The Indianola Fire Department recently obtained a ROLLNRACK® Power Roller, thanks to grant funding that was awarded to the department earlier this year through the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership.
In April, the Indianola Fire Department received a $5,000 Warren County Philanthropic Partnership Community Grant toward the purchase of the specific equipment. The Power Roller system is designed to drain, roll, transport and load the fire hose onto the apparatus. After extinguishing a fire, three or four firefighters may remain on the scene to pick up the hose and be prepared for the next emergency. The automatic hose roller is not a luxury, but rather a need to increase firefighters’ workflow efficiency.
The hose roller will help crews conserve energy, keep carcinogens off personal protective equipment and skin and help prevent unnecessary injuries. Data indicates that firefighters often strain their backs, shoulders and knees due to crawling in fires, lifting people or handling fire hoses. It is an accepted fire service understanding that a five-inch LDH will hold one gallon of water per foot of hose. On average, a 100-foot section of five-inch hose empty weighs 110 pounds. With water weighing 8.33 pounds per gallon, a 100-foot section of LDH filled with water will weigh approximately 944 pounds.
The firefighter must lift the hose over their shoulder to drain the water before rolling the hose. The system can drain and roll over 5,000 feet of hose on a full battery charge. Employing this device assists in the proper body mechanics, allowing the loading of the hose back onto the rig safely with just two firefighters. This grant will help eliminate a significant strain and injury risk with the hose rollers that safely and efficiently drain the water, transport and load the hose back onto the apparatus.
Thank you, Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, for making the purchase of this equipment possible in support of our mission to protect the lives and property of Indianola residents and visitors.
View Photos: ROLLNRACK® Power Roller
Learn More Information
To learn more about the Indianola Fire Department, please visit www.indianolaiowa.gov/fire.
To learn more about the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, please visit www.warrencountypp.org.