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+--- Thread: History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. (/showthread.php?tid=1953)
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
[quote name='Ladder 68' post='116681' date='Jun 7 2007, 00:05 ']Talk about span of control issues. It would seem that from an administrative stand point alone that is too many station/companies. Factor in fire ground span of control and it is way out of wack.
Love the details, thanks.[/quote]
Span of Control was addressed in the early 1990's. What was formerly known as "900" was the City Wide Assistant Chief. This was divided into two "Divisions" Division I included Battalions 1,2,3 and 6. Division II included Battalions 4,5 and 7. Division I remained in the former "900" office at Station #1 and Division II was at Station #40 at the airport. This worked for a while, but the two divisions operated as differently as night and day. (much like battalions, stations and shifts in most places --- producing comments like "A Fire Dept. - B Fire Dept. - C Fire Dept. if you follow me...)
During one of our infamous political "re-organizations", Division II and Battalion 1 were disbanded and redistributed. Division I went back to controlling the whole city and for many years there was no Battalion #1. During our most recent political "re-organization", Battalion #1 was brought back as a "Special Operations Battalion". Now, the line-up is:
Division #1 - City Wide
Battalion #1 - 1, 2, 4, 8, 14
Battalion #2 - 9, 16, 22, 28, 38
Battalion #3 - 6, 7, 12, 15, 23
Battalion #4 - 5, 17, 20, 25, 31, 36
Battalion #5 - 10, 13, 18, 30, 34
Battalion #6 - 3, 19, 21, 26, 27, 29, 39 (Sandy Springs Quint #4)
Battalion #7 - 24, 32, 33, 35, 40
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
Charlie Cart crews posing at Peachtree Street and International Blvd. on the afternoon before the Olympic Park Bombing. This was the central staging area for the Charlie crews. I have no idea why we used the term "Charlie". <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/shrug.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> Randy wise was the EMS Logistics officer at the time. He was a Viet Nam Veteran and used terms like "Checkpoint Charlie" all the time. I think it was his idea. From Left (as good as I can tell):
FM Robert Foster (now Capt.) , FM Keith Schumacher (now Capt.), FF Jim Martin (now Lt.), Lt. H. James Westbrook (now Ret. Capt.), FM Ricky Golden (RIP my brother), FM Bob Howard (now Capt.), FM Greg Wise (now Capt.), FM Jerry Thompson (now Capt.), FF Rod Smith (now Capt.), Unknown Grady Intern (now MD?), FF Chris Chaffin (now FAO)
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
A Grady EMS unit working it's way through the crowd to get to a call on Centennial Olympic Park Drive.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
Charlie #1 (Lt. H. James Westbrook and myself) was the first unit on the scene of the Olympic Park Bombing and responded form Peachtree and International. Charlie #1 established command and began triage. Lt. H. James Westbrook was the initial Incident Commander. As the incident progressed and additional resources arrived, Lt. Westbrook became the Staging Officer and I became the Transportation Officer.
I don't know who took this shot, but it is me at the Command Post. I was polling local ERs by phone to update availability and diversion statuses. This was before the command vans and the hood of the car was the "operations desk".
I had a disposable camera in my pocket that night and I still regret not taking a few seconds to snap a shot or two when we arrived at the park. We were just overwhelmed and it was the last thing on my mind at the time.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - maxim - 10-29-2007
Shoe
Can you give a little more details on the Battalion make up? There seems to be some geographical lack of continuity on the near west side. i.e. 7 and 23 in the Third, but 1 and 16 which are between them are in the 1st and 2nd repectively. I would guess that Special Ops Battalion has something to do with it. I would guess #11 will be back in the Third when it opens?
Thanks for the info <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_redface.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
Engine #23's 1983 ALF Century. These shots were taken in July of 1996. This unit was in reserve status at the time and operating as Engine #38.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
[quote name='maxim' post='159429' date='Oct 29 2007, 11:25 ']Shoe
Can you give a little more details on the Battalion make up? There seems to be some geographical lack of continuity on the near west side. i.e. 7 and 23 in the Third, but 1 and 16 which are between them are in the 1st and 2nd repectively. I would guess that Special Ops Battalion has something to do with it. I would guess #11 will be back in the Third when it opens?
