| |
 |
Major Incident Response Vehicle
(MIRV)
|
|
In September 2002, Ohio Governor Bob Taft authorized the State Fire Marshal's
Office to begin work on a Major Incident Response Vehicle as part of our
Homeland Security effort.
As a member of the State of Ohio Security Task Force, the State Fire Marshal is
specifically responsible for Fire and Rescue preparedness, response and
recovery from incidents of terrorism. MIRV would be used as a response
vehicle and command center in event of a terrorist incident. One of
MIRV's most significant roles would be to enable various emergency response
agencies to talk to one another, both broadcasting and receiving
information. A lack of ability to do this was one of the greatest
obstacles to response in the 9-1-1 attack on the World Trade Center.
|
| As a response vehicle, MIRV has four distinct roles:
1.To assume a Counter-Terrorism investigative role with agencies such as the
federal Joint Task Forces located in northern and southern Ohio.
2.To provide a common communications system among local jurisdictions.
3.To act as a Command Post, if needed, for the local Incident Commander.
4.To provide additional capability for SFM personnel at the scene of a major
incident. This could include not only terrorism response, but natural
disasters or fire scenes.
|
|
|
MIRV is outfitted with tools used for response and recovery: axes, a
collapsible ladder and scene lights; Personal Protective Equipment such as
breathing apparatus, cots and sleeping bags. There is also specialized
equipment on board that would enable emergency responders to operate from the
scene of a major incident: highly secure portable radios, a Multi-Agency
Radio System (MARCS), a satellite phone, laptop computer, wireless internet,
range finders, thermal imager, digital camera and camcorder, kits to detect a
variety of chemical agents and radioactive material. |
| The interior of MIRV is designed with an elevated platform that allows
commanders inside to have a panoramic view of an incident site. A
telescoping antenna on top of the vehicle accommodates Ohio's rolling terrain. |
 |
The interior of MIRV is designed with an elevated platform that
allows commanders inside to have a panoramic view of an incident site. A
telescoping antenna on top of the vehicle accommodates Ohio's rolling terrain.
|
 |
| The cost of MIRV was $212,000. It was purchased as a "new" vehicle...a
1994 Ford - Marion Body rescue truck. It was one of 30 manufactured for
Brazil in the mid 1990's but never delivered. It has been kept in storage
since then.
We would like to express our thanks to the Kroger Company, headquartered in
Cincinnati, for a $6,000 donation toward outfitting MIRV. They money was
used to offset the cost of the amateur radio, camcorder and laptop computer.
|
|
