Much has been written about the many tasks or positions associated with being First Due. The Fire Due Engine Co., The First Handline, The First Due Officer, the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, I have seen little written about the Fire Due Engineer. Engineer, Operator, Chauffeur, whatever you may call the guy that drives the Engine has a lot to do with how the fire goes. There is a saying, "However the first line goes, so goes the fire". I am here to tell you that no matter how well the Nozzle man stretches that line, if the Engineer can't get that line charged in a timely manner, the fire is not going to go well!

Open up any professional publication, click on any fire web site, talk to any firefighter, and you will find plenty of articles, stories or information about being 1^st due.  A lot of time and energy is spent on this subject, because everybody wants to be 1^st due and get 1^st water on the fire. But the actions, or lack of actions, by the 2^nd due company can have a great bearing on the success or failure of the fire. Being 2^nd due is just as important as being 1^st due.