Caught in the accreditation dilemma
This is in reference to Bobby Halton’s Editor’s Opinion, “Firefighting 2.0” (March 2012). I am now encountering the issue of national vs. regional accreditation. I took several excellent classes from Columbia Southern University (CSU). However, I’m now working on completing my A.S. degree in fire protection technology through St. Louis Community College (SLCC), which will not accept my credits from CSU because it’s not regionally accredited. I recently talked with Larry Bennett from the University of Cincinnati (UC) Fire Science program, and he said UC wouldn’t accept CSU credits or degrees toward fire science. I like CSU and would prefer to pursue my B.S. in fire science there after I complete the A.S. degree requirements. However, the regional vs. national accreditation issue is becoming a large albatross. I switched to the Community College based on cost. Our department provides no financial assistance for education whatsoever, and I can finish the A.S. degree through SLCC almost tuition free, since I teach in the Firefighting I and II programs. Maybe by bringing this issue to the forefront in Fire Engineering, a conversation will start among the educational accreditation institutions that will begin to resolve this dispute.
Nick Morgan
Captain
St. Louis (MO) Fire Department
Water supply: turbo draft option
Referring to “How to Ensure Your Water Supply” (Volunteers Corner, December 2011), I would like to propose another method for reaching a water supply. The turbo draft increases the reach of suction supply from rural water sources. It is an eductor that requires tank water to start the system working. The water flow is far greater than the water used to start the water flowing. I used this method for a fire where the only water access was below a dam out of the reach of the 20 feet of hard suction, but it was well within the reach of the turbo draft system, which can reach 200 to 250 feet. At this fire, I was using 100 feet of five-inch, large-diameter hose to reach the water. The system takes a little effort to set up, but it will reach water.
George T. Bullock Jr.
Training Officer
Bluffview (MO) Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Engineering Archives
