A-BREA Breakdown Apparatus

Managing Mechanical Breakdowns of Apparatus and Vehicles

• Drivers are responsible for notifying Company Officers immediately upon discovering mechanical deficiencies.

Company Officer Responsibilities

• Company Officers are responsible for arranging repairs to TFS apparatus in the event of a breakdown.
• Company Officers must notify the Communications Centre immediately if an apparatus is unable to respond due to mechanical failure, to have an alternate apparatus dispatched.

District Chiefs and Platoon Chiefs Responsibilities

• District Chiefs are responsible for advising the Platoon Chief of all apparatus breakdowns.
• Platoon Chiefs are responsible for authorizing the contact of the On-Call Mechanic and checking the availability to respond to emergency situations.

Mechanical Division Responsibilities

• The Mechanical Division is responsible for all alterations and significant repairs to fire service apparatus and vehicles.

Breakdown Notifications

• Company Officers must notify the Communications Centre immediately in the event of a mechanical failure, to have an alternate apparatus dispatched.
• If in the fire station, the Company Officer must contact the District Chief immediately to inform them of the situation.

On-Call Mechanic

• The Platoon Chief has the discretion to contact the On-Call Mechanic if the Mechanical Division is not open.

Emergency Situations

• The Platoon Chief will check the availability to respond to the following emergency situations:
  • A department vehicle has been involved in an accident where significant damage or personal injury has occurred
  • If the accident is serious in nature, has resulted in a critical injury, or if a mechanical fault is suspected
  • When a department vehicle has become disabled on a roadway or private property, and will require either an on-call mechanic or the services of a towing company to safely return the vehicle to the repair facility
  • When a department emergency response apparatus/vehicle must be removed from service and it is not possible to take a unit out of service, switch over to a spare apparatus/vehicle or move the crew
  • For the refueling/service/mechanical verification of apparatus that are involved in a long duration incident/multiple alarm call

Towing

• Only the Mechanical Division or the Platoon Chief shall authorize towing apparatus.
• Towing shall be arranged through the TFS Communications Centre.

Cold Weather Precautions

• Apparatus equipped with water tanks and immobile on the road during below freezing temperatures must leave the apparatus at idle speed, engage the fire pump, and circulate water to prevent damage due to freezing.
• If unable to engage the fire pump, apparatus must:
  • Remove all suction and outlet covers
  • Open and drain fire pump, water supply tank, suction inlet valves, and discharge outlet valves
  • Leave all inlet and outlet valve controls in the open position to prevent freezing

Personnel

• All personnel shall remain with the apparatus until such time as the apparatus is repaired and capable of returning to the fire station unless otherwise instructed by the District Chief.

Safety

• Hazard lights shall be engaged where apparatus are immobile on roadways.
• Pylons, flares, or other road markers shall be deployed where necessary to guarantee the safety of the public, TFS personnel, and apparatus.