Hey Roto-Ray,
You ask what would I do differently? What would I as an end user have to say about the new rigs in Fairfax County?
Well first of all, I would say don't ever put up the walls around yourself that the current apparatus duo has put up. Information is not free flowing which makes them feel some sort of power I guess? Don't make statements like "you get what we give you" and "those idiots in the field don't know what there talking about". That gets around, and does not sit well and is remembered for a long time. When guys try to take some initiative with the equipment they are "given" by adding a simple tool or moving a piece of equipment to make operations safer, don't headhunt and say they are destroying county equipment. I digress.
As for apparatus, it seems to me that all one has to do is float around forums like this and compare pictures of apparatus from the area. It is blatantly obvious that Fairfax has become the ODDBALL. Whereas, in the past Fairfax was somewhat of a leader in this field. Not so much now. The combination of the Velocity chassis and the 111 mirrors have generated numerous complaints from vibrations of the mirror, to blindspots, to not being able to see the rear tires, to name a few. Seems to me that if you want to try something new, give it a shot on one or two rigs and then evaluate feedback from those that actually put the rubber on the road. Don't get soon to be 13 velocity's(Rescues 11,18,26,39,Truck 29, Engine 32, and 6 new pumpers, oh Engine 13 (volunteer) drank the kool-aid too so make it 14) now and say that everything is all right, when it is not.
As for what I would do different. I would call our good neighbor Arlington. Ask to hop on thier new contract, and NOT CHANGE A THING. Supposedly the question has already been posed as far as some new ladders, but for sure the dynamic duo will make changes which is very unfortunate. Hopefully, pain is still temporary. Stay Safe Brother.
You ask what would I do differently? What would I as an end user have to say about the new rigs in Fairfax County?
Well first of all, I would say don't ever put up the walls around yourself that the current apparatus duo has put up. Information is not free flowing which makes them feel some sort of power I guess? Don't make statements like "you get what we give you" and "those idiots in the field don't know what there talking about". That gets around, and does not sit well and is remembered for a long time. When guys try to take some initiative with the equipment they are "given" by adding a simple tool or moving a piece of equipment to make operations safer, don't headhunt and say they are destroying county equipment. I digress.
As for apparatus, it seems to me that all one has to do is float around forums like this and compare pictures of apparatus from the area. It is blatantly obvious that Fairfax has become the ODDBALL. Whereas, in the past Fairfax was somewhat of a leader in this field. Not so much now. The combination of the Velocity chassis and the 111 mirrors have generated numerous complaints from vibrations of the mirror, to blindspots, to not being able to see the rear tires, to name a few. Seems to me that if you want to try something new, give it a shot on one or two rigs and then evaluate feedback from those that actually put the rubber on the road. Don't get soon to be 13 velocity's(Rescues 11,18,26,39,Truck 29, Engine 32, and 6 new pumpers, oh Engine 13 (volunteer) drank the kool-aid too so make it 14) now and say that everything is all right, when it is not.
As for what I would do different. I would call our good neighbor Arlington. Ask to hop on thier new contract, and NOT CHANGE A THING. Supposedly the question has already been posed as far as some new ladders, but for sure the dynamic duo will make changes which is very unfortunate. Hopefully, pain is still temporary. Stay Safe Brother.
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