911:: Funny Fire Department Story

[Guest guest]

Since we are sharing stories of " innovative " use of hose by fire

departments, I must add one to the list. A working structure fire one summer

day a few years back, small utility type building, maybe 25' by 25' or so.

1st arriving engine request 2nd arriving lay in (connect to hydrant and drop

supply hose to scene). The 2nd engine spots a hydrant, stops, wraps the

plug (hydrant) and pulls away toward the scene, leaving one member at the

plug to make the connection. Unfortunately, the structure was off the road

down a dirt lane, and the firefighter at the plug did not keep a portable

radio with him.

The Plug wasn't real !!! It was a lawn ornament (used to be a real pony

hydrant) that the homeowner placed near the roadway. Apparently it was

merely the shell of a formerly real hydrant, light enough not to stay put

when the engine pulled away. The Hydrant firefighter had no way of signaling

the engine chauffeur, and the engine laid it's entire 1000' load of supply

to the scene from a fake hydrant!.

Needless to say that that hydrant has made special appearances at county

fire association events and fire company banquets. AND it has been

officially retired from it's life of exterior design.

J. Fred Ayars

Salem NJ

(NO, this did not occur in my local)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/5/01 4:53:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

battalion6@... writes:

> The Plug wasn't real !!! It was a lawn ornament (used to be a real pony

> hydrant) that the homeowner placed near the roadway. Apparently it was

> merely the shell of a formerly real hydrant, light enough not to stay put

> when the engine pulled away. The Hydrant firefighter had no way of signaling

> the engine chauffeur, and the engine laid it's entire 1000' load of supply

> to the scene from a fake hydrant!.

I would have hated to be the one who told those folks and even more hated to

be the one that had to re-do it........Good story tho......falls under the

heading " lessons learned " .... always carry a portable !!

(1226-EST)

Toni Wyman, (CTO)

Gwinnett County Police, GA (just N of HotLanta)

770 Hi Hope Rd

Lawrenceville, GA 30046

(These are only my opinions, not my agency's, after all they are the

government and they have opinions of their own)

For liability reasons my posts and opinions are to be reprinted with my

permission only.

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