Starting on Thursday Jan. 28, 2010, one of the 1 3/4 cross lays on E 853 will be reconfigured with a Roundabout style shoulder load.   This will only affect the 100' shoulder load not the drag load.  The new load is packed in a loosely circular arrangement with the nozzle and about 3' of hose at the center

To deploy it, remove the entire shoulder load like before and step away from the rig.  Reach back and pull the drag load onto the ground and walk toward your destination.  When the drag load pays out, lay the shoulder load onto the ground, grab the nozzle and walk on.  You can drop this entire load at the door and charge it.  The circular configuration should prevent most of the kinking.

This load will be evaluated thru April to give us ample time to try it out.  We have several engine company drills and one live burn to work with it.

There will be further details and training info provided here and on the station bulletin board.  This will also be covered at drill.