OLDGUY19

It is sad when ego's play politics. Any good will between career and volunteer has been jeopardize.When we run short the only people that suffer are ourselves[career and volunteer] and the general public.It is a NO WIN for anyone.The damage has been done and it will take a long time to fix what has been done. I guess it is OK for politics and ego's to kill and injury people.It is a sad day in Stamford fire service.

Most I/C's must remember that RIT/FAST teams are to be used for that function only. RIT/FAST teams have their own size up/ reconning and set up to do. They are there to rescue the down firefighter not to be used for attack or vent teams they are not extra. Calling in M/A Companys to do RIT/FAST is better than none at all.It is difficult at best when you run short of manpower for the I/C to try not to use these teams.Training for this should be done as much as possible as with all aspects of our job even if it is just going over the equipment.

Talk about lowering the hose bed. just right for us old guys.I could get the nozzel without jumping up

All Runs start with dispatch they set the tone for all the calls.60 control is CALM and PROFESSIONAL under the best and worst of times. I think may be 60 control should make a CD for a training tool of what dispatch is like durning bad storms,working jobs, multi mva's. with good audio so the Newbie and the OLD Dogs can under stand what they go though.

When I started in the fire service a 69 ALF w/6-71 DET, W/5x2 trans, air brakes was almost new.That engine is about 2/3 the size smaller than the new rigs of today.and it did the same work that we do today. I know I am not riding outside any more,A/C is great for the summer.but when you need to get to the hosebed or even the mattedales you need a step ladder, or in to a tight driveway you need to park outside(I know leave room for the truck),But why do we think bigger is better. Maybe we should rethink our outlook of overloading our rigs to do to much and simplfied. I know I am old school but not all changes are for the common good. P.S. One of the spares was 61 Seagrave v12 Cont.gas ,vac/juice brakes could go like hell but sure didn't want to stop

REST IN PEACE GODSPEED

If I remember right they were late 80's DMM Mack. They were not very popular. O+G Const.CO Had A couple that had dual steering axels up front.The reason was for the axel to weight ratio. The did not steer well. Most were powered by 237-5 speed not very fast either

If I remember correctly one of the tech rescues in one of the county in Maryland has a pod system to use with a hook lift truck. This way you can have multi task pods instead of trucks