easier on an unstepped rig, some problems are easier to spot with the rig up, the tension on and the rig settled. Without tension, a broken strand may settle back into a shroud terminal and appear fine whereas under load, it’s obvious. If you mast is up, send someone aloft to check everything, make sure they know what they’re looking for.

Ensure your mast electrics are sound. Track down the causes of chafe and use cable ties to secure wires out of harm’s way

Winches: Old oil and grease lose viscosity and winches will slip when springs and pawls get stuck. Strip down, wash parts in paraffin and lightly regrease .

Windlasses: If manual, check they’re working, clean and tighten. For powered versions check foot switch forwater, clean and use Vaseline on the connections.

Equipment, training upgrades aid in prompt patient removal

Imagine traveling in a vehicle and are suddenly involved in a head-on collision. One is disoriented and scared, and are trapped in the vehicle.

On Nov. 8 this scary scenario did occur on Route 17 in Hope. Emergency units were dispatched to the scene. One of the responding agencies was the Camden First Aid Association Access Team.

The CFAA Access Team is a group of volunteers whose mission at the scene is to “open up” a vehicle, or vehicles, providing EMS personnel space to work and remove injured persons. They use hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life), electric tools, hand tools, and air bags to perform this task.

A recent upgrade to the Jaws tools, as well as members commitment to training and education, permitted a quick patient removal from one of the vehicles at the Route 17 accident.

The equipment upgrade included: mounting a hydraulic pump in a cabinet readily accessible from outside the truck, three reels mounted in the rear of the vehicle connected to the hydraulic pump (three different colored hoses), hydraulic tools mounted near the reels providing quick connection and deployment (grab-and-go capabilities), quick connection couplings on the hydraulic hoses and tools which provide prompt initial setup as well as swapping tools. There is also a portable hydraulic pump and 30-foot lengths of hydraulic hose set up to be portable. A generator provides power for on-scene lighting and two reciprocating saws.

Training commitments included an all-day academy where members were educated on safety, response, scene control, cooperation with other agencies, and concluded with an afternoon of learning and practicing prying and cutting techniques using donated vehicles. Monthly drill sessions included “opening” vehicles, equipment familiarization, driver training, and locked vehicle entry.

Standard Operating Procedures and Policies are being reviewed and updated, and will be distributed to team members providing guidance, and ensuring consistent delivery of extrication operations.

Member commitment to training, education, team work, and use of the upgraded tools has resulted in efficient operations on scene.

The CFAA Access Team asks drivers to be careful as they travel, and assure drivers they will be there should the need arise.

Paxtang’s Short Wheelbase Pumper

The Paxtang Fire Company operates as Company 40 in the Dauphin County, PA, fire service and is under the command of Chief Todd Zwigart. The fire company annually responds to more than 400 alarms in the borough of Paxtang as well as neighboring departments on a first-alarm basis. Paxtang, a suburb of Harrisburg, covers less than one square mile with a population of approximately 1,600 residents. The all volunteer fire company operates from a station located at 34232 Derry Street that houses a single-piece engine company and heavy rescue.

Early motorized apparatus include a classic 1947 Ward LaFrance type 85 open cab pumper. Due to the proximity of the Mack factory branch in Harrisburg, the department operated with several Mack engines including a classic 1964 C model 1000 gpm pumper, which in later years was modified with crosslay hose beds and a Conestoga style hose bed cover. Resembling FDNY pumpers of that era, a deck gun was mounted on the cab roof and supplied by several 3-inch lines. In 1980, the fire company took delivery of a Mack CF 1250 gpm pumper equipped with a 500-gallon water tank. Engine 40 was rebuilt in 1998 and was equipped with a four-door cab, roof-mounted deck gun, multiple attack lines and upgraded warning lights. This unit served the department until earlier this year when it was replaced by a Pierce Arrow XT pumper.

