IzzyEng4

Taken from the Valley Breeze Newsparper in RI: http://www.valleybreeze.com/2012/05/02/cl/what-is-a-firefighter-worth
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Taken from the Valley Breeze Newsparper in RI: http://www.valleybreeze.com/2012/05/02/cl/what-is-a-firefighter-worth
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Taken from the Valley Breeze Newsparper in RI: http://www.valleybreeze.com/2012/05/02/cl/what-is-a-firefighter-worth
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Taken from the Valley Breeze Newsparper in RI: http://www.valleybreeze.com/2012/05/02/cl/what-is-a-firefighter-worth
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Just saw A black over red aerial on 95 NB in Westbrook CT lettered Tarrytown. Is C&S the dealer?
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Very true Barry, that is why I stated "in addition too" in my last sentance of my post though I started out "in theory", whihc was a bad choice in wording on my part. I knew I was missing something else. I've been out of dispatching for 5 years so I'm not up to snuff with everything.

Seth, if the article you read is the same one I am thinking of, it was about the ALF aero-chiefs and not the Pitman Snorkle. The Aero-Chiefs were known to be bulky, didnlt have a good foot print for the jack spread and would tip over, especially the larger lengths, if the operator did not foloow the correct operation guidelines. During the 70s, Snorkle was purchased by Figgie and ALF began using them.

Depending on the operations of a specific aerial, under normal circumstances and outrigger that lifts off the ground on the opposite side of the truck where you are working off of is normal. Again depending on the manufacturer's operating specifications. For example, if you work off the right side and the left outrigger lifts off the ground (1 or both) that is normal. This should not cause the aerial from working properly.
The problem you are describing sounds like you have a serious micro switch problem and you'll need to override the controls or keep doing what you have been doing. For example, we have a 1995 LTI 102' rear mount at work. A few weeks ago doing out weekly inspection on it the right rear out rigger would not deploy down. It would engage to retract up, but no power going down. All the other outriggers deployed and retracted normally. Come to find out, the problem was a ground issue on the left side (the left rear outrigger spot light was out and the key to the problem). The ground contact was cleaned up and re-secured, the left spot light went back on and the right rear outrigger deployed normally again.
Get this problem checked out immediately if it hasn't been done already. Also make sure you follow what the specifications for setting up the tower is through the manual provided by Pierce. Some trucks you need only to take the bubble out of the tires, others you need to take the truck totally off the ground. It could be that the way everyone sets the truck up is totally wrong from what the original specifications outlined. Also make sure you utilize your jack pads!!! This could also cause a problem if they are not used.
I don't like the comment that the Pierce dealer / mechanic gave you. In the words of Col Potter "That's a load of horse manure!".

as a career wildland firefighter, I can remember when I started for a small New England department, jeans, work boots and a long sleeve shirt was all we had for brush gear (and a damn sight better than bunker gear).. as FFBlaser said, check with your state Forestry Agency (DEP< DNR, etc) they have volunteer fire assistance grants where they will supply or assist your department with PPE, tools, pumps, hoses, booster tanks and often surplus government or military vehicles to be converted into firefighting vehicles, as well as training and Red Card certification, so you can safely and effectively fight wildland fires..
Be Safe

Bunker gear is designed for structural firefighting. Not brush/wildland firefighting. Why wouldn't you require the right PPE for the job? Jeans and long sleeves may be comfortable but they're not going to protect you from fire if it turns on you or conditions change.
You're right. We focus more on apparatus then we do on other important aspects of the job.
All it is is nomex material? Damn straight. It beats the hell out of jeans and t-shirts and I've seen too many FF wearing that at brush fires.
Your comments are not from a wildland FF. I'm sure if you had more wildland experience you wouldn't be so dismissive of the right PPE for the job.
http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/Ash%20Pit%20Safety%20Advisory.pdf
http://www.nwcg.gov/general/memos/nwcg-008-2010.html
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/410-1/chapter01.pdf
Does anyone actually carry fire shelters or have real wildland firefighting training?
Just like everyone here criticizes those who do structural firefighting without the right training and equipment, I can't believe that anyone really thinks it's OK to do wildland firefighting in jeans.

