By PATRICK T. HARPER
No one will deny the benefits of the 2½-gallon water extinguisher or the 'can," especially when it comes to putting out small, incipient-stage fires or controlling a fire until the hoseline arrives. Many truck companies assign one member to carry the can as part of his tool assignment. The problem here is physically carrying the can. Without some form of assistance, the can's 22-pound weight can make it a cumbersome piece of equipment. Carrying it by the handle with your arm extended downward by your side—with it often striking you in the lower leg—is often uncomfortable and tiring, especially if you have to climb numerous flights of stairs to reach the fire floor. Because of these reasons, the can is often left on the apparatus.
There are many commercially produced extinguisher straps available, but in these times of tight budgets, purchasing them may be difficult. My ladder company, Ladder 13 (L13) of the Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department (IFD), tried many configurations before coming up with an inexpensive alternative.
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