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Wayne's Stuff #21

 

DO YOU KNOW
THAT THERE WAS A SMALL AX THAT THE OLD TIMERS USED WITH THE POMPIER LADDERS.

IT WAS CALLED A POMPIER AX.

 I HAD A PAST ARTICLE ABOUT THEM.. I AM ONLY INCLUDING THIS AS I FINALLY FOUND A PICTURE OF THE

 POMPIER AX HOLDER.


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
 

DO YOU REMEMBER

 OK, YOU THE REAL OLD FARTS SHOULD REMEMBER THIS.

THE YOUNGER RETIREES WON'T REMEMBER THIS AS THEY NEVER SAW ONE.

NOTE: I'M IN WITH THE OLD FARTS AS I DO REMEMBER IT.

OK WHAT IS IT???????????????

BEFORE THERE WAS LIGHT WATER

BEFORE THERE WAS LIQUID FOAM

THERE WAS DRY POWDER FOAM.

I NEVER USED IT OR SAW IT USED.

OUR EDUCTOR WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, THE HOPPER ( THE FUNNEL WHERE YOU DUMPED THE POWDER)

 WAS THE SAME.


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WAYNE

 

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE OLD TWO MAN CROSSCUT SAW.

BEFORE THE GAS POWER SAW WE HAD THIS.

I KNOW I NEVER USED IT.

AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" I JUST CLEANED AND OILED IT.

THE ONE I CLEANED WAS ON LADDER 22 IN THE 60s


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WAYNE


 

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE OLD AUGER THAT WAS CARRIED ON TRUCKS .

THERE WAS ONE ON LADDER 22 IN THE 60s.

IT WAS USED BACK IN THE  DAYS WHEN MANPOWER ALLOWED FOR   MORE OVERHAULING

THEN IN OUR LATER YEARS.  I NEVER USED ONE MYSELF. I JUST CLEANED AND OILED IT FOR INSPECTION.
 

AUGERS WERE USED TO DRILL HOLES IN WOOD FLOORS TO DRAIN ALL THE EXCESS WATER

TO MINIMIZE WEIGHT AND DAMAGE..


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE "IRONMAN"


THIS IS THE ONLY PICTURE OF ONE I COULD FIND.

IT HELD THE "LARKIN PIPE".  I COULD NOT FIND A PICTURE OF ONE SO I JUST DREW A NOZZLE WHILE I WAS DRAWING

 THE IRONMAN.

THE METAL ROD SLID OUT AND YOU STUCK IT IN THE STREET WITH TWO MEN HOLDING ON THOSE SIDE HANDLES.

FROM THIS EVOLVED THE NOZZLES WITH ATTACHED SIDE HANDLES.


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WAYNE

 

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE:
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS

SECOND CHOICE OF NAMES WAS:

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF FIREFIGHTERS


DO YOU KNOW

THAT LOCAL UNION NUMBERS WERE ASSIGNED FOLLOWING THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER IN WHICH THEY

 BECAME AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATED OF LABOR PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF THE

 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS.

LOCAL 344   AFFILIATED MAY 8, 1933


DO YOU KNOW

WHY SOME  OF THE OLD FIREMEN DIDN'T PULL DOWN THE  EARFLAPS  ON THEIR HELMETS. ?
THEY KNEW THAT THE EARS BEING VERY SENSITIVE AND WHEN THEY STARTED TO BURN IT WAS TIME TO THINK ABOUT BACKING OUT TILL THEY COOLED IT DOWN SOME MORE..


DO YOU KNOW
SOME CHEMICAL CARTS HAD A GONG THAT WAS HOOKED UP TO A WHEEL THEREBY BEING STRUCK WITH EACH REVOLUTION.



DO YOU KNOW

THAT  IT DOES APPEAR THAT ALL CHEMICAL ENGINES HAD SHUT OFFS ON THEIR NOZZLES .ALONG WITH SOME SODA ACID EXTINGUISHERS.
 THE EXTINGUISHERS WE HAD BACK IN THE 60s DID NOT HAVE SHUTOFFS.
 THERE ARE STORIES OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PRESSURE BUILDING UP TOO MUCH AND THERE BEING  
 A CHANCE OF THE TANK OR HOSE BURSTING
.
  I COULD NOT FIND ANY STORIES OF A CHEMICAL TANK BUSTING BUT I DID ON THE EXTINGUISHERS.