Obviously no one who has replied has ever been a mile or two in the woods with an indian tank and a rake. Jeans and a pair of boots with ankle support is a perfect combo. What good is the wildland gear we carry? All it is made of is a nomex material, which will do what? prevent ash from burning through it? Id rather walk up 20 flights for a project fire than walk a mile on flat ground in bunker gear. Try it, but don't say I didn't warn you when your feet swell up.

Using regular structural turnout gear reduces the firefighter's mobilty in tough terrain. It also increase fatigue, especially in high tempatures.
If your department has the need for a brush truck, then you should have the need for brush turnout gear.

Date: 4/6/12
Time: Approx 14:30 to 15:00 hours
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Units Operating: Virginia Beach FD, U.S. Navy NAS Oceanic
Description Of Incident: US Navy F/A 18 Hornet crashed shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceanic, developed problems, dummped fuel and crashed into an apartment complex. Both pilots ejected safely and transported to hospital. Reported 9 people injured, no reports of fatalities.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/us/virginia-plane-crash/index.html
Reporter: IzzyEng4

Date: 4/6/12
Time: Approx 14:30 to 15:00 hours
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Units Operating: Virginia Beach FD, U.S. Navy NAS Oceanic
Description Of Incident: US Navy F/A 18 Hornet crashed shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceanic, developed problems, dummped fuel and crashed into an apartment complex. Both pilots ejected safely and transported to hospital. Reported 9 people injured, no reports of fatalities.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/us/virginia-plane-crash/index.html
Reporter: IzzyEng4

Date: 4/6/12
Time: Approx 14:30 to 15:00 hours
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Units Operating: Virginia Beach FD, U.S. Navy NAS Oceanic
Description Of Incident: US Navy F/A 18 Hornet crashed shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceanic, developed problems, dummped fuel and crashed into an apartment complex. Both pilots ejected safely and transported to hospital. Reported 9 people injured, no reports of fatalities.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/us/virginia-plane-crash/index.html
Reporter: IzzyEng4

Just like Ed said, many of us our very fond of the old "doghouse" design. When the switch to fully enclosed apparatus began during the late 1970s through the 1990s, engines were primarily located between the jumps seats and were the norm for both canopy and enclosed cab-forward fire trucks. They were available in both fixed cab and tilt-cab (full or split) designs for engine access.
During the 1980s custom cab manufacturers began to offer the placement of the engine forward in the driver / officer portion of the cab. This desgin was actually around for a long time and offered througth the Mack MC /MR, Ford C and other style cab and chassis. The push by fire apparatus manufactures was to be able to offer more room and increased passenger numbers and also "better access" for mechanics under the hood. Hence the creation of those 10-man model cabs offered by the likes of Pierce, E-One, Sutphen, Spartan, ect.

What you are looking at is the called the dog box or as others refer to it the dog house. Some of us are very fond of that old setup.
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Hey, that is why you need to look when your going ito the firehouse for a call!!! DUH! LOL

I have to say good heads up by the MPO of Engine 56 going right for the deluge gun to attack the fire. Many of us who are in the old "mill" cities, towns and villages along the North East of the country will face exactly what Boston faces, these tighty packed buildings with little to no room in between them.

From The Journal News legal section March 28, 2012 two separate notices:
"The Croton Falls Fire District...is selling a 1987 Ford F350 Brush Truck at a minimum bid of $7,000...Bid opening will be April 23, 2012 at 7:00PM."
And
"...Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Croton Falls Fire District expend...not to exceed Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000) for the purchase of a 1988 Hahn LTI Fire Truck, from the Village of Ardsley, NY."

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Let me know your thoughts,

Now it is called a bumper because we expect it to come in contact with something. So in pic #1 we see that protecting the bumper is a $1,900 Federal Q2 siren.
Now I love the Q2 and I want to protect it, so we add 4 large rubber "bumpers" and 2 heavy duty stainless steel straps (cost: about $600)

Notice that we did not add hose on this bumper. The crew felt pulling it from a low rear bed was better and shortening the bumper extension improved the turning radius and the angle of approch.

