| Each year, the Baltimore County Fire Department requires fire companies have their engines attend a performance test to evaluate their fire engines. The tests are rigorous and comprehensive, and each of Arcadia's three engines participated in the required testing. Engine 432, a 1999 Seagrave equipped with a 1,500 gallon per minute (GPM) Hale Pump, was the first engine to participate. The second engine to be tested was Engine-Tanker 431, with a 1,250 GPM pump. The third engine to be tested was was Engine 434, with a front-mounted, 1,000 GPM pump. When the engine's arrive for testing, they pull up to an underground pit filled with water. The engines then attach a large, hard suction sleeve to their pump intakes, and draw water out of the pit. Two return lines are then run from the pump discharge to the underground pit, with measuring devices in place to determine various flow rates. Three tests are performed overall. The first round tests the pump at maximum capacity for an extended period of time. The following two are a reduced capacity for shorter periods. All three engines from Arcadia Volunteers performed very well, all pulling prime within 30 seconds or less, and are certified for the coming year. |
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