 NOTE A CHEMICAL ENGINE WAS JUST A LARGER SODA AND ACID EXTINGUISHER
BUT DUE TO ITS SIZE PROBABLY HAD A MUCH STRONGER TANK.
ANOTHER NAME FOR SULFURIC ACID WAS CALLED "OIL OF VITRIOL
ANOTHER NAME FOR CARBON DIOXIDE WAS CARBONIC ACID GAS

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN THE PRESSURE STARTED TO DIMINISH ON THE SODA ACID EXTINGUISHER YOU JUST SHOOK IT VIGOROUSLY TO THOROUGHLY MIX THE ACID IN THE SODA WATER.
IN THE CHEMICAL ENGINES TANK MANY HAD A INTERNAL PADDLE SYSTEM TO MIX THE ACID IN RATHER THEN JUST DUMPING IT IN.

 DO YOU REMEMBER YOU  STUCK YOUR FINGERS IN THE TOP OF THE EXTINGUISHER AS A GAUGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 INCH AIR SPACE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE EXTINGUISHER AND THE WATER.
 IF IT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED THERE WAS THE DANGER OF THE PRESSURE BUILDING UP TOO MUCH WHEN THE ACID WAS DUMPED IN.  THE PRESSURE COULD GO UP TO 1000 LBS. PER SQ. INCH.

A SMALL HOLE WAS DRILLED IN THE THREADED PART OF THE  REFILL OPENING OF THE CHEMICAL ENGINE, AS A SAFETY FEATURE, TO RELIEVE ANY PRESSURE .  WHEN THE CAP WAS UNSCREWED PART WAY THE HOLE WAS EXPOSED RELIEVING ANY PRESSURE
.


DO YOU KNOW

THAT MANY TIMES THE SODA WATER AND ACID DID NOT MIX PROPERLY IN THE CHEMICAL ENGINES.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN IS THE INITIAL STREAM OF WATER WOULD HAVE A HIGH ACIDITY THAT DAMAGED THE FIREMENS CLOTHES AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS WETTED DOWN WITH THAT "FIRST WATER"


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WAYNE

BELOW ARE THREE PICTURES FROM THE TRAINING SCHOOL, LATER CALLED THE TRAINING ACADEMY

PICTURE # 1

REMEMBER IN GOING UP THE FIRE ESCAPE YOU HAD TO HAVE THE LINE ON YOUR INSIDE SHOULDER. IF IT SNAGGED ON

 ANYTHING IT WOULD PULL OFF YOUR SHOULDER. IF IT WAS ON YOUR OUTSIDE SHOULDER AND SNAGGED ON

 SOMETHING IT WOULD PULL YOU TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE STAIRWAY AND POSSIBLY OVER THE RAIL.

REMEMBER YOU ALSO PRACTICED USING THE FIRE ESCAPE HOOK TO RAISE LINE UP TO THE TOP FLOOR.  AT FIRES YOU

 USED THIS SAME METHOD BUT USED THE HOOK OF YOUR PIKE POLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING

PICTURE # 2

REMEMBER  CLIMBING THE POMPIER LADDER (NOTE THE PICTURE HAS IT SPELLED WRONG)

A TEST OF CONFIDENCE IN LEANING BACK ,

I THINK EVERYONE FELT THE SAME  IF YOU MADE IT TO BE HIRED

NOTHING WAS GOING TO STOP YOU FROM GRADUATING, "NOTHING"

PICTURE # 3   PLAYING AWAY FROM THE ROOFTOP OF THE ACADEMY

 

ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE POMPIER CLIMB.
REMEMBER GETTING OFF THE MAT
YOU LAID ON THE MAT WITH THE TOP PART OF YOUR BODY OVER THE EDGE
YOU GRABBED THE MAT EDGE AND "FLIPPED OVER TO THE GROUND.
I BET YOU RETIREES FORGOT ABOUT DOING THAT.

 

DO YOU KNOW

PRIOR TO LEATHER HOSES MADE IN AMERICA BY COBBLERS

AND HARNESS MAKERS   THEY WERE PURCHASED FROM

 HOLLAND
.  

DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THAT THE FIRST HOSE WAS USED TO DRAW WATER FROM A WELL, POND, CISTERN PLUS

RELAYING WATER FROM ONE ENGINE TO THE NEXT AND FINALLY TO THE CLOSEST TO THE FIRE

WHERE THE WATER WAS APPLIED FROM THE

 ENGINE MOUNTED NOZZLE


DO YOU KNOW

PRIOR TO THE GOOSENECK ENGINES TO DIRECT THE STREAM OF WATER YOU HAD TO TURN THE

ENTIRE ENGINE TO THE NEW FIRE LOCATION.

