Fire and Rescue NSW Station 019 Silverwater | Government organisation

Fire and Rescue NSW Station 019 Silverwater

Phone: 02 9647 1246

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25.01.2022 New road rule is effect from today, help us keep safe whilst we are working to help keep you safe

24.01.2022 Today Silverwater and Bankstown Fire Stations joined the NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance and the Westmead Hospital Trauma Service at the annual B Street Smart road safety education event. 8000 students from schools across Sydney watched emergency services participate in a mock rescue scenario and heard from rage of speakers about road safety and the effects of road accident trauma on young drivers, their families, the community and the emergency and health workers who are cal...led on to help. For more information visit https://bstreetsmart.org

18.01.2022 Help protect us, while we're working to protect you. When you see the flashing blue or red lights of emergency vehicles stopped on the road, gradually slow down to 40km/h. A new road rule applies from 1 September: https://bit.ly/2vbiUur Music: www.bensound.com

16.01.2022 Fire Poles in American Fire Stations The images of firefighters sliding down a pole to their trucks and gear as alarms scream in the background is nothing short... of iconic. Next to the shiny apparatus, the sliding pole is the most popular attraction to all children that visit the firehouse. Where did this idea originate and who could have thought of this unusual means of travel? The need for speed in getting from the upper floors to the apparatus floor was recognized in the early days, by greasing or paraffining the banisters of the staircase. The poles made intuitive sense, especially in urban areas. Building space was tight, so the firefighting wagons and horses lived on the first floor while the firefighters lived on the second floor. Sliding down a pole is indeed faster than using the stairs, with one fire chief outside of Pittsburgh saying they save about 25 seconds in response time over using the stairs. The Boston Fire Department is usually credited with the use of the first sliding pole. Boston Engine 4 on Bullfinch Street installed sliding poles in 1880, but the original sliding pole was invented and constructed at Engine 21, Chicago Fire Department in 1878. Firefighters had usually remained above the ground floor of fire stations until they receive a call for help, after which they have to move down as quickly as possible. Until 1878, spiral staircases or sliding chutes were common, but not particularly fast. The firemen's pole allows firefighters to move down much more quickly than before, although it was not suitable for climbing up. The pole is attached to the ground floor, goes through a hole in the ceiling, and is attached as well to the ceiling of the floor above. In order to use a pole, a firefighter must put his/her arms around the pole, step into the hole, and use his/her legs to control the speed of the descent, somewhat similar to the technique used for abseiling. David Kenyon of Chicago's Engine Company No. 21 worked in a three-story fire station; the ground floor containing the firefighting equipment, the floor above being the floor for recreation and sleeping, and the top floor being the hayloft which was used to store the winter supply of hay. During transport, the hay was secured to a wagon using a wooden binding pole, which was stored in the hayloft when not in use. One day the firefighters at Chicago Engine 21 (In 1878, Chicago Engine 21 was staffed entirely by Black firefighters) were storing the winter supply of hay when an alarm came in... Firefighter George Reid slid down the pole to respond to the call for help at once, which inspired Captain David Kenyon to create a permanent pole. In 1878 he convinced the Chief of Department to make the necessary hole in the building and install the pole, after agreeing to pay for any necessary maintenance. The Company crafted a pole out of a Georgia pine beam by shaving and sanding it into a 3" diameter pole which they gave several coats of varnish and a coat of paraffin. Obviously E-21's crew had their balls broken by the other firefighting units, until firemen from other companies started to realized Company 21 was usually the first company to arrive when called, especially at night, and the Chief of Department then ordered the poles to be installed in all Chicago fire stations. In 1880 the first brass pole was installed in the Boston Fire Department, and the poles become standard equipment all over the United States. One of the country's leading fabricators of fire poles was and still is McIntyre Brass Company, which is located in Somerville, Massachusetts. Fire houses were typically equipped with the brass pole and a spiral staircase because of the fire horses. In the mid 19th century, firemen started using heavy steam-powered fire engines that they themselves could no longer push or pull to a working fire. In a multi-storied firehouse, the horses lived on the ground floor and the fire fighters on the upper levels. The horses were often attracted to the smell of food that the brothers were eating and would attempt to climb the stairs to the upper floors. Spiral staircases were installed in firehouses because the fire horses could not navigate them to the upper levels. However, spiral staircases were difficult to descend and relatively slow when moving many men down to the wagons. The fire pole was a much more efficient way of moving firemen quickly downstairs. Tradition, which the fire service thrives upon, is why there are still some in existence. Many poles have been removed throughout the country due to an unsafe environment. Firefighters and others visiting quarters have had accidents resulting in very serious injuries. Later, OSHA began to take issue with the fumes from the newer apparatus. Exhaust moving upstairs into the living quarters of the firemen (after fire apparatus became mechanized) mandated that pole holes had to be "roomed off" or sealed at floor level when not in use.