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"Foremost Challenge Facing Firefighters

Today in Auto Extrication"

NEWS-UPDATES-PRODUCT INFORMATION-INNOVATIONS-ACTION PHOTOS

Inside this issue:

Challenge facing 1

Hydro-Formed Steel 2

New Convertibles 3

Need your help! 3

FS3 Staff 4

Holmatro Gloves 4

April 2009Editor: Steve Carpenter,

FS3 GM & Retired BC Vacaville FD

Special points of in-

terest:

Foremost challenge facing

today's firefighters!

Hydro-Formed Metals

Martensite Steels

Hydraulic Cutter effectiveness.

Reciprocating saws & air

chisel effectiveness.

New Holmatro Gloves!

Volume 1 issue 5

Toyota Camary "B" Pillar

Multi-Layer HSLA Steel

The use of thicker and layered

steel will cause your cutters to

use an unusual amount of effort

to make what was once a

simple cut.

Subaru "B" Pillar

Note: The double high

strength steel bars extending

the length of the pillar

Having the ability to cut through modern High Strength steels will be the ultimate

test for your hydraulic cutters. Don't forget the plan B concept. Ultra-High Strength

steels are being used in today's auto's based on the need for greater structural strength

and flexibility. HSLA, Boron, Dual Phase and Martensitic steels are a few examples.

Martensitic is becoming the choice of major structural components such as posts, rails

and cross bracing. This material is 40% lighter and 10 times stronger than materials

previously used. Tensile strengths are upwards of 246, 500 psi and your current

hydraulic cutters may or may not be able to cut through this material based on the age

of your tools. Note: Reciprocating saws and air chisels are not effective in dealing

with Martensite metals.

Oxnard FD

La County FD

Vista FD

Newport Beach FD

Santa Ana FD

Butte Co. FD

Lompoc FD

North Co FD

West Sacramento FD

Recent Deliveries

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C-70 "B" Pillar Volvo

Cross section of the A Pillar

Note: Boron Steel = Ultra High Tensile

Strength.

2009 Ford F150 Pick up with Boron Steel B Pillar.

Hydro-Forming of High Strength Steel

Strengthens the frame while making it lighter.

The three pictures one to the left and the two bottom are of

a 2009 Ford F150 pick up and depict the use of high strength

hydro formed steel that dramatically increases the strength

of the drivers compartment and the front of the vehicle.

The up side is the passenger compartment is much stronger.

In contrast when required to cut the metal is more difficult

to sever. The older your tools, the more difficult!

Consider the following:

Angle or parallel cuts on post are more successful then

perpendicular cuts.

Cutter blades need to have enough depth to surround

the material and draw into the power edge.

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Another Challenge Facing FF's Today!

The addition of various makes and models of hardtop convertibles gives us another

challenge that at this point, we do not have all the answers for! Pictured is the new

three piece hard top convertible. Current roll over standards are 1.5 times the vehicles

weight. In 2010 the FMVSS 214 will go into effect and will increase to 2.5 times the

vehicles weight. The issue is; Is your hydraulic cutter capable of cutting through the

high tensile strength steels of today and the increase expected in 2010?

C70 Volvo Hardtop

Convertible.

C70 Volvo Hard Top

Convertible -Retracting

Exchange Information w/FS3

The staff at FS3 teaches classes in auto

extrication through-out California and Nevada

and with nine instructors, none of us has yet had

the opportunity to cut a new hard top

convertible or Volvo such as this.

We need your help!

The News Letter forum allows us to exchange

training information as we learn. A new idea/

concept is to provide a path for the exchange of

new information back to us so that we may pass

it onto our readers and to the classes we teach.

Therefore, we need your input! If you have had

an opportunity to cut on hard top convertibles,

and would like to share your knowledge and

experience you gained, please email me with

any input you may have! However, training

info received from you is not limited to this

specific subject. Upon your approval, we are

open to share any information that relates to

auto extrication so that FF's throughout

California & Nevada may benefit. This

exchange of info is the sole purpose of this news

letter and with your input, more FF's will

benefit and hopefully keep them safer during

extrication operations!

Please send your input & information to:

emery53@pacbell.net

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Serving California & Nevada

P.O. Box 10817

Santa Ana, CA 92711-0817

Phone: 800-388-6607

Www.holmatro-fs3.com

FS3 Northern CA Staff

John Jurado: (707)-689-3119 Calaveras, Co-

lusa, Glenn, Lake, Solano, Tehama, Napa, Yolo

and San Joaquin Counties.

Jason Martin: (415)-302-5687 Contra Costa,

Marin, Mendocino, San Francisco and Sonoma

Counties.

Tony Martinez: (909)-289-3234 Amador, Butte,

El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra,

Sutter and Yuba Counties.

Zack Boyce: (707)-477-4954 Alameda, San

Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz

Counties.

Dave Parker: (559) -307-3020 Fresno, Kings,

Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuo-

lumne Counties.

Bill Cross: (775)-846-8121 Alpine, Inyo and

Mono Counties.

FS3 Southern CA Staff

Tom Gilbertson: (714)-222-9377 Kern, Los

Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino

Counties.

Dane Jackson: (805)-341-3614 Monterey, San

Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura Counties.

Steve Carpenter: (760)-707-6923 San Diego

and Imperial Counties.

FS3 State of Nevada Staff

Bill Cross: (775)-846-8121 Northern Nevada

FS3 Dealer Service Technicians

Southern California

Raul Galvez: (323)-356-8432

Dane Jackson: (805)-341-3614

Northern California

Ashley Sanders: (707)-480-8478

Jeff Hartman: (530)-301-3933

Central California

Dave Parker: (559)-307-3020

Northern Nevada

Bill Cross: (775)-846-8121

For additional details about the FS3 staff, visit

our Website: www.Holmatro-fs3.com

Whatever your crash/rescueneeds may be, FS3 and

Holmatro® have the solutionsthat will best suit your specific

needs!

LED Lights

Low noise level

69.3db

55 lbs.

LED Lights

New Extrication Gloves100% of the glove interior is insulated with 4 oz. Kovenex

Fabric, Shock-Absorbing knuckleguard padding, Extended

cuff for increased safety, Elastic comfort-fit band, Reinforced

finger and palm protection, Reinforced finger webbing

Sizes: Sm, Med, Lg,

X-Lg, XX-Lg.

$37.00 Ea.

Contact your local FS3

rep or Call:

800-388-6607 to order!

Credit Cards

Excepted

DPU31