Duane I was told years ago by a very big Truckie, that you can teach ANYONE to hold a hose!!!! It takes a MAN to do Truck and Squad work!!!!! I just happen to do both, then take the line when the Engine man freezes at the door!!!!
Mike - we are not a big department - only time we have 3 on everything is when no one is on vacation.
So far this year we have been 2 + 2 for about the last month and a half.
So the trucks always have to step up for the hoseies.
You know how it is
Try and get the truck around the engines blocking the front of the building
pull the line for the LT on th engine
grab a ladder or two to the windows
break some windows
finish clearing out the windows that the hosies only broke
go back and enter with the LT on the hose
do a primary
come back out and go to the roof
go back in with the backup line
take the back up line to the basement 'cause the engine guy took it upstairs
back outside and change some bottles (our trucks have cascades)
back in and actually put the fire out
Take a quick breather, grab some clean water to drink and then go back and overhaul while the engine guys put the few toys away that they used.
Oh yeah, and because of the way the laws are written sometimes the IC will have us be the RIT!
Tough job but someone has to do it