A cross lay like the picture in the OP's post is not that uncommon. A lot of people are missing the point here with crash protection. Everyone is looking at the very front of the bumper, which is only used to protect the front bumper extension, not the frame rails. The beef of the bumper should be in the original picture closer to the cab and everyone should be asking is what is the crash rating for the structural cross members directly under the front of the cab.
Is a fire engine without an extended bumper any safer with an extended bumper? What is the cross member's crash ratting that is closest to the cab and frame itself? Extended bumpers do add to the crash protection but are not the primary portion of the bumper, it is secondary.
Remember extended bumpers are just that, they still have to have a structural cross member for it to attach to directly under the cab. If that is not there then its crap.

Effective streams vs. non-effective streams. There is a lot of good learning here in this video. Too bad we didn't find it six years ago when it was first posted on youtube. I love looking at good vids and making them into training material
First off, it still amazes me that we as firefighters still pull 1 3/4" lines when we see that much fire. The first lines off the first due engine were both matties (see 2:50 mark in video). Granted I'll have critic say "well we only have XXX gallons of water" but with that much fire and heat, and the really bad exposure problem (I hate developments like this), go right for blitz attack. Practically all modern pumper shave deck / stang guns, use them! We all have big 2 1/2" lines, use them! The minimum diameter line that should be pulled off first should be at least a 2" hose line. Remember this equation: Big Fire = Big Water, GPM battles BTUs.
I think though the tactics were good, one line right to the B side exposure (white hose) as you can see the siding melted off in the video. All these homes are the same construction (cracker boxes in my opinion) and the focus on the exposure problem. I can't tell where the blue line goes except for some place on the D-side.
The tower bucket crew did good work hitting the center of the fire was and worked its way around. Looking at their rig on the dept's website, they have dual monitors (a big plus on TLs in my book). The only utilized one, the smoothbore. More than likely they they didn't have enough water but this would have been ideal to use the adjustable stream on this fire. More than likely getting the smoothbore in operations was priority due to the amount of fire, still a good call. Just think if they had enough water to operate both guns, the fire would have gone out quicker. A pumper with a two-stage pump set in volume would have helped supplied but again if their isn't enough water, you have to do whatever it takes.
Again overall from what we see on the vid, the crews did a hell of an effort and the ICs appeared to have made good calls protecting the crews.

Effective streams vs. non-effective streams. There is a lot of good learning here in this video. Too bad we didn't find it six years ago when it was first posted on youtube. I love looking at good vids and making them into training material
First off, it still amazes me that we as firefighters still pull 1 3/4" lines when we see that much fire. The first lines off the first due engine were both matties (see 2:50 mark in video). Granted I'll have critic say "well we only have XXX gallons of water" but with that much fire and heat, and the really bad exposure problem (I hate developments like this), go right for blitz attack. Practically all modern pumper shave deck / stang guns, use them! We all have big 2 1/2" lines, use them! The minimum diameter line that should be pulled off first should be at least a 2" hose line. Remember this equation: Big Fire = Big Water, GPM battles BTUs.
I think though the tactics were good, one line right to the B side exposure (white hose) as you can see the siding melted off in the video. All these homes are the same construction (cracker boxes in my opinion) and the focus on the exposure problem. I can't tell where the blue line goes except for some place on the D-side.
The tower bucket crew did good work hitting the center of the fire was and worked its way around. Looking at their rig on the dept's website, they have dual monitors (a big plus on TLs in my book). The only utilized one, the smoothbore. More than likely they they didn't have enough water but this would have been ideal to use the adjustable stream on this fire. More than likely getting the smoothbore in operations was priority due to the amount of fire, still a good call. Just think if they had enough water to operate both guns, the fire would have gone out quicker. A pumper with a two-stage pump set in volume would have helped supplied but again if their isn't enough water, you have to do whatever it takes.
Again overall from what we see on the vid, the crews did a hell of an effort and the ICs appeared to have made good calls protecting the crews.