Truckwork or Hosework?

What's your preference, truck or engine?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on September 26, 2010 at 1:52pm

Alright BIG BOY - Leader of the Pack - You Rock On with Your Young Wolf Self !!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on September 26, 2010 at 1:58pm

Awesome Pic! Love Wolves

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dean K. on September 26, 2010 at 1:58pm

You may want to check again with Chicago then. When it comes to height issues, or balance issues, the shorter guys do better on roofs, and for climbing ladders, so now you HAVE heard it. Being tall doesn't offer many advantages in a fire, esp for crawling around on your butt.
I feel there are facets for everyone. Short, tall, fat, thin, male, female, I can find a job for anyone of any size on the Fire Department. I don't care about bravado for being "tall or big" as a requirement, I care more about having the right person doing the right job at the right time.
Think about it, who'd be more likely to go THROUGH a roof, and worse, how much faster can a guy cut if he's closer to the material?

We took a girl FF (5ft 90#) when I was on Glenwood, versus a guy FF (225 # 6ft) and turned them loose on a training roof.

She had an axe, he got the saw AND another firefighter to hold the gas and ladder.

She still outcut him by a full 30 seconds or more.

center of gravity can make a huge difference on the roof. I saw one of my guys when I was a LT. who said the same thing you just did, and sure enough, the next fire we had, fell through the roof, and cracked his jewels on a beam....

New lessons, are sometimes learned the hard way :)

Doc

P.S. Bigger doesn't mean taller necessarily, for me bigger is directly related to weight. It takes a lot of weight to hold back the pressure on a hoseline. I was good at the tip but I'd never want to see me helping to hold a 2.5 unless it was a kelly loop!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on September 26, 2010 at 2:02pm

sounds like it might be preference of your local department or district

as a girl (shorter and tiny compared to most of the men) - my department let me do anything - and made sure to cross-train me on everything

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by capcityff on September 26, 2010 at 6:39pm

I know plenty of people from Chicago and I never heard that. You don't work there so I don't believe what you say about them. I know everyone in their area does it like I said. I work for the DCFD and know that every other large city on the east coast likes bigger guys on the truck. Bigger guys can throw ladders quicker, pull ceilings, carry heavy equipment, etc. Why would you want a big guy on the hose line? Wouldn't you want a smaller, quicker guy? Trust me, that's how all of the large city departments operate out here on the east coast.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on September 26, 2010 at 7:00pm

Is this still the case? I heard that historically, they did a selection by mass, but today it dosen't really matter. Next door, we didn't assign you to a particular piece, you jumped on whatever was called for, including the ambulance.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dean K. on September 26, 2010 at 7:15pm

Actually my dear misguided friend, go look up my resume. Chicago was 90% of my fire service time...
as for your argument you're off your rocker as far as I'm concerned. It does NOT matter who is on the truck or on the hose, as long they can DO THE JOB.

Shorter guys, Taller, who cares? That's NOT the point, or the issue, what are you a probie?

You'd want BIG guy on the hose, as in HEAVIER so they can take the pressure.... DUH.
you obviously didn't read, and for that I am sorry....

God help the DCFD.... no wonder they're on the list of some of the worst firefighters in our nation..wow boy.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by capcityff on September 26, 2010 at 7:27pm

First, did I ever say that that's how it has to be? No, I did not. Learn to read. I just said that's how it has historically been in the past.

Second, if you can't handle a hose line by yourself then this isn't your job.

Last, that is really classy of you. Tell me we have the worst firemen in the nation. Let's see this "list" you supposedly have. Most people I know think we are pretty damn good. Any time I've shown a video on here most have agreed. I know my brothers on here from Indy, Philly and Baltimore agree with me on most things. So because I stated that one thing we look at we are bad? God help the FDNY, Baltimore, Boston, and Philly too then huh? We all suck compared to your department? Seriously man grow up. You sound like a child.