A GOOSENECK HAD A CROOK IN THE EDUCTION PIPE ON THE AIR CHAMBER CASE.

IT HAD TWO ELBOWS SO WHEN A NOZZLE WAS ATTACHED YOU ROTATED, RAISED AND LOWERED IT

 WITHOUT MOVING THE ENTIRE RIG.

 THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO USE HOSE FROM THE HAND PUMPER  APPEARS WHEN THE MEN TOOK OFF

THE NOZZLE AND ATTACHED THE HOSE TO THAT OUTLET CONNECTION.

NOTE: THAT WAS THE ONLY OUTLET ON THE HAND TUBS.


DO YOU KNOW

WHEN A TOWN BOUGHT  AN ENGINE FOR THE VOLUNTEERS IT WAS ORDERED IN

 FLAT GRAY PAINT. THE MEN WOULD THE GATHER AND AS A GROUP DECIDE

 HOW TO PAINT AND DECORATE HER.

THE DECORATING  WAS DONE IN SECRET AS THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY OTHER COMPANY TO COPY

 THEIR IDEAS.

WHEN THE  DECORATING WAS FINISHED  THE NEW ENGINE WAS PUT

"IN SERVICE"
BY SCHEDULING A PARTY, DANCE ,MEAL OR A FIREMEN'S BALL


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE




DO YOU KNOW
THAT ONE EARLY ENGINE COMPANY INSTALLED A BLACKSMITHS BELLOWS, HOOKED UP TO A

 WHISTLE, WITHIN THE FRONT SPRINGS.

AS THE RIG BOUNCED ON THE OLD STREETS IT OPERATED THE WHISTLE
 DO YOU KNOW


THAT EACH TOWN, CITY HAS DEPARTMENT RULES THAT COVER ALL THEIR FIRE COMPANIES.

EACH EARLY "VOLUNTEER" COMPANY WITHIN A TOWN, CITY , BEING INDEPENDENT, HAD THEIR
 
OWN INDIVIDUAL COMPANY RULES
.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT ON JUNE 11, 1805

THERE WAS A STABLE FIRE IN DETROIT THAT SPREAD AND DESTROYED THE TOWN.

CANADIAN VOLUNTEER FIREMEN FERRIED THEIR ENGINES FROM WINDSOR TO HELP DETROIT.


DO YOU KNOW

WHEN HOSE FIRST CAME INTO BEING , SOME TOWNS READILY USED THEM TO GET CLOSER TO THE FIRE.

OTHERS RELIED ON THEIR OLD METHOD OF PUTTING OUT THE FIRE BY "PLAYING AWAY" FROM THE

HAND PUMPERS, MOUNTED NOZZLE
.


DO YOU KNOW

THE EARLY FIREHOUSES WERE  JUST SHEDS THAT WERE JUST LARGE ENOUGH FOR THEIR RIG. THERE WASN'T

 ANY ROOM TO STORE THEIR FIRE GEAR. SINCE THIS WAS THE CASE  WHEN AN ALARM CAME IN THEY HAD TO

 FIRST RUN HOME TO GET THEIR FIRE CLOTHES, THEN RUN TO THE FIREHOUSE TO GET THEIR RIG AND

THEN RUN PULLING THIS HEAVY RIG TO THE FIRE. AFTER ALL THIS RUNNING AND BEING BEAT THEY HAD TO

 MAN THE BRAKES AND PUMP THE WATER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW


THERE WAS THE CHANCE OF LOOTING AT FIRES SO IT WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEIR

BADGE AND FIRE CAP TO DISTINGUISH THEM FROM THE OTHERS AT THE FIRE SCENE.

 THEY WERE FINED IF THEY WEREN'T WEARING THESE TWO ITEMS


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE


DO YOU KNOW

IN THE EARLY 1800s IN THE DEEP SNOW OF NEW YORK'S WINTER SEASON FIREMEN MADE RUNNERS FROM

 6" X 16' PLANKS.  THEY STEAMED THE ENDS AND CURVED THEM UP. THEY THEN CLAMPED THEM TO THE

RIMS OF THEIR HAND PUMPER.

