Get this.....

[fftrainer]

Are you kidding?? Because it's "uncomfortable"? So is wearing gear at a strucure fire in July, but we do it (most of us at least )

Why do you want to waste compartment space for an SCBA when there is a perfectly good place to put one. That being the seatback that would otherwise be useless space. Not to mention being ready to go when you step out on scene. The last thing I want is to have to finish getting dressed in front of a resident who's home is on fire. I understand that it happens because it's not an ideal world, but if you have an opportunity to help guys arrive better prepared to go to work, then why do we pass that up in the name of making a comfortable seat? Oh and BTW, ours are comfortable with the pack in. Yes some of the old ones are not, but tell your chief to look at some of the new technology out there and he will see that improvements have been made.

Every seat (except the driver) on our apparatus is an SCBA seat. The driver has a mask and hose to plug into a vehicle mounted system.

As far as the missile theory that someone mentioned earlier, there isn't really any merit to that (at least not on our apparatus) all of our seats have a strap and clip that hold the SCBA into the bracket in the event of a crash (oh and for when you tilt the cab forward!! ) There is a yellow 'rip cord' that you pull to release the hold down system when you are ready to get out of the seat.

Hope that helps a little!

[GregLAFDRET]

Short take.
Mount the SCBA on an outside bracket. LAFD has been doing this for years. Works for us. Each department has it's own criteria, but I am partial to having, not only one less 30 lb. projectile but one that is full of compressed air to boot in the cab.

I would also think it would be easier on all member's back's, to not have to exit the vehicle with an SCBA attached.

Not only that, but if someone needed to swap SCBA's quickly, it is a lot easier to so standing up next to the rig than climbing back in, axe strapped on, etc., etc.

[Rescue101]

Greg,Stuff, particularly Scba on outside brackets, is a left coast theory.In the land of cold and leather,we prefer them inside a warm cab under cover.As pointed out by myself and a couple of others the new strap system in the Scba holder keeps them from becoming projecticles unless you physically pull the "ripcord".Now some may not agree with my views,but you haven't lived unless you have had to deal with a regulator frozen useless because of cold.Doesn't happen when they're in a warm cab,plus you shave a couple minutes off the delivery end if you're in your pack on arrival.I never had any problem getting in or out with one on particularly since we went to carbon fiber.T.C.

[firenresq77]

Originally posted by GregLAFDRET


Not only that, but if someone needed to swap SCBA's quickly, it is a lot easier to so standing up next to the rig than climbing back in, axe strapped on, etc., etc.

I'm confused........ Why do you have to climb back in to swap SCBA?

[GregLAFDRET]

Thanks T.C.,
I keep forgetting all the problems due to cold weather. I remember, back when I was in the cold climate FD's we would keep the pump's dry by draining them after each use.

LAFD, CARDINAL SIN, NEVER, EVER, DRAIN THE PUMP UNLESS IT IS BEING SERVICED. Our reasoning for this, no need to, and if you do, the pump will leak and leak due to the inactivity of the seals.

Yes, we still ride around in open cabs. Mostly all are reserve rigs, but a few are still front line.
Greg

[centfd44]

I think I talked to you the other night. Why don't you suggest to your chief that he check in to either using his pov or getting a chiefs vehicle. That is if the can find the money. I know alot of departments have those.

[bjlffire]

I know this will fire some up and I do not mean any disrespect but here it is:

A rural department with a 6 man cab can't be very rural or you have a great and large team.
If we have 6 show up at the station we need at least 3 trucks ( 1 pumper and tankers). The extra cab space could be used for more water. I know, alot of could's.

I wish to again say I am sorry if this stirs the pot

[kprsn1]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe NFPA says there should be a pack for every personnel position on the rig. Doesn't matter where it is. Now I think a good question is how many times does the officer pack up? If he rarely does, why put a pack in the seat? Put it in a side compartment so it easily accesible to additional personnel arriving on scene. An officer should be able to pack up in about 90 seconds anyway so how much time are you losing by getting out grabbing a pack out of the compartment and donning it? 2 maybe 3 minutes? If it's a manpower thing, then maybe let the driver do the size up and the officer get in a jump seat. I personally don't think it's a "This is how it should be done" it's more of what do you do, how do you do it, and what works best for your department. Then again, what does it hurt to have the pack in the officers seat?

SFDredhat126 I'll talk to you Thursday night about it again. We'll figure something out.

[expvol]

Our units have packs mounted in every seat except for the driver, his is in the drivers compartment. It seems alot better to be geared up and ready to go when you get on scene.

[stcommodore]

Engine-90 has a SCB A mounted in each of the main crew seats. For the fold down seats there are three packs in one of the compartments. The officer has a pack as well. It just seems the most logical thing to me.

Someone said it best...in the vollie world the FF riding the officer seat isn't always an officer. For example while it was a special assit call the person riding the officer seat was a JR. It was only a special assit nothing was on fire but its the fact that sometimes the guy in that seat is going to be fighting the fire just like everyone else.

