In "Get Serious About Out-of-Service Criteria," I discussed the need to take apparatus out of service when serious problems are encountered. I gave lots of reasons why I think departments should do it, but I also know that there are lots of reasons why some departments think they shouldn't. I've heard a bunch of those reasons over the years, but most end up being more myth than fact.

Here are a few popular myths about out-of-service criteria:

Myth #1: We don't want to take an apparatus out of service because it will be in the shop for days or weeks.
Well, it's possible, but many out-of-service conditions can be fixed in a matter of hours. For example, everyone should agree that a flat tire will put an apparatus out of service. Depending on the location of the nearest qualified shop, the tire can usually be fixed and remounted within a matter of a few hours — a day at most. Ditto for such simple repairs as replacing missing wiper blades or burned-out headlights.

Myth #2: If we find a serious problem, we have to take the whole apparatus out of service.
Again, it's possible, but some problems only require that a single component be taken out of service until it's fixed. For example, if the foam-injection system on a pumper doesn't work, then only the foam system has to be taken out of service. The pumper can still respond — it just can't use foam. Departments need to decide what components are critical enough to put an entire apparatus out of service.

Myth #3: There are simply too many out-of-service criteria to enforce. It's not practical.
I won't disagree with that. By the time you add up all the federal, state, local and NFPA criteria, it's a pretty formidable list. The best way is to approach it one step at a time. Start with the really obvious stuff like flat tires, engines that won't start, pumps that won't engage, etc. Then expand it with safety-related items such as inoperable brakes, tires with cuts to the cords, aerials that are structurally deformed, etc. The new NFPA 1911 is a good guide.

Myth #4: We can't take an apparatus out of service because we don't have the money to fix it.
Money is a real problem for many departments, but the trade-off shouldn't be lives versus dollars. At some point, if something's broken, it needs to be taken out of service until it's fixed. Departments need to tell the local town council or general public, "No, we can't respond with that rig because it cannot be operated safely or effectively. We've done all we can ourselves, but the problems are serious and we need money to fix them."

Myth #5: The chief can always over-ride any out-of-service decision, so why bother?
Well, the chief can, but he or she shouldn't. That's why it's important to write the out-of-service criteria and procedures into a department SOP, have the chief sign it, and notify everyone in the department about it. If a department is really serious about keeping apparatus safe, it needs to take a tough but well-thought-out stance on enforcing out-of-service decisions.

Myth #6: In an emergency, it's okay to use an apparatus, no matter how many problems it has.
Are you prepared to tell that to some firefighter's family? Is responding with a potentially dangerous apparatus really worth risking someone's life? Every department has to make those decisions and live with the consequences. Adopting out-of-service criteria errs on the side of safety and is the smart thing to do.