Tiller
Truck
Makes
Sense
Because
They
Save
Lives;
But It
Takes
Drivers
to
Operate
Over a
decade
ago, Los
Angeles
County
Fire
Department
did a
study of
tillered
vs.
straight-frame
apparatus.
They
were
looking
at
maneuverability
and
deployment
times-
ease of
use at
an
actual
incident.
The
department
simulated
several
typical
fire
incidents
with the
ladder
company
crew
required
to go to
the roof
of the
building.
In every
instance,
the crew
from the
tillered
apparatus
was on
the
roof,
with all
of their
personnel and
equipment
present
(and
power
equipment
started
and
running),
and they
were
able to
go to
the side
of the
roof to
assist
the crew
from the
straight-frame
ladder
as they
stepped
onto the
roof!
(American
Fire
Journal)
Minutes,
and
moments,
matter
in
emergency
service
delivery-
it often
means
the
difference
between
saving a
building
or
person,
or not
saving
them.
However,
if you
don't
have a
crew to
respond
on the
ladder
truck,
then
perhaps
what
type of
apparatus
you buy
doesn't
make a
difference.
Lt.
Kurt
Plunkett,
Seattle
Fire
Department
kurt.plunkett@seattle.gov
Put Tiller
Truck Where
Its Needed
A tiller
truck for
Bay
District?
Maybe.
Having it
housed out
of Station
3? NO! Put
that sucker
in Station
9, where the
roads are a
little
easier to
navigate,
and people
actually
know how to
drive.
Tiller
trucks have
evolved over
the years,
and may not
be so bad,
BUT, housing
one in a
station as
busy as
Station 3 is
a little
odd. My idea
would be to
put that
truck in 9,
and transfer
Tower 9 to
Station 3.
Or, better
yet, don't
get a tiller
and get a
platform
ariel for
Station 3.
I think
having a
tiller truck
at Station 3
is a little
.. well ..
odd. The
majority of
these
responses go
down Great
Mills road,
which is
narrow
enough, and
let's face
it, not many
people on
that road
know how to
slow down or
stop for a
firetruck or
emergency
vehicle. I
think the
need for a
tiller is
pretty
useless,
but, the
need for a
new platform
to replace
Truck 3 is
needed.
But, there
is a
backside to
this story.
A few years
ago, Waldorf
brought a
much needed
tiller for
their
station 3,
and it's
helped and
gone places
more then a
platform
ladder has.
Waldorf,
which is
much
designed
like
Lexington
Park and
Great Mills,
has had
their fair
share of
fires and
mutual aid
assists in
which Tiller
3 has run,
and it's
proved vital
in knocking
down the
fire, just
for the
simple fact
it can get
other places
which
platforms
can't.
However, I
still stand
by my point
of not
having a
tiller at
Station 3.
Transfer
Tower 9 to
Station 3
and put the
new tiller
there.
-
Firefighter
Follower
Good Ole Boy
Politics
Comes Before
Saving Lives
in This
County
I know your
reading this
stuff on the
Watchdesk,
keep in mind
a few things
in your
reporting.
St Mary's
county is
going
through the
same thing
that the
more
northern
counties
like, Montgomery and P. G. etc.
went through
years ago.
The
volunteer
system here
is based on
the old good
ole boy
method of
running a
firehouse.
The influx
of
population,
is putting a
real hurt on
the response
of the
volunteer
system, and
the good ole
boy
leadership
is trying
real hard to
keep there
old ways in
place. The
problem is
that the
good ole boy
system does
not work in
a more urban
environment.
This issue
is much,
much, much
bigger then
just a
tiller
truck.
Unfortunately,
a good
majority of
the time
politics
comes before
the job of
saving lives
in this
county.
1 Concerned
Citizen
On The Watch
Desk:
Bay District
has chronic
staffing
problem and
doesn't need
a tiller
truck
Sour Grapes Being Tossed at Bay District
I am a career firefighter out in LA County in California, also had been a volunteer firefighter in AA County, MD for several years prior to my current career. I have many relatives who live in various areas of St. Mary's County (Hollywood, Mechanicsville) so I always keep tabs on the firefighters and EMS providers in the county just out of interest. I also follow the online news of St. Mary's Today as well as others. Tiller trucks are usually used in larger cities or areas where congested streets justify the need for the greater maneuverability of tiller trucks. There is no question that tiller trucks are nimble, easier to maneuver and can get into parking lots and streets where a straight body truck can't.
Is Lexington Park ready for a tiller? Maybe...maybe not. On my last visit to the county, I stopped by Lexington Park to see Bay District's new station. I did see areas there where a tiller can definitely can be used and would work a whole lot better than their current truck. Can they completely justify their decision to spend $700,000+? Doubt it. So, is it really wise to spend that kind of money? Yes. If that truck can fit in a narrow car-clogged parking lot where their old truck can't and as a result save someones life - every penny spent was worth it.
Hollywood has had a tiller truck for a couple years now...can't recall such a fuss raised when they bought a used tiller and had it refurbished. Having relatives living in Hollywood and knowing the area very well, if there is some place where a tiller IS NOT needed is Hollywood. So why be on Bay District's case? Sounds like a lot of sour grapes out there.
Bob Anderson
|
Question:
Can lip
service from
an official
save your
life when
you need a
medic?
Also, the
lack of an
available
medic unit
leaves many
in peril of
death when
medics on
duty could
save
lives...volunteers
are not
coming
forth,
ambulance
calls are
going
unanswered
and yet
departments
continue to
buy new
equipment
when no one
shows up to
drive the
ones already
in the
station, the
politicians
give lip
service to
the problem
and everyone
avoids the
issue of
paid EMS for
fear it will
lead to paid
firefighters.
When will
there be
paid EMS
Service in
St. Mary's
County?
send your
views on
this
question to
staff@stmarystoday.com
|
