What year did DC get rid of the 2-piece Engine Company concept, and why?
The pumpers were placed out of service in October of 1991, or in government terms, the fiscal year of 1992. For all the firemen that got "C's" and "D's" on their report cards, that would be the physical year of 1992. They were placed out of service due to budget constraints.
The early to mid 90's were troubled times for the DCFD. Companies were closed (T-1, E-3, E-34, RS-4, BFC-7, BFC-8). Then came rotating closers of 4 engines and 2 trucks everyday. Truck Company manpower reduced, fireboat manpower reduced, battalion aides out of the buggies, the haz-mat unit went combo with 12 engine, on and on. It was a disaster for morale and the public we serve. The senior men at that time told me it was a repeat of the same budget troubles and solutions of the 1970's.
The DCFD two-piece engine company was a sight to behold. 4 engine companies using a two-pump operation, with enginemen that would kill each other to get their line on the fire first. Using two pieces of pumping apparatus gave many options for hose layouts, and added redundancy into the system. Hose wagon goes kaput and the pumper just pumped right through the wagon like a big manifold, the options were only limited to the engine company's creativity. Probably the greatest asset of the two piece engine company was the fact that if the stuff hit the fan, the DCFD could call back personnel and go from 33 2-piece engines to 66 1-piece engine companies.
May the Good Lord see to it that we never see times like those again!
Semper Fidelis
The pumpers were placed out of service in October of 1991, or in government terms, the fiscal year of 1992. For all the firemen that got "C's" and "D's" on their report cards, that would be the physical year of 1992. They were placed out of service due to budget constraints.
The early to mid 90's were troubled times for the DCFD. Companies were closed (T-1, E-3, E-34, RS-4, BFC-7, BFC-8). Then came rotating closers of 4 engines and 2 trucks everyday. Truck Company manpower reduced, fireboat manpower reduced, battalion aides out of the buggies, the haz-mat unit went combo with 12 engine, on and on. It was a disaster for morale and the public we serve. The senior men at that time told me it was a repeat of the same budget troubles and solutions of the 1970's.
The DCFD two-piece engine company was a sight to behold. 4 engine companies using a two-pump operation, with enginemen that would kill each other to get their line on the fire first. Using two pieces of pumping apparatus gave many options for hose layouts, and added redundancy into the system. Hose wagon goes kaput and the pumper just pumped right through the wagon like a big manifold, the options were only limited to the engine company's creativity. Probably the greatest asset of the two piece engine company was the fact that if the stuff hit the fan, the DCFD could call back personnel and go from 33 2-piece engines to 66 1-piece engine companies.
May the Good Lord see to it that we never see times like those again!
Semper Fidelis
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