Should Officers know how to run the pump?

I was curious how other departments Officers function in that is it a must for them to know how to run the pump on an engine or is this something that an Officer is not required to know?

Thanks, TJ

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Permalink Reply by Michael Wood on June 12, 2009 at 8:56pm

we teach our rookies how to pump the trucks before we teach them how to us the nozzel. our officers know how to run every piece of equipment we have.

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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on June 12, 2009 at 9:38pm

I agree with others here.ALL our officers can run any of the apparatus. You don't know who's going to be at a school or on vaca so everyone (officers)can cover in any position.Before you can become an officer you need to be proficient in Dept policy and vehicle operation.

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Permalink Reply by Jacob on June 18, 2009 at 1:59pm

Whoever drives the truck, pumps, unless told other wise...But if a officer drives, he has the option of pumping or command or whatever...

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Permalink Reply by Antonio A on June 18, 2009 at 2:56pm

It never hurts for the officer (or anyone else for that matter) to know how the pump works. But the officer has a whole different set of duties on the fire ground and should not be running a pump. If your officer is running a pump you have more serious things to consider including staffing, delegation of duties and span of control. Pump operators (or technicians or whatever your jurisdiction calls them) are the ones that are trained and experienced on it and belong at the panel.

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Permalink Reply by Nanny on June 18, 2009 at 3:21pm

I agree with you 100%. Everyone needs to be trained.

On call or full time it doesn't matter. You still need to know what you are doing and teaching!

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Permalink Reply by Asst Chief Tim Cook on June 19, 2009 at 11:47pm

But should the officer know HOW? Yes.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Dalgarno on July 18, 2009 at 8:51am

As a rural on-call department, we never know who is showing up for any given call, so everybody has to know how to do everything. It makes for a steep(er) learning curve for the newbie's since we are trying to get them up to speed ASAP, but at a minimum, they can operate the pump.

As others have said, it may be only officers responding. Myself (Captain) and the Dep. Chief both farm so are usually around. Never know who else will be though.

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Permalink Reply by CHRIS STIMMELL on July 18, 2009 at 10:24am

You shouldn't be an officer, if you can't run every piece of machinery at the station your assigned to. Everyone needs to know how to pump the apparatus there on. What if something happens to the driver?