[fftrainer]

Originally posted by stcommodore

Someone said it best...in the vollie world the FF riding the officer seat isn't always an officer. For example while it was a special assit call the person riding the officer seat was a JR. It was only a special assit nothing was on fire but its the fact that sometimes the guy in that seat is going to be fighting the fire just like everyone else.

Not criticizing your statement, just borrowing it to make a point...

The other side of the above statement is that in today's fire service we pretty much do anything and everything that nobody else wants to do. You know PD on scene "Dispatch, send the FD out here they'll figure out how to handle this" As demonstrated above in "it was only a special assist, nothing was on fire...."

Aside from the point I tried to make earlier regarding being ready to go on arrival, I am also all for using up that useless space in a seat back to hold your scba rather that wasting compartment space with it. We get called on to do so many things these days that in order to carry everything we may need we need all the compartment space we can get.

[SFDredhat126]

In response to kprsn1: (For the rest of you, be aware that kprsn1 & I are on the same dept.)

Your question about how many times our officers have thrown on an SCBA in the past is somewhat invalid. Our trucks are still open cab with a bench seat in the front, and that seating position has never had an SCBA available before.

To the rest of you, these are our current pumpers:
1984 E-One on a Hurricane chassis
1978 ALF on a Century chassis(I believe that's what it's called)

Here are my main reasons for pushing for the seat:
Improves Search and Rescue. If we arrive on scene and it is known that people are inside and need to be searched for, that officer can join the primary search. In this situation, it is critical for the those people to have one of the more experienced and higher-trained leaders to join the S&R. The engineer can mantain initial IC until another officer arrives on scene.

Waste of compartment space. I agree with many of the earlier comments. Compartment space is valuable space and shouldn't be wasted when it is unnecessary. We (as a fire service)have created more compartments with innovative ideas such as through-the-tank ladder storage and creative hard suction mounts, but now some want to fill those compartments with SCBA's when they shouldn't be.

I also learned that this same Asst. Chief wants a refrigerator on this new pumper. Yes, a fridge.

So with all the sarcastic ability the good Lord gave me, I suggest these compartments/equipment:

Compartments:
Fridge compartment (preferably at least 19.9 cubic feet)
Lawn chair/folding camp chair comparment
Microwave/and rotisserie compartment
Campfire wood compartment
Propane gas-grill compartment
One compartment plum full of SCBA's

Miscellaneous equipment:
30' X 15' of green outdoor grass
Lawn darts
Horseshoes
Inflatable sofa
6 cans of OFF Bug Spray
6-8 Tiki torches
And maybe we could talk the manufacturer into installing an RV awning on the side.

Maybe the A/C has spent too much time on his boat out on the lake during the summers. He's spoiled by comfort.

[LeuitEFDems]

So with all the sarcastic ability the good Lord gave me, I suggest these compartments/equipment:

Compartments:
Fridge compartment (preferably at least 19.9 cubic feet)
Lawn chair/folding camp chair comparment
Microwave/and rotisserie compartment
Campfire wood compartment
Propane gas-grill compartment
One compartment plum full of SCBA's

Miscellaneous equipment:
30' X 15' of green outdoor grass
Lawn darts
Horseshoes
Inflatable sofa
6 cans of OFF Bug Spray
6-8 Tiki torches
And maybe we could talk the manufacturer into installing an RV awning on the side.

Does Jesse James read these posts? I think I see another episode of Monster Garage in the making

[SFDredhat126]

That's a great idea! Now I know what to do with that old 1969 LaFrance that is out of service. That will keep me busy over the summer.

[FlyingKiwi]

The only problem I see with limiting yourself to a 19.9 cubic foot refrigerator compartment is that only one FF at a time will be able to rehab inside it.

[kprsn1]

Hey redhat126, does Winnebago put water tanks and pumps on their RVs? I believe I recall Cousin Eddie pumping his when the sh**ter got full!! Wouldn't that be a sight?! A big ol' Winnebago flying down the road with lights and sirens! Wait until it gets a little warmer. I'll put together a drill and make him wish he had a fridge to stick his head into! How about a nice cold bucket of water? What do you think, 3 or 4 minutes be enough?

[EricCSU]

19.9 cubic feet? Measure the inside dimensions, but that should be enough for a 1/2 barrel keg of beer for a kegerator. Rehab: vitals, rest, and a pint!

No need to hide the beer in the station, why not keep in cold on the truck!

Eric

[Bones42]

My engine also has a bench seat without SCBA brackets. Again, we put them on the wall. As you put your coat on, you turn to the side, and there is the SCBA hanging on the wall. It's on before you board the truck. No space wasted, members packed up ready to go. Seems pretty simple to me.

[SFDredhat126]

Bones, we can't do the wall-mount thing, no room.

I'm somewhat tempted to go to our local RV dealer and request a Winnebago with a CAFS system. I'm just curious what the salesman's reaction would be. Maybe something like this: "Well son, I wouldn't recommend putting any young cows on it."