Rich Kukac's Page

Rich. I am very familiar with the situation in Orland. To not use the Quint as an engine is pretty goofy. I understand the downing of two rigs and joining them onto one, but the officers have to be trained enough to know when that one rig should be used as an engine or truck. I speced out a quint in the AFG process and sold the idea to the Chief and Mayor by explaining we would use the rig as an engine first with the ability to throw the ladder if/when needed. My department has 3 trucks, all quints, in the departments that touch our borders. 2of them are auto-aid. We train with them so they know that if they pull up before we do, they are to pull a line and start the attack before going to the roof. People hanging out windows will change the roles a bit, but attack is first and foremost. To say it will never be used as an engine is a bonehead thing for a Chief to say. With the distance between stations in Orland, they are risking alot by waiting for another rigto get there to attack, since the first rig went to the roof. Many of those members were upset that the department was going to dedicated companys. That put more responsibility on them and their knowledge of how those units work. I think quints are a great idea. If I had my way, all the rigs at my job, except for the rescue, would be quints. No more b******* that the engine didn't leave room for the truck, it is already there. While the first in crew is fighting the fire, the next crew can work that rigs ladder, go to the roof without worrying about parking, spoting their rig. Best use is on the job with 3 man companys. Easy rigs to use with small companys.Two for the price of one.