Scuttlebutt Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 25)

www.scuttlebutt.com June 2008 • Page 25 Fire has a new enemy Firefighting technology evolves constantly. New climate-control suits and vital-signs monitors help firefighters stay safe. But what aids firefighters can also help homeowners, especially when new technologies reduce property damage caused by firefighting equipment. In 2005, home fires caused $6.7 billion in damages. Most of that damage wasn’t caused by the fires, but by the high-pressure water hoses used to extinguish them. Water damage accounts for as much as 70 percent of damage to houses during a fire. Fighting structure fires – fires in closed spaces, like homes – can be dangerous for firefighters. In a room or basement, fires can reach high temperatures quickly. Firefighters might find only one way into or out of a fire. But firefighters now use new tools to reduce their risk. One company, ARA Safety, has developed the innovative Fire Interruption Technology5 (FIT-5). The handheld FIT-5 works like an antifire hand grenade. Firefighters pull a rip cord at the top of the nine-pound unit, then throw it into a burning structure. Within 10 seconds, the FIT-5 sprays a non-toxic aerosol powder in all directions. Oxygen levels are not affected. Indoor temperatures can drop from 1,000 to 300 degrees, giving firefighters a safer environment in which to enter a structure, fight the remaining fire and rescue victims. Using the FIT-5 knocks down fires quickly without relying on pressured water. What helps make firefighting safer can also reduce property damage and insurance claims. In Port Jervis, New York, firefighters used a FIT-5 to enter a house fire. After dousing the fire with the FIT-5, firefighters later found a propane tank nearby. If the propane tank had exploded, the entire home might have been destroyed. The FIT-5 extinguishes contained fires in spaces up to 1,700 cubic feet, so it can work in rooms, boats and vehicles. It also slows fires in larger rooms. Insurance companies realize the FIT-5’s usefulness, and many insurance policies will pay to replace used FIT-5s. ARA Safety is currently developing a version of the FIT-5 for homeowners. Soon, homeowners will not only benefit from firefighters’ new technology, they will also be able to use state-of-the-art fire safety equipment at home. – News USA on line Mile 830.5 UMR Home of Rivertime Boats Great Dockage Rates $ 71/ft OR Includes Winter Storage Land & Launch Option $ 500 for Summer Let us build you one today! 4465 64th St East – Inver Grove Hts, MN 55076 Office 651-455-9110 – Service Dept 651-455-9111 Visit Our Website at www.twincitymarina.net – MerCruiser Certified – Volvo Penta Parts & Service – Parts & Service – All Types of Engine & Outdrive Repair – Custom Welding & Fabrication WABASHA MARINA & BOATYARD Located down river from Wabasha Bridge at MM 759.3 DOCKAGE AVAILABLE FOR 2008 NEW OWNERS Gary Poffenberger & Connie Wiles Full Service Marina and Ship Store 91 Octane Fuel (Diesel Available) • Easy Access Gas Dock • Transient and Overnight Dockage Water/Showers/Pumpout Station • 30/50-amp electrical service • 40-ton Travel-Lift 62,000 sq. feet Inside Locked Storage • Summer Dockage/Winter Storage Certified Technicians • Complete Mechanical Services markers 1009 Main St., Wabasha, MN • (651) 565-4747 wabashamarina@yahoo.com CASTAWAYS MARINA Mile Marker 830 on the Mississippi Trust Your Boat To The Experts At The Brand New Well-Maintained 40’ - 60’ - 90’ Covered or Uncovered Slips For Rent FULL SERVICE • Full Mechanical Services • Transient Docks Available • Covers & Slips from 16-50 feet • Gel Coat Repair • Fiberglass Repair • Buffing & Waxing OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. Watch Us Grow! Conveniently located in the heart of Winona, close to food and entertainment. Castaways Marina is located in a quiet, no-wake, deep-water channel in Inver Grove Heights, two minutes south of I-494. We are close to fuel, service, food and shopping. Pump-out hydrant at every slip. 16 Laird St, Winona, MN Dennis Benish – New Owner– 507-454-5590 dennis@winonamarina.com Best Kept Secret on the Mississippi Call 651-338-3606 www.castawaysmarina.com Boating is affordable in Winona! http://www.scuttlebutt.com http://www.twincitymarina.net http://www.twincitymarina.net http://www.castawaysmarina.com http://www.castawaysmarina.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Scuttlebutt Magazine - June 2008

Scuttlebutt Magazine - June 2008 Business Briefs Explore the St. Croix Marine Directory On Shore - June Showcase Classifieds Advertisers' Index

Scuttlebutt Magazine - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.