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1. Sticky says:

   July 30, 2009 at 1:23 am

   I hope they have both water damage in the car AND a ticket.

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2. bstaples says:

   July 30, 2009 at 7:12 am

   Action Taken: Appropriate

   Carry on men.

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3. j_bryon says:

   July 30, 2009 at 8:44 am

   Reminds me of “Backdraft” except it was an expensive import that had its windows smashed out.

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4. natedog says:

   July 30, 2009 at 8:48 am

   those fags could have used the side openings

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5. Puulaahi says:

   July 30, 2009 at 10:12 am

   Firefighters have to deal with so much bullshit. Actually no they don’t, most the time the they just hurry up and wait. Sit on their asses and have people in the neighborhood bring them free food and drinks. Oh to be a fire fighter.

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6. taustin says:

   July 30, 2009 at 10:47 am

   Assuming this is real, and there’s no reason to do so, but assuming it is, it looks like, from the fact that the hose actually goes the wrong way, they ignored the fire long enough to screw up a car that wasn’t actually in their way. Doesn’t impress me with their dedication to duty.

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7. GrandAdmiralThrawn says:

   July 30, 2009 at 11:26 am

   @ natedog: I’m actually surprised you said that, I’ll explain why the “side openings” called “ponies” are less effective then the main opening called a “steamer.”

   Puulaahi: yeah I agree; Paid Firefighting is a joke job most places; volleys (although occasionally annoying) are usually no less professional (read: yes there are dumb asses, but their are dumbass paid guys to), and cost you a shit ton less money in taxes. And they sit around the firehall just to get anyway from their wives.

   taustin: There is almost no doubt this is real; I’ve seen similar action taken.

   Now to address two misconceptions about this picture.

   First: That the ponies (side of hydrant). Ponies in the United States are (supposed to be) 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Steamers (the front) are 5 inches.

   A 2-1/2 inch diameter hose creates significantly more friction resistance the a 5 inch line; meaning less water flows through the line, even when much higher pressures are used. Even if you were to use two 2-1/2 lines, you get less water flow then if you had simply used a 5 inch line; and you’ll be running at higher pressure meaning increase risk of bursting a line. (rare, but still a consideration).

   Additionally; fire apparatus (regardless of if it a Truck, Engine, Quad, Quint, Tanker), as a limited about of room for hose. Most would not keep two lines ready to hook up to the ponies because doing so is simply not practical. (Consider that ideal hydrants are spaced 500 ft apart, most engines carry ~ 1000ft of hose to “tag” [hook up to] a hydrant).

   Additionally: it would take a hell of a lot less time to break out two windows, and run the line through, then it would take to pull off two 2-1/2 lines and hook them both up.

   The hose does not go the wrong way at all. Fire hydrants only have one 5 inch connection, meaning the hose has to go out from the front of it. Once a line pressurizes it is only so flexible, so even if it did not have to go through that window, it would probable still be nearly that far out into the roadway.

   Also, I see no evidence that anyone ignored the fire: Given that is rather difficult to put a fire out without using water, obtaining a water source is a high priority in any attempt to extinguish a blaze. A House fire (read, more then a room) takes thousands (if not 10s of thousands) of gallons of water to put out. A tanker might carry 3000 gallons, but since this is a urban are, the odds are they only have engines and trucks, so you are talking about 250 to maybe 1000 gallons (although 1000 gallon engines are normally seen only in rural areas)

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   • Awesome1 says:

     July 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm

     2 Things: 1) I bet those fuckers left the broken glass all over the street. 2) why don’t they put 2 steamers on hydrants? what if it was a 2-window conversion vans with it’s ass end parked in front of the hydrant?

     3) they should just push those vehicles out of the way with their big trucks.

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8. nyoki says:

   July 30, 2009 at 3:54 pm

   What a stupid place to park. Even if you weren’t in the way of an actual fire, the ticket cost is prolly $300+, and no cop (or judge) is gonna let that one slide.

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   • j_bryon says:

     July 31, 2009 at 8:43 am

     Nyokki, you hit the nail right on the head!

     To those arguing against what the fire dept did: The point made here is simple, DON’T PARK IN FRONT OF A HYDRANT! The law is there for a reason whether you agree with it or not. Quit bitching about it!

     I know it would have taken longer than just busting out the windows but they could have taken the Jaw of Life and cut the van in half if they had wanted.

     It would have been great if this pic would have had a new Mercedes or an Escalade instead of some POS minivan. The look an the smug bastard’s face when he discovered what had taken place because he felt it was his “right” to break the law would have been priceless!

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9. pro_junior says:

   August 2, 2009 at 12:37 am

   @GrandAdmiralThrawn
   so we are to ignore the fact that there is clearly some sort of coupling device between the hose and hydrant? and that on that device there is what appears to be another place to connect the hose as well as a valve handle to direct the water flow? and that the other connection is 90 degrees to the connection used, so that if it had been used the hose would not have needed to go through the van?
   I’m not saying that the person that parked in front of the hydrant isn’t a dick…but the firemen were more dick for doing what they did…
   and who the fuck paints a hydrant white? shouldn’t it be red? the curb should be painted red also, to indicate that it is a no parking zone…

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10. GrandAdmiralThrawn says:

    August 5, 2009 at 8:22 am

    Rusty Shackleford: I agree that they should have pushed the car out of the way; I’ve never met a dept that would do it though….

    Fire Hydrant design is what it is, even if it was a law that every hydrant built had to have to ponies and two steamers, it would be 50 or 100 years before most places had them. Hydrants are expensive, and they do not get replaced often, Tagging a 30 or 40 or 50 year old hydrant happens everyday.

    The problem with pushing them is it takes time, and you do need them out of the way (not in the middle of the damned road), so other equipment (read trucks) can get there)
    pro_junior:

    Am I ignoring it? Yes; because in all odds that device is hooked to the hose 24/7/365. They would have had to unhook the hose, from that coupling device, and then re-hook it on the side. If they only had one person(common) tagging (hooking to) the hydrant that would have been pretty hard.

    (I can not remember what it is called. no fire dept. I’ve ever run with uses because none of our hydrants have enough pressure to run to lines).

    Fire Hydrant Color:

    The body of Fire hydrants are to be painted a color that is easily visible. The bonnet, ponies, and steamers are supposed color coded according to the pressure the hydrant provides. (to let you know that a hydrant sucks, or that it could blow the pump in your engine if you do not put a pressure release tool on). Read means 500 PSI or less (worst color)

    Eh, the curb should have been painted (yellow in PA), but that is not the Fire Departments job.

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