Pumping apparatus
Hal Richman
Fire Operations
Sebastian, Florida
Congratulations to Gene Carlson on his article in the September issue of Fire Engineering. He was certainly on target with many of his comments.
Fortunately for me, I present by invitation seminars based on my two books regularly. It is amazing to realize how many times I contact the “bigger than Bellville`s” attitude. The money wasted is appalling.
His comments about a smaller pump in relation to a lack of a water system should be well taken. Trying to show some of the firefighters I encounter that it is because they have to draft that they have a good-size pumper is sometimes a hard proposition.
I especially like his comments on versatility and the location of various equipment features on the pumper. I have found over the past several years that as manpower has been reduced, the preconnected deck gun has become a well-used item when a good-size fire is encountered.
The information he provided under “Innovative Concepts” is also fine, and I like his reference to “modified quints,” for that is what they are. I have just spent a day in Milwaukee, which still runs five men per unit, and found that the medic pumper concept has worked only fairly well and not at all in busy companies.
Again, thanks for a great article.
