Month - Ends

As January winds down, I thought that I would finish up some loose ends that have been sitting on my desk top.

Guess what this is ? - While at the the shop the other day, we came across this van. As this shop only works on law enforcement, fire and EMS vehicles, we were surprised to see this non-descript van there.

 

Anybody want to take a stab at what this van is used for, just post a comment.

 Check your plumbing - One of the primary functions of a fire engine is to take water into the vehicle and pump it out of the vehicle at a higher pressure. Most of the KBFPD was a great municipal water system, so we usually hook up to hydrants for water supply. Sometimes, debris comes out of the water system and ends up in the plumbing of the fire engine or worse yet, in our nozzles. 

Dog Tag Keychain

The mechanics found this dog-tag in the pump of an  engine a few years back. It somehow managed to fit through the screen and became lodged somewhere in the pump.

 

 Beer Bottle Caps

C Shift found these bottle caps on the front suction screen a few weeks ago. We thought it odd that three caps somehow made it through the domestic water supply, a hydrant and our front suction. I think a construction crew or somebody used an open hydrant discharge port as a cap disposal site. 

Idle Hands and Evil Minds - We spent almost three hours at the shop the other day. As mentioned above, this particular shop only services emergency vehicles. On this day, we were the only fire unit there, but it was full of police cars. One of my favorite pastimes in situations such as this is to place junior firefighter badge stickers in discreet locations on police cars and on fire units from other agencies. we put them in spots where the public won't see them, but the officer or firefighter from the other agency will.

 

Brand new cruiser

 

 Inside the trunk lid, just about over where an officer will have his Tac-bag.

  

When the officer goes to make sure there isn't any spinach stuck between their teeth, they will see this badge. Hopefully, they will view it as a small token of our respect and admiration and our sincere hope they don't write us for minor traffic infractions. Stay safe out there officers.

If there are any officers out there who find these badges plastered on their bikes or cruisers, it might have been us. Or it might have not.

Overheard - (not by me) on top of a rather tall building a while back. "Listen, if you're gonna jump, at least wait until we get the sidewalk cleared. You don't wanna hit anybody." He waited, then jumped. Glad I wasn't there, it made quite a mess where he landed. (Third hand, heavily paraphrased)

Thanks for reading,

Schmoe

Hint - The van above was paid for by a law enforcement agency.