Thanks for the info <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_redface.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />[/quote]Battalion #1 is a "Functional Battalion" rather than a "Geographic Battalion". These units are specialty units and supposedly operate above the level regular units. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> It is my understanding that #11 will be a specialty unit as well and be in Battalion #1. Being a new station, the chiefs want to be there, so I also understand that Battalion #1 and Division #1 will be housed there. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hail.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Truckman - 10-29-2007
Question for the Atlanta guys.
Before the Rube, what make of apparatus was the Bureau operating?
After the Rube's arrival, what make of apparatus was the Bureau buying?
After the Rube's departure what make of apparatus was the choice?
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 10-29-2007
[quote name='Truckman' post='159453' date='Oct 29 2007, 12:54 ']Question for the Atlanta guys.
Before the Rube, what make of apparatus was the Bureau operating?
After the Rube's arrival, what make of apparatus was the Bureau buying?
After the Rube's departure what make of apparatus was the choice?[/quote]
Rube was not here long enough to make any apparatus changes as far as the engines and trucks. We have had Spartan/Quality since 1990. Trucks were/are LTI and now AI. There has been a lot of trouble with the AIs and I think that ALF was doing the recall work on them. I think that he did look at a Bronto Skylift for #11, but I think that fell trough. Air #7 came in the Rube era and it is an E\-One.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Truckman - 10-29-2007
[quote name='Shoe' post='159456' date='Oct 29 2007, 13:11 ']Rube was not here long enough to make any apparatus changes as far as the engines and trucks. We have had Spartan/Quality since 1990. Trucks were/are LTI and now AI. There has been a lot of trouble with the AIs and I think that ALF was doing the recall work on them. I think that he did look at a Bronto Skylift for #11, but I think that fell trough. Air #7 came in the Rube era and it is an E\-One.[/quote]
Thanks Shoe. Makes sense. :-)
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 10-31-2007
This old house: Fire Station 1
This is Fire Station 1 (Central Fire Station) which was located at 44 W. Alabama Street. It was opened in 1892 and replaced two older firehouses that were across from one another (Hose Company 1 and Hook & Ladder Company 1) they were located on Broad Street (No. 25 S. Broad Street and No. 28 S. Broad Street) Those were Volunteer fire companies and were Cilvil War era single bay brick houses. When this firehouse was built it had a huge bell tower on top which had been removed when this picture was taken. This was unfortunately demolished in the 60's. The Federal Courthouse is on this site now. More old houses to come.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 10-31-2007
This is an older pic but you still cant see the bell tower.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Shoe - 11-02-2007
[quote name='jim kay' post='127580' date='Jul 9 2007, 20:06 ']And last for tonight is Atlanta Sta.34 on Southside Indust. Pkwy in SE Atlanta not far from Forest Park in Clayton Co. Company 34 was originally created to provide services to Fulton Co. in the Fulton Industrial Area on May 17th 1967.They were disbanded on Dec.31,1977 when Fulton Co. created their own FD.they were reorganized on April 10,1989 at there present location.[/quote]
That shot is actually #38.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
This is Station 34 in the industrial area. There was an unidentified Atlanta Police truck parked in there. Dont know what it is. Jim must have accidenally selected the wrong pic when he uploaded. Same historical info though.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
E34 caught an EMS call as we were pullling in to take some pics.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
Station 34 Plaque.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
Now to get back on track. We should be at Station 18 counting down. Station 18 opened on February 18, 1939 at 2007 Oakview Rd SE. Engine 18 had been organized since 1923 but operated from 106 Kirkwood Ave NE.
18's Plaque.
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
18.00
History of the Atlanta Fire Dept. - Guest - 11-03-2007
Station 18 again. Still trying to figure out if 106 Kirkwood Ave NE was the first No. 18 and why would they move out of it in only 17 years time???