Chicago Fire Department

[DGFD147]

Truck 31 is E-338. I will try to find out what the others are.

[Guest]

[quote name='Srresquire' timestamp='1295537115' post='421356']

the slots in the rear of the cab are for handpumps

[/quote]



Any reason for not having a pre-piped waterway on the aerial?

[recoveringspark]

[quote name='STLFire2494' timestamp='1295668584' post='421549']

Any reason for not having a pre-piped waterway on the aerial?

[/quote]

Probably $$$ and height concerns. Just an educated guess I am sure the Chicago guys know their specific reasons.

[Ladder 68]

Truck Co. 01 is the only truck with a pre-piped aerial if I remember correctly. Always has been since the era of the '88 E\-One rig. And they run Tower Ladders and Snorkels so I would imagine the need for every truck to be pre-piped isn't there.



Corrections welcome.

[firepost]

Yes you are right Larry only the 135 foot E/One Aerial Ladders in Chicago were Prepiped and that's why in Chicago they were officially called "Aerial Tower" companies. Truck 3 also had a 1983 E/One Pemfab "135 foot Aerial Ladder which was totaled in an accident in the mid 1990's but wasn't replaced with another prepiped Truck.You are also absolutely correct that currently only Truck 1 is equipped with a prepiped waterway and unlike our other Pierce straight Aerial Ladders it is a 105 foot heavy duty model as opposed to our 34 other Pierces which are 100 foot medium duty models. The last I had heard we still had the 1988 E/One 135 foot Aerial Ladder on the premises as a spare apparatus.

New York City also does't purchase their straight Aerial Ladder Trucks prepiped (same as Chicago) and they also heavily rely on their "Tower Ladders" (Aerialscopes) for their elevated master streams.

[quote name='Ladder 68' timestamp='1295731186' post='421616']

Truck Co. 01 is the only truck with a pre-piped aerial if I remember correctly. Always has been since the era of the '88 E\-One rig. And they run Tower Ladders and Snorkels so I would imagine the need for every truck to be pre-piped isn't there.



Corrections welcome.

[/quote]

[MFD76]

[quote name='STLFire2494' timestamp='1295668584' post='421549']

Any reason for not having a pre-piped waterway on the aerial?

[/quote]



One big reason is pre-piped rigs in general have larger heavier ladders and more out-riggers. Thus making it more difficult to set in tight city streets. The med. duty ladder in my opinion is a great option most have a 250 tip weight rating with the NFPA 3-1 or 4-1 safety rating you are actually purchasing around a 750 tip weight or greater. Thus allowing rescue operations and if necessary or you can fly pipe with a clamp nozzle and 3inch.

The other reason is most large cities that use these med. duty ladders have Tower Ladder's or other type of units designed to flow big water. Generally when moving from offensive to defensive there is certain window to move the big water rigs in place if they are already not positioned and get Pumpers to supply them.



Some times in my own opinion departments spec. the most heavy duty ladder when it might not be necessary. Heavy duty ladder add weight to the chassis and cost to the entire unit. Also a single set of riggers is nice in apartments and on tight streets. These are my opinions from my research and colleges in the fire apparatus industry and large fire departments. I have always been a fan of the Chicago straight design and DCFD tiller design.



Some city's that med. duty ladders include nut but are not limited to:

DCFD

FDNY

Baltimore City

Boston

Wichita

LAFD

SFFD



Stay Safe,

Rick

[Guest]

Our department has pre-piped waterways, and this (in my opinion) limits the use of the aerial when it is needed for roof operations. Thus, we've developed the waterpipe mindset and go defensive a lot sooner than we probably need to. If you ever watch LAFD, they have an orderly withdrawal from the roof, and then they set up their ladder pipe ops. FDNY uses Tower Ladders for their defensive ops, and I feel this is a good practice.

[firepost]

[quote name='phyrngn' timestamp='1295748049' post='421650']

Our department has pre-piped waterways, and this (in my opinion) limits the use of the aerial when it is needed for roof operations. Thus, we've developed the waterpipe mindset and go defensive a lot sooner than we probably need to. If you ever watch LAFD, they have an orderly withdrawal from the roof, and then they set up their ladder pipe ops. FDNY uses Tower Ladders for their defensive ops, and I feel this is a good practice.

[/quote]

It is interesting how you contrasted the LAFD to the FDNY Fire Departments and it seems that it would be more time consuming for the LAFD to go into defensive mode then New York or for that matter Chicago or Houston as being that the LAFD doesn't run with any Aerial Platform apparatus (which are all prepiped). They would have to bring down their Aerial Ladders (after they get the people off the roof first) so they could attach their Ladder Pipes and then set up the Aerial Ladder again for defensive ops. In New York and Chicago all they need to do is get the guys off the roof and Tower Ladders are already to go into action as they are already set up for service. Even in Houston (as all of their Aerial Ladders are prepiped, in addition to their 5 Tower Ladders) they don't need to put down their Aerial Ladders first to attach the Aerial Pipes only to get started again.

[Jamie]

CFD trucks can be used for elevated master streams but they have to be manually set up with LDH and a detachable aerial monitor.

[Ladder 68]

Not that its the topic but since you mentioned Houston and ladder pipes I'll chime in. All our trucks are pre-piped for good or bad. However, as you wisely pointed out firepost, we can transition from offensive roof operations to defensive ladder pipe operations relatively quickly even if a tower ladder isn't on scene or in position. It is actually the rule versus the exception for straight trucks to flow ladder pipes versus towers given we only have 5 and if they aren't on the orginal box they are usually down the block and not in the best position.

[ff002]

My station is urban downtown, and the prepiped gun on my E\-One has limited my being able to place the ladder when in close quarters. You can argue that you can set the nozzle to the third fly instead of the fourth, but it is still in the way until you extend to about the 60 foot mark, depending on whether you have a nice wide street to set up on.



Depending on your district, large volume defensive fires may be the norm. But in my station and my district I place the ladder for ventilation and rescue at least 30 to one ratio for master stream ops. The prepiped gun limits me in half of those times- because of my district and streets.



For anyone considering this, you need to study your district and past fires to see master stream is your norm or ventilation and rescue is your norm.

[memphise34a]

The talk to picture ratio is getting out of whack. More pictures, less talking.

[Guest]

One final question..I used to know, and have not been able to find an answer...



What complement of ground ladders do Chicago Truck Cos. carry?

[Guest]

[quote name='memphise34a' timestamp='1295829282' post='421792']

The talk to picture ratio is getting out of whack. More pictures, less talking.

[/quote]





AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Maybe that is why I used to visit this site multiple times a day and now I check maybe once a day.

[Guest]

[quote name='Paramedic_IL' timestamp='1296254711' post='422507']

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blah.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Maybe that is why I used to visit this site multiple times a day and now I check maybe once a day.

[/quote]



I have always found this site very informative and I have come across pictures on here that i have not found at other places.

[Guest]

Not really sure about this one..I think it lives at the academy and is used to shuttle small groups around...first time I've seen this...

[Guest]

EMS Buggy..

[Guest]

Chicago Midway Airport

6-5-1 2010 Oshkosh/Striker

1950.3000.405

[Guest]

Side View

[Guest]

6-5-2 2006 Oshkosh/Striker

1950.3000.405