18 May 2008 <br/>
63rd Tri-State Fireman's Meet, <br/>
Brooklyn, Connecticut <br/>
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This is the second year the show has been in Brooklyn.  It was held at Memorial Beach in Webster, MA for a few decades, and before that it was held at Quaddick State Park in Thompson, CT -- and I wouldn't be surprised if it had been a few other places over the decades. <br/>
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Turn-out of apparatus was on the low side this year, affected I'm sure by a forecast of showers for this day (they did move in during the afternoon) as well as the recent fuel price spikes.  I didn't stay that long myself -- wanted to get some yard work done ahaed of the rain. <br/>
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Danielson Hose Tender 161...1984 Maxim 1750gpm / 500gwt / 3,000' 4".  This was one of the newer trucks around when I joined... <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180005_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Yantic N-33, whoops...showing my age...Engine 33...2007 Pierce 2000gpm / 500gwt Rescue-Pumper.  Everything old is new again, when I first joined most of the pumpers (all?) in my town and many in the area had hose bed covers of hypalon over plywood, including tied-down flaps that came down to cover the mattydales.  That dated back into the 1970s before the transition to synthetic hose was complete, to help keep the old cotton jackets dry.  Then hose bed covers went away -- saves time on the attack not fumbling with them, quicker to pack not dealing with them.  Then it was found with the combination of no covers, and slippery hose jackets then the old cotton (easier to advance inside a burning building), hose would occassionally fall out...most tragically in 2004 when 10 year old Erin Schmidt was struck and killed in Corapolis, PA by the nozzle from a crosslay that had slid out of an engine responding to a basement fire. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180006_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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I like the thumb taps that came out a few years ago to hold the adapters, like on the door here. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180007_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Stopped me in my tracks, back up, take a look...yep, it's a Turbo Draft tucked in the back of the compartment.  Met the inventor at a sales demonstration in East Haddam, CT around 2002.  I couldn't quite justify fighting for the funding -- it was one of those nice to haves that float right below the "we really need this" point in my overly frugal mind.  For the 670gpm it can provide, net, we can run tanker shuttles to areas we can't reach water with conventional suction.  If you have a clean water supply (like hydrants) it's also a pretty high-volume way to de-water basements without sucking goodness knows what through your pump. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180008_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Nice little 3/4" booster line. Kind of a nice size to take care of nuisance fires like a bit of grass burning on the side of the road quickly and clear the scene...without tempting someone to go after a car fire with it. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180010_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Managed to capture a little bit of the sun gleaming off ET-190. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180009_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Chaplin ET-309 1999 International / Central States 1500gpm / 1000gwt.  1.5" booster line. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180017_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Oxford, MA Rescue 2 (Air-Light Unit).  That's eight rows of five bottles, and the left rear compartment is identical...I counted over 100 1 hour, 45 minute, and 30 minute high pressure bottles on the truck. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180020_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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While LifeStar was landing, the crew on ET-190 was on board.  That's a good place to be -- it offers a little bit of protection if something happens with the helicopter near by, but you're also ready to go since most likely if something happened it's not going to be within 150' of your engine.  Of course, it would help if you didn't leave your wheel chocks in place while standing by to re-position. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180045_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Inside one of the State Decon trailers.  There are 34 of these statewide (one for each acute care hospital and casino), and they can operate in combination -- typically one for a small incident, or four for a larger incident.  In a four trailer configuration you have seperate lines for men and women. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180048_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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And the outside.  Mortlake's assigned prime mover for the trailer is designated Rescue 390 and carries a bunch of lesser used tools and equipment (tech rescue, air bags, extra PPV fans, etc). <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180065_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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What happens when you park in a no parking zone.  Even if you're a Deputy Chief. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180058_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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That's Jewett City ET-256 1981 1500gpm / 1000gwt / 1,800' 5" sandwiched between Dayville's new Rescue 463 and an Engine-Tank from West Glocester, RI.  It's amazing not just the height difference -- but how much narrower the custom cabs used to be.  Thing is, in 1981 it would've been massive compared to a typical city engine from the mid-1950s. <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180062_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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Old Lyme's Hose Tender.  Mortlake's stayed in the barn today, so this was the only reel truck around: <br/>
<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180064_small.jpg" /> <br/>
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<img src="http://www.d90.us/fire/TriState_2008/P5180066_small.jpg" /> <br/>