TO GET THEIR RIG OUT OF THE FIREHOUSE THEY PUT BROOMSTICKS UNDER THE RUNNERS AND ROLLED IT

 OUT TO THE STREET AND SNOW.

A "CLASSIC SENTENCE" FROM AN OLD FIRE BOOK ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS.

"THE CHARM OF IT ALL LAY IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE RUNNING,
IN THE VICTORY OVER RIVALS,
AND IN THE DARING FEATS IN AND ABOUT BURNING BUILDINGS."

DO YOU KNOW


ANOTHER NAME FOR

"
OVERSEERS OF CHIMNEYS AND FIRES" WAS

 "BRANDT MEISTERS" OR "FIRE MASTERS"

WHEN THEY FOUND A DEFECT THEY HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER IT REPAIRED.
IF THE HOMEOWNER DIDN'T THEN A FINE WAS IMPOSED WITH THE A
50 / 50 SPLIT OF THE MONEY TO THE TOWN AND THE FIRE MASTER

DO YOU KNOW

THE EARLY SETTLERS FEARED TWO "CALLS OF ALARM"

THAT THREATENED THEIR EXISTENCE.

THE CALL OF "FIRE"

THE "WAR WHOOP" OF INDIANS.

THE MALE SETTLERS EITHER BECAME FIREMEN OR

 SOLDIERS

THE WOMEN EITHER FILLED WATER BUCKETS OR

LOADED MUSKETS .


 DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT YOU SCROUNGED FROM THE DUMPSTER ,IN THE ALLY. NEXT TO HEADQUARTERS BACK IN THE 60s?

THE HEAVY CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES


BACK THEN A RECIPE FOR "COLD DUCK"  WAS BEING CIRCULATED.

I THINK IT WAS MADE FROM GRAPE JUICE.

MANY OF THE GUYS BOUGHT THE BOTTLES FROM A WINE SUPPLY HOUSE, BUT IF YOU RAN AT

 HEADQUARTERS, AT THAT TIME, YOU GOT THEM FREE
.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE DALMATION DOGS NOT ONLY RAN IN FRONT OF THE RIGS BUT ALSO RAN BEHIND AND

SOME BRAVE DOGS EVEN RAN UNDERNEATH AND BETWEEN THE TWO HORSES.

SOME DOGS   LEARNED THE ACTUAL STREET LOCATION ACCORDING TO THE  STRIKING OF THE GONG

AS TO BOX NUMBER.

THEY GUARDED THE RIG AT THE FIRE SCENE AND DIDN'T LET ANY CIVILIANS COME NEAR IT.

SOME EVEN WENT IN THE HOUSE ON FIRE AND WERE ABLE TO SEARCH FOR TRAPPED PEOPLE.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME  EARLY ENGINES WERE CALLED WAGONS


DO YOU REMEMBER

NOT ONLY STANDING ON THE BACK PLATFORM OF YOUR ENGINE BUT WHEN THE   LINE WAS PILED ON THE

 PLATFORM AFTER A FIRE YOU STOOD ON THE ROLLED UP WET HOSE  TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING OFF,

WHEN YOUR RIG TURNED  A CORNER YOU HELD ON WITH BOTH HANDS....(BEFORE OSHA)

DO YOU REMEMBER

SINCE THE THE OLD 1  1/2"  LINE WAS SO STIFF AND TRAPPED AIR WHEN MADE INTO A BUNDLE IT WAS A LOT

 BIGGER THEN TODAY'S BUNDLES AND WAS A "BITCH" TO CARRY.

DO YOU REMEMBER

LEAVING YOUR SHOES ON THE APPARATUS FLOOR WHEN PUTTING YOUR BOOTS ON WHEN

 GETTING A RUN AND WHEN YOU GOT BACK THEY WERE GONE. 

FROM THEN ON YOUR SHOES ALWAYS WENT WITH YOU.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT YOU THREW UP TO THE CEILING OF THE ENGINE HOUSE KITCHENS   TO SEE IF IT WAS DONE?

COME ON OLD TIMER.................THINK................

HINT # 1  THE TRIALMAN HAD TO BE ON DUTY THAT DAY TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

HINT # 2 THE BOSS ON THAT DAY HAD TO SEE THE HUMOR IN THIS.

HINT # 3 NO, NOT DOUGH BALLS,  THOSE YOU THREW OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AT THE BUILDING NEXT

              DOOR.

HINT # 4 AND FINAL HINT. IT WAS AN ITALIAN MEAL.

