Houston Fire Department Apparatus

[TacSupport1]

Despite numerous searches, I couldn't find a thread dedicated to Houston Fire Department apparatus photos. I was sure there was one, and if there is, please link me to it (and moderators, if you could merge)



Anyway, took a quick trip to Houston today. Let's start with Ladder 68, a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT 100' Aluminuum Aerial Pierce Job #23 107-1 assigned to Ladder 68. (Thanks to the guys at Station 68!)



   





PRESS RELEASE ON THIS APPARATUS:

http://www.piercemfg.com/News.Releases.h...4452e371f6



I'll post some more from my trip tommorow...

[atlanticfiretrucks]

That is a SWEET looking rig!

[Ladder 68]

Give me a shout when you come to Houston. I would be more than willing to show you around.



That's our newest rig...had it about 3 months. If you want the run down on it, if you didn't get it, let me know.

[Guest]

Didn't know Houston was running any Pierce rigs... very good looking piece.

[Guest]

[quote name='Toneslider12' date='24 October 2010 - 10:21 PM' timestamp='1287972064' post='408637']

Didn't know Houston was running any Pierce rigs... very good looking piece.

[/quote]



(2) Ladders, (2) Towers, (2) non walk-in Rescues and (1) trailered Rescue behind an Arrow XT all the 1994 Dash pumpers are gone.

[firepost]

What a great looking photo keep up the good work Seth.

[FDNY 10-75]

Great shot!

[hp1530]

Great shot!



Question for Ladder 68 or the Houston guys. Wasn't Houston buying Ferrara engines and ladders for the longest time? Wondering what prompted the change.

[Ladder 68]

Correct...Houston has been buying Ferrara apparatus for a number of years. As explained to me by the District Chief over fleet operations a lot of the stations were expressing how the previous E\-One aerials were missed given their wider and taller ladders. These were purchased to evaluate how the Pierce aluminum aerials would work out.



I can say, from driving one of them every day, it is a good apparatus. The desired goal of a more "fire fighter friendly" aerial has been achieved as the dimensions of these make climbing and working off of it easier and more efficient that our previous Smeal aerial.



Like any apparatus there are always things you would like different, or moved here, or done like this, but all in all these are good rigs that the apparatus committee did a good job on.

[TacSupport1]

Thanks guys on the compliment on the shot.It means a lot (also, haven't had a lot of oppurtunities for great shots lately)



Larry,



Thanks! Email sent. Was a spur of the moment thing. Will post more photos later...guys, especially the probie, at 68 were awesome.



Seth

[TacSupport1]

Houston FD Engine 68, 200? Ferrara Inferno- Larry can you help out with the specs?



   

[TacSupport1]

Paramedic Squad 68:



   

[fireambo]

[quote name='TacSupport1' date='25 October 2010 - 11:31 PM' timestamp='1288005095' post='408705']

Houston FD Engine 68, 200? Ferrara Inferno- Larry can you help out with the specs?





[/quote]



I have this one listed as Engine 68 Ferrara Igniter 2007.. hope this helps.

[fireambo]

[quote name='TacSupport1' date='26 October 2010 - 12:28 AM' timestamp='1288008481' post='408710']

Paramedic Squad 68:





[/quote]



and this listed as Paramedic Squad 68 Chevrolet-Frazier 2007. Great photos.. keep them coming..<img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Guest]

[TacSupport1]

District 68

2010 Chevrolet Suburban



   

[Ladder 68]

Correct...2007 Ferrara Igniter and 1 of 5 in the order if I remember correctly. 1500gpm single-stage Hale, 500 gallon poly tank, 1250gpm pre-piped deck gun, 1-TFT blitzfire portable monitor, 3-1-3/4" cross lays, 1-100' front bumper 1-3/4", 200' of 1" booster on electric rewind reel, 600' of 2-1/2" dead load, 1000' of 4" in split lay loaded bed, 400' of 3" in apartment lay with water thief, 8KW PTO-generator with 1-floodlight per side, seating for 6 personnel total.



Thats off the top of my head...I'll double check on Thursday when we are back on.



I drove this rig for a couple of years before moving over to the truck. It is quick, turns well and has seen a bunch of fire. If the apparatus assignment program that is used currently stays in place it might be replaced with next order of pumpers with this one being re-assigned.

[firepost]

[quote name='Ladder 68' date='25 October 2010 - 07:39 PM' timestamp='1288052356' post='408824']

Correct...2007 Ferrara Igniter and 1 of 5 in the order if I remember correctly. 1500gpm single-stage Hale, 500 gallon poly tank, 1250gpm pre-piped deck gun, 1-TFT blitzfire portable monitor, 3-1-3/4" cross lays, 1-100' front bumper 1-3/4", 200' of 1" booster on electric rewind reel, 600' of 2-1/2" dead load, 1000' of 4" in split lay loaded bed, 400' of 3" in apartment lay with water thief, 8KW PTO-generator with 1-floodlight per side, seating for 6 personnel total.



Thats off the top of my head...I'll double check on Thursday when we are back on.



I drove this rig for a couple of years before moving over to the truck. It is quick, turns well and has seen a bunch of fire. If the apparatus assignment program that is used currently stays in place it might be replaced with next order of pumpers with this one being re-assigned.

[/quote]

Larry is the apparatus replacement program that you mentioned that Houston uses, is it based on the mileage that the vehicle has on it or is it based on the number of yearly runs that the company averages each year?

Thanks in advance.

[Ladder 68]

The program uses run volume as the single criteria for determining if/when a company gets a new rig. For example E68 has a 2007 model year pumper. The company must keep the rig for 3 years after its original year; 2007 in service and eligible for replacement in 2010 is the rough math with same applying for truck company apparatus.



Like everything however there are exceptions...specific grant funding (CDBG for instance) which requires resources bought with these funds to be used in a specific area by extension certain stations. The original 11 Ferrara pumpers purchased were purchased using the same, or similar, funding mechanism and it resulted in all being assigned (generally speaking) on the eastern side of the city. These have all since been replaced with newer Ferrara apparatus and reassigned. Also Special Ops has their own criteria that I really don't follow but uses a significant amount of grant funding as I understand it (e.g. Heavy Rescue 11, the tractor trailer rig, was grant funded). At this time a large tandem axle rescue by SVI on a tandem axle Spartan chassis for assignment to Rescue Co. 42 on the east side/ship channel area of the city is being built. Did I say it was big? It is huge by the drawings. This is in addition to new Command Van 08 which is also a large tandem axle apparatus built by SVI on a Spartan chassis (White with black and red stripes) with 4-slide out sections that should either be delivered or about to be.



All in all, the replacement program for the suppression companies emphasizes replacement of rigs before they are worn out by extending their service life. When rotated out of the busier companies they are then refurbed in-house and re-assigned. While this process works remarkably well for 28's, 46's, 51's, 68's, 73's and other busy stations other stations are not too happy with the criteria...but as they say you can always transfer.

[hp1530]

Larry, just to clarify so were the Pierce aerials purchased as evaluators? BTW how many aerials were ordered?