10
« on: March 11, 2009, 11:14:23 AM »
Hi all,
Thought i would have a say too. MT the CFA operate a course for the volunteers for every type of pumpping appliance they have. So as JC said if your in on of the 95% brigade with the old dakka dakka pump then you do the tanker course, then if your in an urban brigade you do the pumper course. It does not take 16 weeks to do but at least from the services point of view it covers them to say yes Joe blog knows what he is doing not only to pull some levers but the whole operation of the truck as a pumping appliance. Also having operated Dennis a few time with 2 supply lines and multiple lines out it did become a pain having to step over and lean over all the hoses to do stuff, so clearing the way for the pump operator is the way to go.
Big Al, problem is brigades need to allow for boosting in their SFEC which seem to not exist anymore, if a 34P does not have enough flow then they are supposed to be given a pumper. haha. But also i say if you have a type 2 and a house fire if used correctly it can supply up to 4 lines and a reel into the job and have other appliances supply it with up to four lines. I hate seeing jobs where each truck parks in front of the house and runs one line each. It has been implemented at a few jobs Mt Barker and Happy Valley have gone too, run a reel and up to 3 x 38mm lines with the 2nd truck assisting with a supply from a further hydrant. Seems to do the job quite nicely. You can have another truck nearby on standby with lines in case your pump dies.
Joff