Past rescue apparatus operated by the department include a Chevy chassis with a small walk-in utility body and a 1974 Ford C model chassis with a walk-in body built by the Swab Wagon Company of nearby Elizabethville. The current Squad 40 is a 1994 non-walk-in rescue body built on a HME four-door cab chassis. While earlier apparatus sported a unique white- and red-banded paint scheme, the current apparatus are painted white over red with yellow reflective stripping.

When the department set out to develop specifications for a new pumper, an apparatus committee was formed and over a period of several years interviewed a number of manufacturer's representatives and traveled to see a number of new apparatus deliveries. After the bidding process, the department chose to award the contract for the new Engine 40 to Pierce Manufacturing. After many meetings with Pierce representative Cyle Sheaffer, the committee was able to refine the design for the apparatus, which resulted in the delivery of a new Arrow XT pumper in the spring of 2011.

Engine 40 is built on a wheelbase of 180.5 inches with an overall length of just 30 feet, 3 inches. The response district in Paxtang and the greater Harrisburg area consists of many row homes with narrow rear alley's, which makes a short wheelbase pumper particularly advantageous. The overall height at the rear of the body is 117 inches with the rear hose bed being approximately 70 inches from the ground. The aluminum cab provides seating for six personnel with five seats equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). For enhanced safety, the engine is equipped with Tak-4 independent front suspension together with both front and side airbags.

The apparatus is equipped with a front axle rated at 22,800 pounds together with a Meritor rear axle rated at 24,000 pounds. Braking is provided by EX225 disc brakes on the front and S-cam 16.5 x 7-inch brakes on the rear with a Jacobs engine brake for auxiliary braking capability. Engine 40 is powered by a Cummins ISL engine rated at 425 horsepower with an Allison EVS-3000 automatic transmission. The front tires are Goodyear G-296, 425/65R22.5 size with Goodyear G-622, 12R22.5 size for the rear.

The front bumper is a reinforced steel design, extended 19 inches from the cab front. A 5-inch front suction, together with a 2-inch trash line with two hose wells, is provided. A convex cross view mirror allows the driver to clearly see the right front corner of the apparatus. The rear cab exterior wall was used to mount two roof hooks and pike poles on each side in custom-built brackets.

The fire pump is a Hale QMax single stage rated at 1500 gpm with all stainless steel piping. Each of the side inlets are provided with externally mounted piston intake valves, which allow 5-inch preconnected suction lines. Discharges include one 2-inch front trash line and four 2-inch crosslay, each carrying 200 feet of 1.75 hose. The crosslay discharges are extended to the outside of each bed, which permits rapid extension of these lines when required. Two 2.5-inch discharges are provided at the left-side panel with one 2.5-inch and one 4-inch LDH discharge on the right side.

Four 2.5-inch rear hose body discharges are provided, which supply a 300-foot, 3-inch line equipped with a Task Force Blitz Fire gun, 200 feet of 2.5-inch attack line with a smooth bore nozzle, a 300-foot 2-inch attack line and a 200-foot 2.5-inch attack line. Other hose carried includes 1,200 feet of 5-inch supply line and 300 feet of spare 3-inch hose for use as a leader line. A top-mounted deck gun is supplied by a 3-inch discharge with a portable Task Force Crossfire monitor carried in the rear body compartment.

The aluminum body is 140 inches long and has six enclosed body compartments with full depth compartments provided on the left side of the body. The forward body compartment is reverse hinged to permit ready access to tool and appliances for the operator. Two upper body compartments, each approximately 58 inches long and 21 inches wide, provide additional storage space. The L-shaped 500-gallon water tank provides a low rear hose bed with a 50-gallon Class B foam cell.

A Harrison 8Kw hydraulic generator supplies power to four Fire Research Focus 500-watt lights mounted on the cab and body and one Hannay electric cable reel. Whelen model PSTANK LED lights are provided on each side of the cab to monitor water tank levels.

The warning-light package consists of a three roof-mounted Whelen Freedom LED light bars on the cab roof with two Mars lights and a roto ray light mounted on the front of the cab. Whelen 600 Super LED lights are located around the apparatus with Whelen LED beacon lights mounted at the rear body corners.

