tjng

I think most guys use the 6 lb flathead. I have noticed that many of the Fire Hooks FA6 (Flathead Axe 6#) have a little "C" which looks like a square stamped on them. Council tool's axes have a very similar looking stamp on them, coincidence? Axes, especial 6 pounders, are nothing special.
I think when you say different, it is in reference to the shaft. Akron only offers the 8 lb Flathead with a straight stick style handle not a curved handle.
An 8 lb Flathead is a lot of money, you would get better Forcible Entry bang for you buck with a Wide Adz Halligan (Probar) from Fire Hooks. These are now actually produced by FH because so many people were modifying them, themselves or requesting FH to do it.
M'ave is correct guys (especially those who deal with a lot of projects or fire proofs) prefer the Maul. If you are considering making your "Irons" a maul & halligan, look at Fire Hooks' maul with Adz bracket. It will make marrying & carrying easier. We have a home made version of this that makes life easy.

I think the point of the article is the repeat offenders and what can be done to them. The ones you go to a few times a month. The ones you warn and tell them what they shouldnt be doing or how to solve the problem and they just ignore you or the advice. Thats the BS ones. It always seems to be commercial establishments that are the worst at this. The only way they get "motivated" to act is when you can slap them with a fine.

This week a group of fire service leaders had an interesting round table and the following questions were raised:
After the intitial response is onscene of a working fire and the IC beleives he does not need more personnel at that moment:
1) Do the IC's request enough additional personnel to staging to provide timely relief if needed (or to handle a change in the situation or tactics)?
2) How is the above question change if you have additional companies available inhouse vs. having to call mutual aid?
3) Do firefighters, company officers and even IC's avoid putting the staged resources to work, because "we can hamdle it without them"? Do we consider giving our troops a break by using those staged or is it more important to release them (particularly if they are mutual aid).
4) If IC's do not request enough personnel, does this come to light during critiques or post incident reports? Do members or in the case of a career dept. the union complain about this?
5) Now lets move on to what is the purpose of Mutual Aid move up to cover the vacant station? Would it be better to move them to staging as the potential for use at the scene (particularly if a mayday occurs) is far greater than the potential of a 2nd incident in the community (particularly in a smaller community)?
6) If you are using mutual aid to move up to cover your station, who is covering the units moved up? I find this particularly interesting when FD A has a fire and FD B moves its only ladder into A's station, but not B's area has no ladder.
I expect the answer will vary based on the size of the dept and by the staffing. VFD's and career depts may also have slightly different answers, but I encourage all to participate.