Cool picture! Those were the days. I remember that the only line that came off the truck was a booster line. If you pulled a large line you were in trouble. Times do change thank goodnesss.
My guess is this is an old picture. I would hope that now, full PPEs, including air, and no reel lines for any fire. But this is the way it used to be done. There was a local incident here were a FF and Capt were hurt pretty badly when a vehicle exploded. They weren't on air, before the times when hoods were used. The engineer grabbed the line and prevented it from becoming an LODD.
There is a video here at FFN showing a magnesium explosion that engulfed a hose crew at a vehicle fire. 25 years ago that would have serious injured that crew. Now, barely singed there coats.
Picture was taken this morning. This is a large city department. That is their normal approach for car fires. I did this once. We were in the brush truck and caught a car fire. We were closer to the call than the station, and decided to go to the call. Got lucky and put out a fully involved F-350 with 200 gallons of water. We did stay upwind. Chief was behind us in the other brush truck, didn't say a thing. We did put an air pack on the first out brush truck in case it happens again. Our SOP is air and full PPE for every thing but grass fires.
Hmmmm... I would like to trace that booster line back and see what type of truck it is connected to. Is this going to an older engine with a booster reel, is this a brush truck, or is it some type of quick attack 'mini-pumper' concept, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, is there jump seats (or other air pack resources) on board? I am from the full PPE and minimum of 1 3/4" line school of thought. And we wonder why we keep getting hurt and worse repeatedly. TRAIN and COMMUNICATE; I think these are two of the best things that we can do, especially in a forum like this. Learn new ideas and concepts and share them, talk about them, employ their use, and generate discussion to LEARN from our mistakes.
I believe they use Crimson engines. Regular structural engine, no later than late '90's. Air packs in every seat except the drivers'. It's all available. I was taught no smaller than 1 1/2", and that was from an old school firefighter.