Ground ladders are mounted above the lower body compartments on the right side. They consist of a two section 24-foot extension ladder, 14-foot roof ladder, and 10-foot folding ladder with a 10-foot pike pole. Two lengths of 10-foot hard sleeve are carried above the ground ladders with standpipe packs mounted in an aluminum tread plate box below the ladders.

The Paxtang Fire Company had to wait some 30 years to replace their venerable Mack CF pumper, however, the result was a very well designed and equipped Pierce Arrow XT pumper. While the Mack provided many years of reliable service, the new Engine 40 is outfitted with nine preconnected attack lines together with three master stream appliances, which allows the apparatus to make a good accounting of itself on the fireground.

Netherlands. Australia maintains strength at METS

Australian companies are sure to impress at this year’s 2011 Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam - the world’s largest trade exhibition of equipment, materials and systems for the international marine leisure industry.

Due to the size of the Australian group attending the show this year the Australian Pavilion has now moved to Hall 11.  The Australian contingent includes a number of first time exhibitors at this show and they will be showcasing products that emphasise once again the quality, innovation, skills and excellence that has made the Australian marine sector a key global player.

Australia has been a country that has been least affected by the global financial crisis with a marine sector that continues to drive innovation and is attracting significant interest from global buyers who want the security of dealing with a resilient marine sector.  The Australian government continues to support the marine export sector which contributes $1.2 billion to the Australian economy.

CEO MaryAnne Edwards said “AIMEX congratulate the Victoria and Queensland governments plus the Gold Coast City Council who are providing financial support to businesses in their state who are exhibiting at METS.  This support ensures that companies continue to profile their products globally which is resulting in increased export sales for these Australian states.”

It is exciting to have so many new exhibitors within our pavilion along with industry heavyweights.

Adit Marine a new comer to METS will be displaying their Fresh Water Inlet Devices and Flushing Systems These systems are manufactured in Australia, from quality local and imported products including marine grade 316 stainless steel, using state of the art welding techniques, and are pressure tested to 80 psi. Quality testing is employed at each stage of the manufacturing process to ensure the end product is nothing but first class and worthy of installation in any sea going vessel. The system is available for motors from 20hp - 10000hp; and as an added bonus, regular cleaning utilises only fresh water – no chemicals are required to be used, and so no chemicals are released into the environment – saving our waterways.

Another first at METS is VuPlex. VuPlex is a highly effective and easy to use plastic cleaning & protective product ideal for the marine environment. VuPlex will keep all the marine craft plastics clean and protected, and if already damaged VuPlex can revive cloudy milky clears to a near new look, by leaving a fine layer of hard wearing product which will help protect from further damage.

After a very successful show at IBEX, Release & Retrieve Boatlatch systems will be showcasing their innovative product which is designed & manufactured in South Australia from 316 marine grade steel. The product will suit most aluminium, fiberglass wooden boats up to 9 meters. Used on charter boats, professional fishing boats,catamarans , pleasure craft, Government agencies such as Transport SA, Fisheries, Sea Rescue and the police. The system has 2 major parts, the latch sits under the winch plate, the other on the bow .It's designed for drive on/off trailers & will release & retrieve you boat providing added safety, security, and reduced ramp time. 

FinScan is another innovative company exhibiting at METS again this year. 2011 has had a busy year for FinScan with the take up of the recently released IntelliCORE Digital Switching and Power Distribution System which they will be showcasing at METS. There has been strong demand for this product in a very short period of time which bodes well for the company and its product development objectives.

Many Australian companies exhibiting at METS will be looking to further develop their distributor network in Europe.

To celebrate and promote their move to Hall 11, AIMEX will be hosting their first ever party ‘The Australian Outback Party’ at METS and given the fact Australian’s know how to party this will be an event not to be missed.

Kaman Board of Directors Declares Dividend

Kaman Corporation, founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut conducts business in the aerospace and industrial distribution markets. The company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company's SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. The company is a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 200 customer service centers and five distribution centers across North America. Kaman offers more than four million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry.