   SPAGHETTI..... OLD TIMER............. SPAGHETTI.................. YOU THREW THE SPAGHETTI UP

 AT THE CEILING.  WHEN SOME STUCK AND HUNG DOWN, THEY WERE DONE AND YOU YELLED CHOW.

NOTE: THE FIRST WEEK I WAS RETIRED I TRIED THIS AT HOME....................................

I DIDN'T GET ANY THAT NIGHT......................AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SPAGHETTI , I DIDN'T GET ANY

 SPAGHETTI EITHER.


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
..............DON'T THROW ANY SPAGHETTI AT THE CEILING OR YOU WON'T GET     WAYNE                                                          ANY THAT NIGHT................AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SPAGHETTI
..


HEY GUYS, ANOTHER STYLE OF THE OLD "PULL DOWN HOOK"
THIS WAS THE HOOK THAT THEY USED TO PULL DOWN HOUSES / BUILDINGS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF

 FIRE.

THE FIREMEN PULLED ON THE ROPE OR IF NEEDED, THEY ATTACHED IT TO A TEAM OF HORSES.

BELOW THAT IS THE "SWAB" FOR PUTTING OUT ROOF FIRES. IT WAS A BLANKET WRAPPED AROUND A POLE SOAKED IN WATER TO BEAT OUT ANY FIRE ON THEIR ROOFS.

THESE TWO ITEM WERE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE EARLY DAYS.


DO YOU KNOW

IN THE 1835 TO 1845 ERA THERE WERE 33 LAWSUITS AGAINST NEW YORK'S MAYOR FOR

BLOWING UP BUILDINGS FOR FIRE BREAKS.

DO YOU REMEMBER

HAVING A RED RIG AT A SUBZERO MULTIPLE AND HOOKED TO A HYDRANT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE

 BUILDING.

BY THE TIME YOU PICKED UP YOU COULD NOT SEE ONE INCH OF RED WITH ALL THE ICE COVERING IT.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT DID YOU THROW AT THE KITCHEN CEILING AND IF IT STUCK IT WAS DONE?

YOU DID THIS ONLY IF THE TRIALMAN WAS ON DUTY

NO, NOT DOUGH BALLS,  THOSE YOU THREW OUT THE WINDOW AT THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR, IF THEY

 STUCK THE DOUGH WAS READY

 SPAGHETTI, WHEN SOME STUCK ,AND HUNG DOWN IT WAS READY TO YELL "CHOW"


IF IT WAS LEFT FOR THE NEXT DAYS TRIALMAN THE SPAGHETTI DRIED ON THE CEILING.


DO YOU KNOW

ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT GETTYSBURG, IS A STATUE OF A
FIREMAN
       AND
SOLDIER

STANDING SIDE BY SIDE.


DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE OLD VOLUNTEER FIREMEN WITH THEIR LOVE OF THEIR ENGINE ALONG WITH THEIR
 
ESPRIT DE CORP. ,AND COMMUNITY LANGUAGE WAS COMPARED TO THE

OLD SEAMEN OF THE TALL SAILING SHIPS


DO YOU KNOW

IN SMALL COMMUNITIES THE SIGNAL FROM A BOX CAN GO FROM THE BOX DIRECTLY TO THE

FIREHOUSE OR BELL TOWER.

IN LARGE CITIES , USUALLY THE SIGNAL GOES TO A CENTRAL OFFICE AND THEN SENT TO THE

FIREHOUSE.


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

DO YOU KNOW

THE FIRST STEAM ENGINE WAS SO BIG AND HEAVY THAT IT TOOK

4 HORSES TO PULL IT.

 DO YOU KNOW

THE FIRST BOX PULLED FOR A FIRE WAS IN BOSTON

APRIL 29, 1852

CAUSEWAY & CHARLESTOWN

IT WAS FOR A BUILDING FIRE



DO YOU KNOW
 
 WHAT IS THE LOWEST NUMBER BOX IN DETROIT AND IT'S LOCATION

    COBO HALL  CATEGORY

 
  BOX 012 COBO HALL EXHIBITS  BLDG.---IST FLOOR FOYER (SOUTHEAST SECTION)

    STREET LOCATION CATEGORY

    BOX 12, CASS AND MICHIGAN

 WHAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER BOX IN DETROIT AND IT'S LOCATION

    BOX 9916 MOROSS ROAD AND MACK

   
 DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE SIMILARITIES

BETWEEN FIREMEN AND SEAMEN IN THEIR RELUCTANCE IN GOING FROM   MANUAL RIGS (HAND PUMPERS &

 TALL SAILING SHIPS) TO ONE OF STEAM.  IT WAS TO BE AN END OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE.


