Editor’s Opinion Chris Mc Loone
Well, I think I hooked him. I’m talking about my son, Ian. In another LaFrance story, I was bringing our American LaFrance back to where we are storing it. I needed a ride to the firehouse to get it, and then I needed my driver to follow me back to where we store the 1981 pumper.
I also asked Ian if he wanted to go for a ride with me. He got in and, when I started the truck, a smile slowly spread across his face, and the smile only got broader the longer we drove. If I didn’t have somewhere else to be, and if I didn’t have my son Owen following us, I would have made the drive even longer. Ian is 15. Next year he can join Weldon Fire Company as a junior member. If that smile was any indication, hopefully he’ll be eager to join. I did snap a picture at a red light but have been informed that it’s not to be used. Oh well!
There are a couple of things I’d like to draw your attention to this month. First is our cover story by Ricky Riley that covers what it’s like navigating the apparatus purchasing process right now. It’s not easy. There can sometimes be daily twists and turns. Pricing fluctuates, and parts availability continues to be a moving target. If there’s one message that pervades his article, it’s that communication is key to this process more than ever. Clear specs and checking in with your manufacturer are critical. And, speaking of specs, be realistic with what you’re purchasing. Go for the needs this time around, not the wants. Carefully reconsider spec’ing anything that isn’t completely necessary and that could delay delivery.
I covered a different market for a couple of years, and it was a technology market—specifically machine vision. Believe it or not, machine vision technologies are finding their way into the fire service, but more on that at a different time. It could be frustrating covering that market at times, because often the answers to questions I had were either, “It depends on the application,” or “It depends on who you talk to.” I’m reminded that these answers do also apply to apparatus and equipment specification.
As trite as it might seem sometimes, we often say to design a rig based on what works best for your community. We see designs that we might snicker at for one reason or another but are quickly reminded, “It works for them.” Indeed, it depends on the application.
The FA Viewpoints column returns this month and, as usual, I asked Bill Adams and Ricky Riley to answer a question that ultimately does not have a concrete answer. There are many pumper designs today that are abandoning crosslays. For most of my time in the fire service, crosslays have been mainstays. Less common 30 years ago but very common now are front bumper lines. And gaining in popularity are rear preconnects. I asked if crosslays are necessary and, as usual, the answer is that it depends. Some departments like to design their rigs with as many discharges as their pumps and water supplies will allow. Fellow Weldon members and I often talk about a fire where we used just about every discharge at a commercial building fire. It was right in front of the building and had enough lines to accomplish the task without needing another engine to deploy its lines. It helps that we are lucky to serve an area with good hydrants. It’s great to have Bill and Ricky giving their perspectives on these topics once again.
It makes me wonder what we’ll be talking about after Ian has been in the fire service for 20 to 30 years and how our apparatus and standard operating procedures will evolve. Of course, that’s only if I hooked him!
