[dawreckingstick]

Why does my dept get passed over for Mutual Aid – a valid question to ask myself? My comments are not directed at any particular dept, just thinking out loud since it appears this questions often arises in the sig-10 thread regardless of Battalion or Dept.

Here are two places where blame is frequently inserted.
1. Politics/personal friendships.
2. Battalion affiliation.

I give today’s Chiefs far more credit and believe they rely on far more pertinent reasoning when choosing/assigning MA dept’s and developing MA procedures/sop’s.

My personal view -- If I were King for a day here’s what I would base the who of my MA decisions on.

Does the crew routinely sent MA to me by X, Y & Z departments do (or not) the following ----- or ---- know how to, have experience or drill extensively on the following.

1. Size-up (officers & members) and its relationship to the particular structure and environment they’ve responded.
2. Officers, who are proactive, can think a few steps ahead of the fire and communicate pertinent info back to the IC.
3. Officers who follow the orders of the IC to detail.
4. Members who follow the orders of their officers and/or the host department’s officers to detail.
5. Flat roof Op’s (observations/reports) and venting techniques -- -how to properly operate a rotary saw & where to cut.
6. Capable of performing and (willing to) taking the beating associated with searching on the floor above in PD and MO’s.
7. Forcible entry techniques utilized/required in MO’s & commercials
8. Opening up walls, floors & ceilings to check for extension and where to.
9. What lines to stretch as BU.
10. Standpipe Op’s and the host dept’s. Sop’s regarding such.
11. How to stretch pre-connects as well as static load handlines.
12. How to estimate stretches.
13. Familiarity with the type of hose systems or tactics the host dept routinely deploys.
14. Where does the second, third or fourth line go and how does it get there.
15. Capable and determined enginemen willing to make the hard push or hold their position to protect the brothers operating in exposed positions above or flanking the fire room or room‘s.
16. Capable and determined truckies willing to stand/crawl with the engine taking the beating required in order to open up and expose those the pockets of fire that left unchecked will spread to upper floors, cause the loss of the top floor or total loss of the structure.
17. Clog stairwells and doorways cuz we think that’s the place to be -- Sheppard’s.
18. Truckies standing dumfounded in the Sheppard’s position while viewing kinks in handlines and/or lines needing some lightening-up.
19. Members who are determined, emotionally & physically capable of carrying out their jobs and/or the tasks assigned by their officers and the IC.
20. Capable and highly qualified Chauffeurs who can properly position and operate their respective rig (Eng or Truck).
21. Send Rookies closely supervised by highly experienced members.
22. Send Probies!!!! --- is this a training drill back home?

IMOP -- this is not a party or social club event you’re being invited to, it’s a Fire and none are owed Invitations ----- WE EARN THEM. Good performances always keep the stadiums full and the fans coming back game after game --- season after season.

If my responses for my dept to the above list were mostly negative I'd do something to change them. Drill – Drill - Drill & Train-Train-Train to improve performance and create a better perception. Hey you never know, we might get invited back in the wild card spot and rise to the top. If the Giants can do it so can we.

Stay Safe