Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Harry Faulk Jr on August 27, 2007 at 11:08am

I don't understand what you are asking, what is a ladder com or engine com?

Permalink Reply by Lisa on August 28, 2007 at 1:46am

Unfortunately we don't have the ability to know who might be available for any given call, so if we had people assigned to certain companies, we could end up with no one there to do that job. We divide and conquer the work to be done on a scene. Even our chiefs end up doing more than just being in charge. We have been known to respond to a scene with only 3-5 people. That's when mutual aid becomes necessary. We also don't really have the structuring to set up ladder, truck and rescue companies. Some departments just don't have the funds to have more than an engine, a tanker and a rescue truck around here too. There are some departments that have less than 15 members in the whole department too. Our county has 42 departments, but only one is a paid department. We have a handful that have paid drivers 24 hours a day, but all the rest are strictly volunteer. So here we are all jacks of all trades, perhaps masters of none.-Lisa