Is a Telesquirt a Truck or not?

Do you think Telesquirts are trucks or engines? Just wanted to get your opinion on this.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on January 15, 2009 at 3:26pm

as is the case with most "hybreds" many people believe they are the best of both worlds... when in reality, they don't fully cut it in either "world"... I supose in areas where a telesquirt is better then nuthin, it works, but what about when you begin limiting carried water, carried hose, or carried equiptment just to be able to have a lightweight waterway? My department decided that getting a quint would solve all sorts of problems after closing one truck in the early 90's They chose a Pierce with a 65' stick 6 wheel all steer for easy access , since its the size of a standard reamount pump small tank In the district with the least number hydrants and 5 inch hose as supply that has to be packed through a trough under the turntable, sowith limited tank water and difficult hose operations complicated in either direction, a short ladder in a district with front yards and larger frontages and access issues lets face its a crappy engine which is what itsused for 99.8% of the time, and a crappy truck the rest of the time too..with the all steer one would expect ease of operating a larger truck sized engine, but to be honest ithas been involved in numerous fender benders because part of its district includes a four lane Main street with all the taxpayers and getting the monster around doing day to day stuff as an engine in these commercial parking areas is just too much rig,, telesquirts or other quints are only so usefull in the right situation , we have a squirt and the best use I can see for it is setting it up as a waterway in any of the many multi level parking garages long as it reaches.. but thats why they have standpipes.. huh?

Permalink Reply by Don Zimmerman on January 19, 2009 at 10:02pm

It is an engine on steriods and I love them. Efficient, effective, safe, versatile, and makes good use of manpower. Was truckee for a long time and the truck always needed 3 to run it effectively. With a Squirt you need just 2 if doing full blown operations. I was at first pretty skeptical when I first saw one and later had the chance to use one. They do a great job. Our department has 3 of them, we did have 6 about 4 years ago, we changed the apparatus configuration so our inner stations have pumpers for more agility with traffic and streets movement and then the squirts come in after that.

Biggest issue with them is space for storage is at a premium, before you change hose lays or add something to the apparatus you must consider what you are adding, where you think it should go, and what is best for the response. Sometimes it is a tough decision to not add something when you think you need it, but!!!

Permalink Reply by Frank Hammond on February 2, 2009 at 10:59pm

Telesquirt - do you mean anorexic snorkel? A keen case of stick envy; transfer to the truck.

Permalink Reply by austin howard on February 5, 2009 at 5:46pm

we used to have a 1979 mack telesquirt and real truck or not its hands down the best piece we ever had

Permalink Reply by Tim on February 10, 2009 at 10:14am

We have a squirt and we classified it an engine without the elavated master stream you got an engine.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Smetana on March 24, 2009 at 10:17pm

If a Squirt is all you have and it is set up as a Truck. Then its your truck. Maybe it is not the best truck but coming from my department we never had a truck, now we have one and they will not use it as it should be.. Its an old 1975 Sutphen, 85 foot bucket. I am a was Lt on that piece for 2 years, our departments attitude is roll engines and leave the truck in the house. So if its a squirt and you roll it as a truck then its a truck of sorts if it has the tools to make it your truck. Just my thoughts...

Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on March 31, 2009 at 12:41pm

back in the day, If our truck was down for mechanical issues, I can recall being assigned to ride on a spare pump with truck tools, I can recall being assigned a Chiefs station wagon with some hand tools thrown in the back.. too... If we made it on scene we did truck work but even with a 24' we weren't a truck....I also recall, one time (at band camp) the engine was off duty so they told the guys to just ride the truck...The issue was we had 7 assigned to the truck and add 4 extra... Can you say where the heck CAN you ride?... If it works like a truck , squeeks like a truck, doesnt make it a truck.. just almost a duck... I mean truck... =:^P

Permalink Reply by Lou Sclafani on October 4, 2009 at 1:37pm

It's an engine with a water tower. The little truck that couldn't grow up:)

Permalink Reply by Pararescue on October 5, 2009 at 12:06am

A Telesquirt is nothing more than an engine that has a elevated water way. Not to mention they carry pumps, so....... they are very confused on what they truly are.

Permalink Reply by josh slagel on October 22, 2009 at 7:28pm

All a tele is is an engine with a elevated master stream on it thats it.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Boyer on October 29, 2009 at 6:38pm