Small Departments

[Danny Beebe]

Your magizine is great. I enjoy it very much. Most of the articles are about or for big paid departments and the information is very usefull even to smaller departments. I think that it would be nice if you were to start a special feature in each issue geared to smaller total volunteer departments, say those that serve a population of no more than 3000. The article could feature a department each time with a full photo spread and history of that department. I feel that there are a lot of members of such departments that are out there just waiting for such an article that would make them feel like they too are a part of the whole brotherhood and that they are apprecited for the service that they provide to this country.

Thanks for your time and consideration.
Danny Beebe

[Ken Apel]

Dan- I agree with you 100%. I think a good example of that was the tremendous response to your opening greeting on this forum.Much of what is found on the web does not speak to the efforts of the small VFD's such as fund raising,old equipment,lack of resources. As an example, a VFD near you came to a structure fire with only a brush truck last week. When the tank went dry they had to go to a nearby house and ask to fill it with a garden hose. They called us for aid and we rolled a pumper and a tanker and also put a portable pump in a pond. When we left they were afraid to us up the water so they not not complete the overhaul. At 1 AM they were recalled for the barn next to the structure which was ignited by a rekindle. Both a totel loss.Whose fault was this? I submit that it was as much the communities as the fire department. They have nothing to work with, little or no training,are scorned or ignored by the county.These kind of things need a place to be discussed without someone who has just ordered a $500,000 unit asking why don't just order 2 new pumpers.

[Capt. Carl]

You guys should try Fire Rescue magazine.

It has some great articles about smaller departments. It also has some great ideas on how to improve drafting operations. This is something Firehouse and Fire Engineering rarely address.

[F02]

Fire Rescue is an exellent mag for small or rural dept.'s.If any Firehouse bigdog's are reading this forum,check them out.You might get some good idea's