How you know the carnies are in charge

read: THE MASONS.

Tampa Fire Rescue To Unveil Pint-Size Emergency Vehicles

Tampa Fire Rescue photo
Two of the new vehicles carry a fire pump, 50 feet of hose, a 75-gallon water tank and foam for fighting small blazes such as vehicle fires and grease fires from vendor carts.
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By VALERIE KALFRIN The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 15, 2008
Updated: 10/15/2008 09:23 am
TAMPA - Three pint-sized rescue trucks — each looking like "a golf cart on steroids" — soon will snake through crowds at parades and festivals throughout the city, starting with Guavaween this month.
Tampa Fire Rescue purchased the vehicles, which are similar to minipickup trucks, in 2005 with an Urban Area Security Initiative grant for search and rescue calls. But because the compact size allows personnel to squeeze through crowds with ease, Fire Chief Dennis Jones decided to expand its use.
A new $15,000 grant from Aon Risk Services Inc. and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company allowed the agency to modify the vehicles. One is outfitted with medical equipment, a stretcher and a seat for a paramedic to tend to a patient while a driver transports the patient to a waiting ambulance, Capt. Bill Wade said.
The other two each have a fire pump, 50 feet of hose, a 75-gallon water tank and foam for fighting small blazes such as vehicle fires and grease fires from vendor carts, Wade said.
Jones officially unveils the new gear Thursday morning at Tampa Fire Rescue headquarters but released photos of the minitrucks today.
"Time is of the essence when responding to any emergency, and these little modified rescue units enable us to provide expanded service in the community," he said in a statement.
Wade said each truck resembles "a golf cart on steroids" but has a heavier-duty transmission.
Like their full-size counterparts, the trucks have emergency lights, but they don't have sirens, just horns, Wade said.
"The first real test will be Guavaween," the Halloween festival and parade in Ybor City, he said.
Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.
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TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
gallon water tank • aon risk services • risk services inc • grease fires • aon risk services inc • size counterparts • capt bill • vehicle fires • rescue trucks • halloween festival • vendor carts • security initiative • fire pump • dennis jones • emergency lights • golf cart • time is of the essence • fire rescue • compact size • blazes
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Posted by ( floridaviper ) on 10/15/2008 at 10:02 am.
What is the vehicle's manufacturer VALERIE KALFRIN? You would think reporting for TBO is rocket science when you see how some of these reporters struggle just to get basic facts. Then, again, maybe this was just such a breaking story that there simply wasn't time. VALERIE, Here's a lesson in basic journalism (please take notes):WHO?WHAT?WHEN?WHERE?WHY?HOW?
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Posted by ( ignoranceisbliss ) on 10/15/2008 at 10:32 am.
What! No sirens! What self respecting firefighter would ever drive one!
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Posted by ( snowbyrd ) on 10/15/2008 at 10:41 am.
Is this the Indian version of the "TaTa"? Looks like it might be..FYI: Indian automaker Tata Motors has finally unveiled the Tata Nano — its already legendary $2,500 (1-lakh)car. As expected, the car that Tata claims will change the face of not only the Indian car market, but the global auto industry will be a four door, five seat hatch, powered by a 30 HP Bosch 624 cc four stroke engine mounted out back and mated to a CVT. That makes the Nano the first time a 2-cylinder gasoline engine will be used in a car with a single balancer shaft. The Nano's also expected to get 54 US miles per gallon. Where can I get one? $2500.00..Wow!!Anybody remember the "YuGo" ? Americans will be asked to tighten our belts and I was looking around at ways 2 save $$.
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Posted by ( 7297277 ) on 10/15/2008 at 11:19 am.
What a great idea! Given the masses at Gasparilla and Guavaween (and the Super Bowl), this is a great way to get through the crowds. We all know how many people ignore fire trucks and ambulances. Great job TFR!
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Posted by ( Seawolf ) on 10/15/2008 at 11:27 am.
Thanks to Amendment 1 we have been reduced to golf carts with garden hoses. AWSOME!
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on 10/15/2008 at 11:39 am.
Seawolf, wake up and smell the coffee - the whole country's going on the equivalent of amendment 1. Florida was just in the lead for a change. If you still don't see a need for curtailing spending, there is really something seriously wrong with you!
