I am a member of a technical rescue squad. That means we perform Trench, Confined Space, Building Collpase, Rope, Swiftwater, Dive, and SAR. These require equipment not carried by typical fire or rescue. Our members tend to have a rather extensive list of equipment in their personal vehicles since most of us are severe rescue junkies.

One fella was telling the story recently where he had happened onto a vehicle accident on the interstate. He donned his turnout gear, grabbed a tarp and halligan tool and approached the scene. He performed patient assessment.
The local crew began arriving on the scene. He suggested they bring out specific equipment from their rescue truck and perform the extrication in a particular manner. Instead of cutting the posts supporting the roof which was supporting the overturned car, he recommened making non-structural cuts to create an opening to remove the victim. The locals did not yet have an officer on scene and followed his lead.

When an officer did arrive, he wanted to know who this guy was in different turnout gear and why he was running the scene! Luke has been on the fire departement for 20+ years as a training officer as well as a captain on the technical rescue team for 5 years. Luke understood he would not want someone on his scene not covered by insurance and bowed out.

All the tech rescue team members tend to have very full trunks. We have a friendly competition to see who has the most or newest gadgets. It is amazing to see what people will pull out of their vehicles. One guy pulls a 10' enclosed trailer behind his expedition. He is single and his vehicle is filled with so much equipment, so there is only room for the driver.