Newton Mayor Setti Warren prioritizes Angier

Following through on a campaign promise, Mayor Setti Warren was scheduled Monday night to present the Board of Aldermen with a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan – which incorporates an in-depth 5-year financial forecast, and one that puts the Angier and Carr schools and Fire Station 3 at the top of the list.

Using a financial forecast and a live database, Warren said city officials spent the last several months assessing all of Newton’s infrastructure needs to come to their conclusions.

In a special meeting with the Newton TAB on Nov. 4, Warren said officials planned to explain their findings at the aldermen meeting on Nov. 7 – after the TAB’s deadline.

“This will allow the city to make investments in areas like maintenance, that will save the city millions of dollars over the course of years and not let our infrastructure go into disrepair,” Warren said.

The city signed a contract with Kleinfelder SEA, a Cambridge-based capital facilities company, in July.

Since then, Chief Operating Officer Robert Rooney said officials have been combing through every component of every building and roadway, using the database to rate the risk and failure of every capital project.

Rooney said a steering committee, composed of officials, department heads and a citizen representative, evaluated each department’s capital priorities. He said health and safety played a big role in evaluations.

“We found urgent things that need to be fixed right away -- that’s huge. Those urgent things are all about health and safety. At Gath Pool – the electrical system is old and the components of the switches and everything are not in the best shape, and it’s in the same location where they do some of the chemical handling,” Rooney said. “This identified as a need to really fix it now before someone gets hurt. That is really what’s driving some of our needs, even in [fiscal year] 2012.”

He said the city identified some older capital needs and found ways to actually save money, like upgrading pipes to keep from investing in a new hydraulic system.

Rooney said they also identified a need for increased funding for internet technology [IT].

“IT has no network backbone for connecting all buildings. Right now everyone operates on their own. We’re looking into hiring a [Chief Information Officer]. If you don’t have a strong backbone network, you’re not going anywhere,” Rooney said.

He said the committee considered the impact, necessity, savings, paybacks and department vision for each capital request to rate 376 projects – which total $240 million.

He said the database is always changing, and can help guide department heads.

“The biggest thing about this whole budget is now we have an asset database, [we can] see what the ratings are and flag the things that need to be improved. It’ll help us going forward. It redesigns how we manage funds on a monthly basis,” Rooney said, adding that the database will show how projects are progressing.

Residents will be able to view the database as well, Rooney said.

Among the list of priorities, Warren said the city needs to invest in either a renovation or a replacement for the 90-year-old Angier School in Waban.

While the city intends to work with the Massachusetts School Building Administration to determine funding, officials estimate the project will carry a $30 million price tag.

Warren said the city also needs to renovate or replace Fire Station 3 in Newton Centre – estimated at $5.7 million.

“We know, in order to complete both of those projects, they go beyond the money we had dedicated in our operating budget,” Warren said.

Needs for the Carr School, which has poor plumbing and needs immediate repair, include design, construction and sprinkler costs. The project is estimated to run about $5.2 million. Carr would be used to hold students while other schools are undergoing renovation.

Other projects, like a new main entrance for the Bigelow School, a storm drain repair at Webster and Crescent streets and additional classrooms and cafeteria space at the Day School are also high on the to-do list.

Warren said the city is exploring ways to fund the improvements.

“There are alternative funding sources that will certainly be examined, like a debt exclusion override. There’s been some discussion of bringing on additional revenue for pay as you throw, and we’ll monitor the economic growth and economic development within the next year and see where we are,” Warren said. “I look forward to having those discussions with the board.”

Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemiuex said the city is working with the board on the Chestnut Hill Square project – which is projected to generate $1.3 million a year in new property taxes, and said collective bargaining agreements will save the city millions of dollars.

Warren said he will assemble a working group, comprising a project manager, community members, aldermen and school committee members, to set a timeline in place, work with the state and produce quarterly updates to the public.

He hopes to present the community with a firm project proposal by this time next year.

