Winter is a good time to bring your apparatus into the shop for maintenance. Wildland fire season hasn't started yet in most parts of the country, and shop personnel aren't taking time off for summer vacations.

While you have your older apparatus in the shop, consider making some upgrades to them. Upgrading is usually less expensive than buying new apparatus, and it can significantly improve the safety, performance and useful life of older apparatus. Here are some ideas on how you might make some big improvements for only a little money.

Start with safety

Upgrading the safety of older apparatus should be one of the first jobs for any department. Most apparatus built before 1991 lack many of the safety features that are standard on more modern rigs. Fire departments can often do the work themselves for very little money.

One good upgrade is adding reflective tape to the front, rear and sides of an apparatus to make it more visible to oncoming traffic. This feature is especially important for engines and rescues that operate along busy roads at the scene of motor-vehicle accidents. NFPA standards require one or more stripes that cover 25% of the width of the front, 50% of the width of the rear, and 50% of the length of each side.

Alternating red and yellow or red and white diagonal stripes on the rear of the apparatus are effective in catching the attention of oncoming drivers and can help direct traffic away from the scene. White and yellow stripes reflect the most light and are the most visible. The tape comes in rolls that are large enough to outfit several rigs.

Another way to make older apparatus more visible is to install additional warning lights. Many older rigs lack warning lights on the sides and at the lower corners. Installing some surface-mount warning lights at key points can help avoid collisions at intersections and while parked at the scene. Also consider installing a mini light bar or directional arrow lights at the rear of the apparatus to help control traffic.

Installing non-slip step surfaces is another good safety upgrade that won't cost a lot of money. Slip-fall accidents are a common cause of firefighter injuries and lost time. NFPA standards require all exterior stepping, standing and walking surfaces to have slip-resistant surfaces. Traditional diamond-plate doesn't meet the standards.