IL Firefighters Use Grant on Piercing Nozzle

Aug. 21 -- ALTON, IL -- City firefighters starred in a publicity shoot Monday, showing off a new piece of equipment to a media team from benefactor, Illinois American Water.

The filming of Alton Fire Department firefighters demonstrating use of the department’s first piercing nozzle, and interview with Chief Bernie Sebold, will be used for corporate and social media, said Karen Cotton, manager of external affairs at the Peoria office.

“It’s a tangible result of the program,” Cotton said of the utility’s annual Firefighter Grant Program during the filming at the Don Twichell Memorial Station #1, 333 E. 20th St. “It is a great way to partner with our local heroes, we work with them every day, we take care of the fire hydrants which other water providers don’t do. This is one way we can protect them (firefighters).”

Alton obtained $1,000 from the 2017 grant cycle with which to buy the nozzle, which is carried on Pumper 1811 from Station 1. Sebold recently applied for another $1,000 in the 2018 round of grants for a second piercing nozzle that would be kept on a pumper at Station 2, 3212 College Ave.

The Task Force Tips Inc.’s model, which is about 5 feet long and can be disassembled into sections, fits on a firehose and has a sharp, ridged pointed metal tip with water holes.

As demonstrated by Capt. Rick Newman and firefighter Jacob Iman — with one forceful thrust of the nozzle and a reinforcing pounding from a sledge hammer — the men swiftly punched a hole in a vertical piece of aluminum siding attached to the tall training tower inside the firehouse bay. The sound resonated throughout that huge area of the station.

The firefighters repeated their actions, time after time for photos and filming. Sometimes the hose was turned on, causing the nozzle to spray a shower of water behind the metal wall — as it would in a fire.

“We did not have this before the grant,” Sebold said. “It reduces an element of firefighters’ exposure to the fire with a linear application. I believe it to be useful.” He said the department only recently got the nozzle, and has not yet used it at a fire.

Among applications Sebold mentioned for the nozzle are punching holes and drenching flames and smoke in a mobile home, tractor trailer, storage shed, railroad car with unknown contents or hood of a car with an engine fire. Firefighters also can utilize the piercing nozzle to break through a floor if there is a fire in the basement; or a ceiling or roof if there are flames in an attic.

“Anytime there is a thin grade wall, like a mobile home, you’d be able to slam it right through,” Sebold said. “The end of the nozzle is pierced with numerous holes so water goes in a 360-degree pattern. You can put it in a 90-degree ‘elbow’ position or straight position.”

Sebold said the nozzle also could be used to pierce, then shoot foam instead of water in some instances of fire suppression.

Cotton said the purpose of publicizing how fire departments, fire protection districts and other emergency organizations utilize the grants is to advertise that the application period has started for the next round. It ends Sept. 7.

“Since 2010, we’ve provided more than $417,000 across the state with 425 grants,” Cotton said.

The grants are for uniformed, professional and volunteer organizations in Illinois American’s service territory and have a maximum of $1,000.

Grant uses include: personal protective gear; communications equipment; firefighting tools; water handling equipment; training and related activities/materials used to support community fire protection; and reimbursement for specific fire training classes, including training manuals and workbooks.

Eligible departments should email a letter of application to [email protected] with the following information:

• Description of the organization(s) seeking support
• Overview of specific project to be funded and grant amount requested
• Community problem/challenges that the project will address
• Timeframe for implementation of project
• Summary of other sources being approached for support of project
• Project budget

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