“We want to make sure residents understand how we prioritize these projects, understand our database and how we came to the conclusions we did,” Warren said. “We’re going to spend a tremendous amount of work getting resident input, and we’ll go back out, myself and the team, in January to do two sessions for the public.”

MARS, the Robot Arm Cleaning up Radioactive Waste

You can’t exactly drop somebody into an underground tank filled with thousands of gallons of radioactive sludge and have them wipe it clean. But at the largest nuclear waste cleanup project in U.S. history, a smart machine is on the job. The Mobile Arm Retrieval System (MARS) is a robotic arm that officials hope will speed up the process and dramatically cut down the costs of radioactive waste cleanup.

The site of this high-tech cleanup is the Department of Energy’s 586-square-mile Hanford site, located in the desert of southeastern Washington state. The site, established in 1943 as a plutonium-producing hub for the Manhattan Project, houses nine former nuclear reactors and their associated processing facilities used during World War II and throughout the Cold War to build America’s nuclear arsenal. That process produced billions of gallons of liquid waste and millions of tons of solid waste, which the DOE has been cleaning up since 1989.

There are 149 underground single-shell tanks at Hanford housing radioactive sludge, according to Kent Smith, the single-shell retrieval and closure manager for DOE contractor Washington River Protection Solutions. Since 1999, crews have used the "modified sluicing" technique that pumps in liquefied waste to push the sludge toward the center of the tanks, where a central pump sucks it up and transfers it to a double-shell tank for safer storage. However, the sluicing machine hasn’t budged the toughest of the sludge, often leaving more than 10 percent of the radioactive goop inside the tanks.

But MARS, a fully maneuverable robotic arm that Smith says began working on Sept. 29, can reach nearly 40 feet into a tank and sluice 90 gallons a minute at 100 psi. That’s its normal speed; at high pressure, MARS can fire 20 gallons a minute at up to 5000 psi, attacking the gunk that traditional sluicing leaves behind.

Smith says the articulating knuckle on MARS has a telescoping ability that lets the unit reach every portion of the tank, top to bottom, to clean out the 253,000 gallons of waste left inside. "Telescoping 37 feet out to the edge of the tank, the arm can move up and down off a pivot point," Smith says. "At the end effecter, a nozzle system can rotate in all directions. There is a lot of flexibility to get to the waste itself, something lacking in the current system." The operating head has multiple low- and high-pressure spray nozzles that hydraulically "rake" waste to a central pump. And by blasting liquid waste already retrieved from Hanford’s tanks, MARS can loosen the compacted sludge without contaminating more water.

So far, one of the biggest challenges in using MARS has been just getting the 20,000-pound steel and hose contraption into the tank—the hatch was too small. Crews remotely cut a 172-inch-circumference hole in the concrete, using a pressurized mix to methodically etch away the 15- to 20-inch-thick concrete and rebar. The slow and steady stream ensured the debris remained miniscule and easily removable by MARS.

The robotic arm is made primarily of steel hydraulic hoses and EPDM (ethylene, propylene, diene, and polymethylene) hose. All the movement is driven by a hydraulic power unit weighing 96,000 pounds and located on the top of the tank system, which also ensures a constant tension on the hosing system to keep tangles out of the C-107 process. One person operates the arm from a trailer over 50 yards away in an upwind, uncontaminated area; another monitors the flow rates; a third watches the hydraulics powering MARS and a fourth checks the flow into the retrieval tank.

By about three weeks into the MARS project, crews had cleared 27 percent of the waste out of C-107, the first tank in which it has been used. It’s already exceeded the performance of ordinary sluicing and eliminated the need for multiple cleaning methods for each tank, cutting millions of dollars and months of time from the process. The first-ever Hanford C-farm tank cleaned—C-106—cost $100 million as crews figured out the process. Now costs range between $6 million and $9 million a tank for the sluicing method. The C-107 tank will cost about $15 million to Mars, Smith says, but the equipment is reusable at least two more times. And as crews get better with the system, the cost for the next two tanks could drop to $5 million each.