DO YOU KNOW

IN A CARGO FIRE ,IN THE HOLD  OF  A DOCKED OLD WOODEN SHIP , IF THEY COULDN'T EXTINGUISH IT

 THEN, AT TIMES, THEY RESORTED TO SCUTTLING IT TO SALVAGE THE HULL.

THEY DID THIS BY OPENING HOLES IN THE HULL THAT WERE BELOW THE WATER LEVEL.


DO YOU KNOW

THE CALL FROM THE TOWER NIGHT WATCHMAN TO THE MEN SLEEPING IN THE DORATORY WHEN

HE SPOTTED A FIRE .

" TURN OUT, TURN OUT"

DO YOU KNOW

THE CALL FROM THE OLD TIME FLOOR WATCHMAN TO THE MEN SLEEPING WHEN

HE GOT A RUN ON THE REGISTER

"IT'S A HITCH"  MEANING TO HITCH UP THE HORSES


DO YOU KNOW

THE AVERAGE FIREMAN WORKED 6 DAYS A WEEK (144 HRS) AND THEN HAD 24 HRS OFF.

THIS WAS THE ONE PLATOON SYSTEM

WITH THE ONE PLATOON SYSTEM IF THERE WAS A BIG FIRE ON YOUR OFF DAY YOU COULD BE CALLED BACK.


DO YOU KNOW

IN 1904 NEW YORK WENT TO A 2 PLATOON SYSTEM, 8AM TO 6PM & 6PM TO 8AM

NOW SOME CITIES HAVE A 3 PLATOON SYSTEM, 8 HOURS A DAY


 

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT A SPIKE HITCH IS?

MOST PICTURES YOU SEE OF A STEAMERS BEING PULLED BY THREE HORSES, HAVE THEM ALL IN LINE.

A SPIKE HITCH WAS A THREE HORSE HITCH, WHERE ONLY TWO HORSE WERE HITCHED NEAR THE RIG.

THE THIRD HORSE WAS  HITCHED OUT FRONT OF THESE TWO RATHER THEN IN BETWEEN THEM


DO YOU KNOW


THAT IN SOME EARLY COMMUNITIES ,VOLUNTEER FIREMEN ALSO ACTED AS THEIR POLICE FORCE.


DO YOU KNOW

WHILE WE HAD UNIT 1 & UNIT 2

SOME DEPARTMENTS HAVE FIRST PLATOON & SECOND PLATOON

AND ALSO SOME GO BY COLORS

WHITE WATCH, BLUE WATCH & RED WATCH  (3 PLATOON SYSTEM)


DO YOU KNOW
OUR APPARATUS ROOM
IS LONDON'S
APPLIANCE ROOM


DO YOU KNOW

WHILE OUR POMPIER LADDER HAD ONE BEAM AND ONE HOOK

I SAW PHOTOS OF TWO OTHER STYLES

TWO BEAM AND ONE CENTER HOOK ( THE WIDTH OF THE LADDER LOOKED AS NARROW AS OUR SINGLE

 BEAM POMPIER LADDER

TWO BEAM AND TWO HOOKS
( THE WIDTH LOOKED A LITTLE WIDER THEN OUR SINGLE BEAM POMPIER

 LADDER


DO YOU KNOW

THAT BEFORE RIG MOUNTED AERIAL LADDERS SOME DEPARTMENTS HAD AN

AERIAL LADDER MOUNTED ON A  CART / WAGON WITH

COUNTER WEIGHTS TO STABILIZE IT.



DO YOU KNOW

THAT I READ OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT , AS A TOUCH OF NOSTALGIA, WENT TO GIVING THEIR

FIRE APPARATUSES
NAMES AS WELL AS NUMBERS, AS IN THE OLDEN DAYS.



DO YOU KNOW

THAT THEY MADE A SIREN THAT OPERATED OFF THE
 FAN BELT.



DO YOU KNOW

ONE BAD FEATURE OF BUYING A TRACTOR TO REPLACE THE HORSES FOR THE STEAMER WAS WHEN THE

 STEAMER WORE OUT THERE WAS NO FURTHER USE FOR THE TRACTOR.


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE