Andrew Salinger

Male

Mirboo nth, vic

Australia

Profile Information:

Type of Organization
Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
Job Function
Firefighter
Years in Fire/EMS:
3
Primary Fire/EMS Department:
Mirboo North UFB
Years With Department/Agency
3
My Training:
basic wildfire, low structure firefighting, BA
About Me:
Hey, im 18, apprentice plumber/gasfitter love a good time and tinkering with cars or anything with a motor/electrics/plumbing basically anything that can be made to do a task ill have a go at making of fixing. joining CFA was one of the best decisions iv made.
Day Job:
Plumber/Gasfitter
Relationship Status:
Single
Why I Joined Fire/EMS
Was listening to the fire reports on the radion from about age 12 and realised how much these people were giving and wanted to do the same.
Why I Love Fire/EMS
The firefighter family that you are a part of, no matter where you are your fellow fireys are there for ya. And i have to say i love a good fire

Comment Wall:

  • Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp

    Andrew, Welcome to the Firefighter Nation. I am glad you joined the group.There is lots to do, read and be involved with. Your participation and involvement is important to us all. Have fun and look around.

    Chief William Sharp
    Brookings, Oregon

    Aug 3, 2010

  • Dave Lucia

    The History of Brush Breakers
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Barnstable County is the origin of one of the more interesting types of firefighting apparatus. The first "brush breakers" were designed and built in the 1930's & 40's by Cape fire departments to meet a specific need in dealing with a dangerous rural forest fire danger.

    Cape Cod has a very volatile forest fuel load made up of scrub pines, oaks and others. During the spring, (March-May), this fuel load and local weather conditions are usually very conducive to forest fires. Some of these fires can burn hundreds of acres per hour in a true fire storm. Fires may also occur in the summer and fall.

    Over the years, the fire service has utilized a number of systems to combat these fires. Early detection has been provided by several fire towers while firefighting is performed by specialized apparatus know as "brush breakers."

    Brush breakers are all-wheel drive trucks with heavy steel bars and protective plating welded to protect the trucks while it literally drives through the woods, winding its way along the flanks of the fire, knocking down and driving over trees as necessary. A separate engine powers a "pump-and-roll" fire pump supplying 1 1/8" to 1 1/2" short hose lines operated from the trucks as it drives along extinguishing the fire. Click here for pictures of brush breakers.

    Breakers work in teams, the lead unit doing a quick knockdown and following units providing more complete wetting down of the area. Pumps are often 200-500 gpm and water tanks are 500 to as much as 1500 gallons. These trucks take a real beating and with the exception of occasional loss of brake lines, flat tires and clutch problems, they hold up pretty well and last for many years. Breaker crews may be as small as two firefighters to as many as six.

    Aug 5, 2010