MARS has proved so popular that its creators are designing a second generation bot, one that replaces the sluicing of liquid with a vacuum system. That could come in handy at Hanford: Of the 149 tanks, 67 are known or suspected leakers, and regulators have said the leaky tanks can’t handle the thousands of gallons of liquid required to loosen the sludge, for fear that MARS’ power would blast radioactive contamination through the leaks. The new system is undergoing final testing in preparation to deploy into tank C-105 late in 2012.

Of course, once the MARS robots collect all this radioactive sludge, it has to go somewhere. The DOE aims to turn Hanford’s 56 million gallons of liquid waste into vitrified glass, through a process that heats and blends the waste with molten glass, then pours the mixture into stainless steel canisters for storage. The DOE is building four major concrete facilities—a pretreatment center, low-activity waste vitrification site, a high-level waste vitrification site, and an analytical laboratory—and about 20 support facilities that include operations and maintenance buildings, utilities, and office space.

"The vit plant will be largely self contained, functioning like a small city," says Gary Olsen, DOE area project manager. The project kicked off in 2001 and is nearing its final design deadline of 2013. Construction will wrap in 2016, and the plant will be operational by 2019. By then, the MARS project should be even more refined, and ready to take on the huge task of cleaning up the remaining tanks—there are 136 still not full clean, Smith says. "I think MARS would be used at the majority of the tanks," he says. "We are pretty excited about this. We think it’s a new day for retrieval."

So you want to be a firefighter?

Freelance writer Mike Lauterborn recently got a firsthand taste of what it's like to be a firefighter at the FireOps 101 program at the Fairfield Fire Training School on One Rod Highway. The annual program, organized by the Fairfield Fire Department and several others in the area, is designed to introduce the public officials and others to the rigors of firefighter training and the challenges they face daily. Here is his account.

They say the only way to truly appreciate what someone does is to walk a mile in their shoes -- or, in this case, boots and toting close to hundred pounds of gear and equipment.

I recently had the opportunity to embed with career firefighters at the Fairfield Fire Training School on One Rod Highway to do just that. The program involved exercises providing education about firefighters' roles and an understanding of equipment and manpower needs that can give officials insight.

More than 40 firefighters, drawn from Fairfield, Westport and Stratford, were on hand to shadow a half-dozen participants, help operate equipment and lead demonstrations of both equipment and firefighting processes.

Overseen by Fairfield Assistant Fire Chief Scott Bisson, the incident commander for the day, the morning began in a classroom setting with a short film, "Smoke Showing," giving an overview about command hierarchy, firefighting strategies and safety advisories. Bisson said there are four essentials that determine the outcome of a fire: training, technology, staffing and notification.

Organizers on the drill grounds -- which includes the training center, an annex classroom, propane fire area, four-story tower, two-story burn building, vehicle "boneyard" and a new flashover simulator -- wasted no time in immersing me in the most demanding of activities: attacking a structural fire.

Suited up from head to toe in full gear and outfitted with an air tank and mask, I was placed at the head of a hose line and sent into the burn building with a support crew of "wranglers" to battle the blaze. Hay and wood pallets had been ignited in a bottom floor room, producing thick smoke that carried upwards in the unventilated structure. The result was almost zero visibility, making keeping a hand on the hose line a critical measure to safely navigate the structure.

"Typically," Assistant Chief Chris Tracy said, "an interior is fully charged with velvety black smoke, there's no clear indication of a fire and you have to listen for the pops, crackles and small explosions to find it. Guys on the line shout to each other or use signals or back slaps to communicate: one for stop, two for go. Then we look to hit the seat, or hottest point, of the fire."

At the next activity station, focused on emergency medical services, Lt. Erik Kalapir said, "Sixty to 70 percent of our calls are medical based. In Fairfield, private service AMR is the responder, however, firefighters are the first responders. With five fire stations across town, we can get to almost any home in four to six minutes, to do defibrillations, administer medicines, provide oxygen therapy and more. With the downturn in the economy and an aging population, we're being asked to do more with less. We're losing a piece of the budget pie to other community needs and constantly having to reorganize and reinvent ourselves."

