[MFD594]

Who's Taking Care Of Stuff?

A lot of you are fortunate to have "district employees" that check your equipment on a regular basis.

Some of us dont have that.

And even if I did have that, "who is checking my stuff?" i.e. SCBA, tools, etc.

"Districts" are hiring "maintainers" left & right.

Problem being- the person that mows the FD HQ lawn might not know shit about my SCBA.

A) Who are you hiring?

B) Isnt a members personal safety greater than having a fresh cut lawn?

C) Why are apparatus floors being "mopped" when the rigs dont leave quarters??

D) Why aren't you hiriing "Class "A" Firefighters" as maintainers? Wouldn't that get the rig out quicker?


Now see "D"... I witnessed "d" the other day-

"Self-Dispatched" FD with a house fire at 9am.

1st due Engine had ECC, acting boss & 3 guys in the back. All on the dept "nut". On the rig & gone within 3 mins.

....It was off my cellphone but 3 mins out the door seems good to me...

[whatsyourrush]

In NHP each company has an elected position called "Chief Driver". That company's rig is his responcibility. He/she has to inspect it each week and keep a log book. This includes all tools, scba's, and anything/everything having to do with our rig. He is also in charge of driver/MPO training. It works pretty well. Everyone should look over the truck whenever they stop at the house but this way you know someone capable is def doing it each week.

[StayLow&Go]

we have two rigs to check with a large amount of equipment. There are 2 probies/junior men assigned to each rig to check the equipment each week. They record there results on our whiteboard where each piece of equipment is listed. Although it is there responsibility to check everything and report at the Company meeting the results, everyone steps up and goes over each rig on our 2 work days each week. The reason the junior men are given the responsibility is so they learn the equipments location and operation and they are each supervised by the Chief chauffeur for that vehicle.

[Blue Mule Trucking]

Our rigs are checked every monday, my members. Things missing or in poor condition get reported to the captains office. It's pretty good. The only down fall I see is people checking the same rig every week. For a while I caught myself doing it that, but was also up there checking out other rigs when going up there to hang out. I now try to check a different rig every week.

[LAD42DER]

your comapny, your tools you check them ...... dont need to get in a situation that oh someone else from the district checked it and that is why it is not working......not the right answer on game day.....
we dont fuel the rigs anymore because we dont have the dispatch to turn on the pumps anymore so the distrct takes care of that.
i can understand that the district might want to maintain their equipment but you should have pride in your stuff and check it. we check our rigs twice a week. wed nite and sunday morning. if we are going to something that may sound good a quick check of the scba is done before i don it......yes with my seatbelt on, on the way . but leaving it solely up to paid employee's??? and i have nothing against them at all they are great maintainers of the district but the apparatus and the tools and hose that are carried on it should be checked and maintained by the company as well. this aides in trouble shooting a tool on the scene( the district is not going to be up on the roof at 3 am when your saw is not running right). it is good to know your equipment know that it is functioning properly and that on game day it is gonna work the way that you left it in the comparment.

[Navy076996]

Each company has an 'SCBA Committee' which is manned by junior members. Packs are checked regularly for air pressure, proper operation, and fresh batteries.

[BARNEY R]

our stuff is checked by members every mon night all rigs and scott packs. it rotates thru the company you get it about twice a year. if you cant make it its your responsiblity to have someone cover for you.

[HooknLadder2]

LAD42DER hit it on the head...why would you WANT someone else checking your rig and equipment, its YOURS! you should have the pride in your company and the members of your company to go over the rig and make sure everything is in working order, that doesn't go for just company drill/training nights. your bored in the firehouse? go over the rig!....especially probies/junior guys

[kk2482]

As a firefighter / Ex officer and former Fire District maintainer I know both sides of this arguement. The big benefit of having the company do the work is two fold. First the firefighters who are responsible for using the equipment should be checking their stuff to better familiarize themselves with it and better educate themselves with the ins and outs both good and bad. Second, fire districts are like everyone else right now, trying to do more with less. In our department the guy who was responsible for checking the ambulances and ems supplies is also the daytime tech and fire inspector on top of helping with anything else that needs to be done that day. A few years ago jobs that 3 or 4 guys did are now left to one which means less time and also less attention paid to each job. The bottom line is you want to know a saw is gonna work on a roof at 4 tomorrow morning you better be the guys checking it out. I like H&L2's post too, I hate walking into the firehouse and the bops are all watching t.v. or playing Rock Band but couldnt tell you the first thing about the rig.. ####ing pisses me off!! Holy shit, I sound like my old man! Guess Im getting old, we used to check the rigs and wash them all the time when we were hanging out.

[HooknLadder2]

KK its a new class of guys now....and you are getting old!!