That's a shame that the chief took no input from the firefighters who would be assigned to this rig. I can understand the "good deal" he allegedly got and the ISO thing, but still! The chief should always get input from the personnel who will actually be operating the apparatus being spec'd. But we know that doesn't always happen. Obviously.
So, at the very least what these firefighters assigned to this truck can do now is to learn to live with it, train until they feel comfortable operating an aerial with a pump, since it's a new concept for them, improvise due to the loss of compartment space, and maybe they'll end up liking this rig. To not take full advantage of this quint would be a mistake. Just my opinion.
All things taken into consideration, I would rather have an aerial ladder with a pump and hose, simply because of the "what if" syndrome. Though it could be a one in a thousand chance, "what if" the above truck was first in on a working house fire with persons trapped because the nearest engine company is out on an EMS run and the second-in engine is still several minutes away? Now they've got water and a line that they can stretch and begin search and rescue and possible extinguishment, or at least get a good knock down on the fire. With a dry truck they're S.O.L.!
Yeah, we could "what if" this all day, but in the end I would rather have a pump, 300 gallons of water, and hose on an aerial device. Having almost 30 years in the fire service I can appreciate tradition and what it means with the "dry truck vs. a quint" argument. Pride in being a truckie means their truck is dry, that that's what engine companies are for. At least that's what some truckies will tell you.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of rig. Make the best with what ya got!
BTW, why doesn't the KCKFD place larger company numbers, for example, in the middle of the rear doors of the cabs, like several other departments do? Those tiny white numbers and letters on the lower corner of the cab's front doors don't do their rigs any justice.
So, at the very least what these firefighters assigned to this truck can do now is to learn to live with it, train until they feel comfortable operating an aerial with a pump, since it's a new concept for them, improvise due to the loss of compartment space, and maybe they'll end up liking this rig. To not take full advantage of this quint would be a mistake. Just my opinion.
All things taken into consideration, I would rather have an aerial ladder with a pump and hose, simply because of the "what if" syndrome. Though it could be a one in a thousand chance, "what if" the above truck was first in on a working house fire with persons trapped because the nearest engine company is out on an EMS run and the second-in engine is still several minutes away? Now they've got water and a line that they can stretch and begin search and rescue and possible extinguishment, or at least get a good knock down on the fire. With a dry truck they're S.O.L.!
Yeah, we could "what if" this all day, but in the end I would rather have a pump, 300 gallons of water, and hose on an aerial device. Having almost 30 years in the fire service I can appreciate tradition and what it means with the "dry truck vs. a quint" argument. Pride in being a truckie means their truck is dry, that that's what engine companies are for. At least that's what some truckies will tell you.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of rig. Make the best with what ya got!
BTW, why doesn't the KCKFD place larger company numbers, for example, in the middle of the rear doors of the cabs, like several other departments do? Those tiny white numbers and letters on the lower corner of the cab's front doors don't do their rigs any justice.
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