The program's forcible-entry and search-and-rescue station, operated by Firefighters Salvato, Goletz and DeNitto, involved the use of "irons" -- a Halligan bar and flathead ax -- to bust through a commercial door and the "Braille" method location of a victim in a pitch black room filled with thick smoke.

A roof exercise followed, led by Stratford Lt. Sean McKenney and Firefighter Bryan Williams, who led the way up a 100-foot truck-mounted ladder to a rooftop.

"The job of the suppression crew is to open up the highest point of a structure, to help lift the smoke inside, prevent flashover, reduce property damage and save lives," McKenney said.

Ventilation was performed using a circular or vent saw. Here again, available resources were an issue.

"A properly staffed ladder company should have a minimum of four men," Williams said. "We're operating with two to three, risking injury to firefighters, forcing time constraints, preventing the saving of lives and allowing greater property damage."

The extrication station, led chiefly by Stratford Firefighter Doug Ashe, focused on the safe removal of a victim from a vehicle in a serious accident scenario.

"We assume spinal injuries, so it's safer to remove the car from around the person than to remove the person from the car," Ashe said.

Using irons to break and remove glass, a hydraulic-driven spreader to pop doors off hinges and a powerful pruner to cut through roof posts, the task is accomplished. Ashe noted that frequent changes in chassis reinforcement, live wires and airbags requires continual training.

There was one clear takeaway from the morning: these guys are passionate about their occupation and consider it their calling.

Congressional supercommittee mustn't undermine military

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told members of the House Armed Services Committee that additional cuts to military spending would devastate the nation's defense, according to an Oct. 14 Star-Telegram story.

Congress' deficit-cutting supercommittee is searching for ways to get our federal deficit under control. Many areas of the budget are under review, including national defense, which accounts for about 20 percent of federal spending.

Congress has already cut $460 billion from the defense budget over the next decade; this month, the congressional supercommittee could allow an additional $500 billion in cuts.

On Wednesday, the chiefs of all four military branches told the House Armed Services Committee that further defense cuts would be a "catastrophic" blow to their ability to protect the nation.

As a general manager who works locally in the defense industry, I heartily agree with Panetta and the chiefs that additional cuts would be a serious mistake.

I work for Parker Aerospace's Stratoflex Products Division, headquartered in Fort Worth. Our division is a world leader in fluid conveyance systems for the aerospace market and supports most aircraft in production in the world today. Our products include a broad array of hoses and hose assemblies and fittings, joints, valves, hydraulic fuses and regulators.

Parker Aerospace employs more than 537 in Fort Worth and Mansfield and 5,600 nationwide. The jobs we offer are well-paying, with good benefits in a positive work environment. In this time of high unemployment, these are the kind of jobs that make our state and country strong and healthy, economically and industrially. These are the kind of jobs we need to keep.

I firmly believe that Congress should preserve funding in the budget for defense, space and civil aviation and should resist calls for additional cuts. Such cuts would have a deleterious effect on the aerospace industry, degrading America's military capabilities and threatening our nation's position as a world leader in aerospace while sacrificing hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs.

Our country has more than 1.5 million Americans serving in uniform, is involved in wars in two nations and risks terrorist attacks from a variety of sources.

To meet these challenges, the military needs the advanced, life-saving technology and equipment that the aerospace and defense industries provide.

However, significant defense cuts hamper our ability to supply the military with these tools. With the F-35 joint strike fighter in test flight, for example, no manned military airplanes or helicopters are in development for the first time in 100 years.

Deep cuts to space and civil aviation programs, specifically NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration, would have an adverse effect on our nation as well.

NASA allows the United States to retain its space leadership in the world.

Both NASA and the FAA play a key role in the planning and execution of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, which promises to transform air transport.

We at Parker ask for the support of our local U.S. House member, Rep. Kay Granger, and the community in preserving funding for defense, space and civil aviation. Let's retain our leadership in the global aerospace industry.