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Posted by ( DoodleBugg ) on 10/15/2008 at 11:40 am.
Well,if your gonna waste money then this would be at the top of the list.Way to go Iorio
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Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:09 pm.
I would think it would be easier (and more fun) to take the full-size truck through a crowd. Oh, they'll move.For the bleeding hearts: Cheaper to put "cow-catchers" on the front, so the people just plow to the side.
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Posted by ( Old_Crusty ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:15 pm.
It's cute. Didn't I see these in a Disney movie called "cars"?Don't eat stone crabs, they make yer skin harden! ;-{
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Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:21 pm.
Old_Crab: Precisely what skin gets hardened? Even at $10 per pound, it is a better deal than viagra.
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:28 pm.
Spanish, I thought the "cow-catchers" were for the fat chicks attracted to firefighters. BTW, how do you know stone crabs are a better deal than viagra...?
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Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:50 pm.
I think you're right about the cow-catchers. We learned yesterday that tasers are ineffective against mature swine.I read the viagra price in a book called, "How to make Friends and Influence People." They said that walking around with a perpetual erection was a great way to meet new people.
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Posted by ( mr_hanky ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:53 pm.
And impress the ladies!
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Posted by ( 7297277 ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:53 pm.
DoodleBugg-They are NOT a waste of money--on the contrary--they save wear and tear on a $500,000 fire truck!
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Posted by ( Go_Fish_N ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:55 pm.
Can't wait to ride in the back of that! When's Guavaween again??
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Posted by ( solar ) on 10/15/2008 at 01:28 pm.
I really think this is a good idea, they don't use as much gas, are cheaper to maintain than a full size fire truck. Who could be against having better and/or more equipment for fire fighters?Now if I'm hunting in north Florida and see a couple Tampa fire fighters cruising through the woods with shot guns on one of these, then I'll have a problem.
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Posted by ( janettes2 ) on 10/15/2008 at 01:33 pm.
I heard they were hiring midgets to be on there new mini force.... At half pay too!
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Posted by ( Seawolf ) on 10/15/2008 at 02:52 pm.
RobKay, Funding for Amend 1 came from Public safety and education budgets NOT fat cat special interest spending, which is the spending you and I want to get rid of.Everyone voted for Amend 1 without knowing where the money would come from.
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Posted by ( ENVOY1 ) on 10/15/2008 at 02:58 pm.
Lets see the police dept and fire dept have radios that don't allow them to talk to each other, they can't talk to other agencies and we our spending urban security grant money on decked out golf carts. I love how local agencies are always quick to point out its federal tax money (grants) as if that is not tax payer money.
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Posted by ( funyuns ) on 10/15/2008 at 03:01 pm.
that is one bad a$$ vehicle.
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Posted by ( kimzcharmn ) on 10/15/2008 at 08:30 pm.
Will they take those to the grocery store instead of the big trucks?
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Posted by ( TOOPRETTYforprison ) on 11/10/2008 at 09:35 pm.
christ what a waste of money. Too bad the homeless can't sleep under these at night. Or catch a ride to the doctor or dentist or church.Once Tricky Ricky had some at his fire dept we had to get some here.Spanish inquisition if we got all the facts (I mean the tribune's faux reporters) we'd have to find out that these mason (and/or former firemen) owned companies are profting before putting people first.They do all this with these grants to cover up the accountability factor. It's still OUR MONEY.Well,if your gonna waste money then this would be at the top of the list.Way to go Iorio Report Inappropriate Comments Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on 10/15/2008 at 12:09 pm. I would think it would be easier (and more fun) to take the full-size truck through a crowd. Oh, they'll move.For the bleeding hearts: Cheaper to put "cow-catchers" on the front, so the people just plow to the side. Report Inappropriate Comments
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