Raj Gupta is general manager of the Stratoflex Products Division of Parker Aerospace in Fort Worth.

13 rescued as tenement blaze traps residents

FIREFIGHTERS rescued 13 people from a burning building during a major emergency operation at the Shore.

Seven casualties were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation but nobody was seriously injured.

The blaze started in the first floor flat of a four-storey tenement above the Waterline Pub, in Leith, at 8.40pm last night.

The fire was reported by panicked residents above the flat who found themselves trapped by thick smoke in the stairwell.

The living room and kitchen of the home where the blaze was sparked was today described as “completely gutted”. The rest of the flat suffered extensive smoke damage.

Around 45 firefighters tackled the flames and rescued people from windows at the front and side of the tenement on Waters Close using a turntable ladder and a hydraulic platform.

It is not yet known what started the blaze. An investigation is under way today.

Fire service telephone operators provided survival guidance for residents trapped in flats above the blaze.

Initial reports suggested some residents had been unaccounted for but fire crews carried out multiple rescues and fought the flames using breathing kits and high pressure hose reels.

Four people were rescued by hydraulic platform, one by ladder and others were led to safety by firefighters using the stairs.

It is understood the occupant of the flat where the fire sparked had been in a nearby pub and was contacted by a friend to say her home was ablaze.

When she arrived at the scene the woman was said to be “hysterical” and believed her parents may have been inside.

Witnesses told how smoke was bellowing from the first floor windows while flames could be seen tearing through the flat.

David Young, group commander at Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, said: “[We were told] there was the possibility there were people trapped inside the building. When we arrived there was a well developed fire in the first floor flat above the Waterline Pub.

“We performed multiple rescues using a hydraulic platform at the front and the side of the building while there was also a rescue using a ladder at Waters Close. No one has been reported injured at this point.

“Control operators were giving survival guidance over the phone to people trapped inside.

“It could have been very serious. We were rescuing people from the windows and when people cannot escape using their stairwell it’s very frightening for them.”

Newark flight makes emergency landing in Poland

A Boeing 767 on a flight from Newark, New Jersey, made a dramatic emergency landing at Warsaw, Poland's Frederic Chopin International airport Tuesday after problems with its landing gear, an airport spokeswoman said.

All the passengers on the flight, from Newark Liberty International Airport to Warsaw, are safe and uninjured, she told CNN. Newark Liberty serves the greater New York area.

The LOT Polish Airlines flight, which had been due to land at 1:35 p.m. local time, circled above the airport for an hour before coming down in a belly landing at 2:40, she said.

"After noticing a central hydraulic system failure the standard procedure for emergency landings at Warsaw airport were implemented," LOT said in a statement, saying emergency crews were in place on the ground to assist.

Video footage from the scene showed the plane coming in to land without its wheels down and skidding along the tarmac to a halt. Emergency vehicles raced toward the aircraft and appeared to hose it down as passengers disembarked.

There were 231 people aboard the flight, 220 of them passengers and 11 crew, the airline said.

The passengers "stayed calm" during the emergency landing, and after reaching the terminal were cared for by support staff and psychologists, the airline said.

They are being allowed to go home after a medical examination and a brief police interview, it added.

Other travelers face significant disruption.

The airport will remain closed until at least 8 a.m. local time Wednesday because the damaged aircraft is blocking the runways, an airport spokesman told reporters.

LOT said all its flights scheduled to leave later Tuesday have been canceled. Incoming flights have been redirected to other airports in Poland, it said, and passengers will be brought from there to Warsaw.

The airport is Poland's busiest, handling almost half its air passenger traffic with about 100 scheduled flights a day, the airport's website says.

LOT, the Polish flag carrier and one of the world's oldest airlines, is currently offering special deals on flights from the New York area to Warsaw.

In 2010, it carried more than 4.5 million passengers, nearly three-quarters of whom were on international flights, its website says. The airline said it aims to offer quality of service and value for money.