Baltimore City Fire Department

[Guest]

My father went to the IAFC in 1973... He was invited to ALF's hospitality room. I see why by these photos why BCFD bought so many new ALF's in 1973. The fleet while it looks great... They are in need of replacement.



I know there was a photo shoot at the BIG HOUSE of all the new ALF's at once. Also this was the year that MACK MB/Swab RESCUE 1 was delivered.

[Guest]

[quote name='Fireman5230' post='51775' date='Nov 18 2006, 09:48 ']My father went to the IAFC in 1973... He was invited to ALF's hospitality room. I see why by these photos why BCFD bought so many new ALF's in 1973. The fleet while it looks great... They are in need of replacement.



I know there was a photo shoot at the BIG HOUSE of all the new ALF's at once. Also this was the year that MACK MB/Swab RESCUE 1 was delivered.[/quote]



Actually, in 1973 Baltimore City bought 23 Seagrave pumpers and (I think) six Seagrave trucks.

[Guest]

[quote name='GA_Dave' post='51655' date='Nov 17 2006, 01:02 ']Can you say "E.M.S."? Today's rigs don't hold up for several reasons, but one of the biggest is that we run the wheels off of them in non-fire related activities, such as EMS, Haz-Mat, and CO Detector runs. The old rigs were much less sophisticated and less efficient, but certainly more durable.



From another perspective, how many companies did any given city have back then, compared to the number of companies they have today? What was their annual call load compared to today?



Let's look at Buffalo, NY. Back in the day, they had 38 Engine Companies and 16 Ladder Companies. In 2000, they were down to 23 Engines and 12 Ladders. By 2006, they were reduced to 19 Engines and 9 Ladders, running over 60,000 runs a year, which is way more, I'm sure, than they were running "back in the day".[/quote]



Brother I didn't mean to upset you if I did <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I do understand the situations from the old days. I can't believe being the WW2 buff I am, that I never factored any of this in!

Ah E.M.S, I'm fimiliar, luckly my dept. does not run many EMS calls unless requested. And thinking back my dept. did have some vehicles in front line service from the 70's. Thankfully the latest Chief got rid of them!

[GA_Dave]

Brother I didn't mean to upset you if I did

Me? Upset? Not at all.



I was simply trying to answer your question.

[Guest]

[quote name='BCFDT782' post='51744' date='Nov 17 2006, 22:10 ']I was in Chesapeake Fire Museum in Hebron about 2 weeks ago and didn't see Floodlight 2.Here is what Floodlight 1 looks like today.



Credits to the photographer.[/quote]



Being the phtographer I can say that was from my last visit to that facility. At the time the radiator was out being repaired.



Here'e the unit about 6 months earlier.



Glad for the thread and all the info contained therein.



Phil, Bklyn.

[Guest]

hawkins point - Thanks for the info of the Flood Light Wagons.



BCFDT782 - Thanks for trhe photo of the Flood Light Wagon as it is today.



YeOldeEnjine - Thank you for the info.



Engine 2524 - Thank you. My pleasure.



jim kay - Thanks. I just love the old Macks, Wards, Seagraves and ALF's too. Today we'll also get to see some old Pirsch.



Fireman5230 - Yes, Baltimore needed some new apparatus- for sure.



hawkins point - Yes- it was a huge Seagrave order. The first rig had arrived by convention time and Duane got a photo of it.



Brooklyn Phil- Thanks for the great photo of the Search Light truck.

[Guest]

Duane listed one single Ward LaFrance 750/250 pumper purchased in 1950. It was WLF #2509 and was assigned to Engine 46 in 1973.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

[quote name='hawkins point' post='51778' date='Nov 18 2006, 10:34 ']Actually, in 1973 Baltimore City bought 23 Seagrave pumpers and (I think) six Seagrave trucks.[/quote]

<img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> According to Murray's "Unheralded Heroes", a ALF Aerochief snorkel was delivered on 8/28/73, just in time for the dedication of the Steadman "super" station. 6 ALF "Pacemaker" engines with 4-door cabs were also delivered in 1973. 4 new WLF Cinncinati cab engines were delivered in 1974, along with the aforementioned 23 Seagrave engines and 6 Seagrave TDAs, which according to Murray, were all delivered between 6/14/74 thru 10/8/74.

[Guest]

Baltimore also bought a 1950 MackMaxim 65-foot mid-mount aerial ladder in 1950. It was Second Line Ladder 6 in 1973, Mack #85LS-1455.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

In 1951 Baltimore purchase two additional Ward LaFrance 750/250 pumpers, WLF #s 2637 & 2638. For some reason, Duane didn't get any photos of either pf these pieces which were assigned to Engine's 20 and 45 respectively in 1973. Another Mack/Maxim 65-foot mid-mount truck was also purchased in 1951. Here is Second Line Ladder 14, Mack #85LS-1586.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

The only 1952 purchase was for a Pirsch 65-foot mid-mount aerial ladder. In 1973 is was assigned to Second line Ladder 21 and carried Pirsch #1967 and was delivered on 2/21/1952. It is seen here at the training tower.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

In 1953 the department received a second Pirsch 65-foot mid-mount ladder which was assigned to Second Line Ladder 21 in 1973. It carried Pirsch serial #2091.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

Baltimore also purchased two 1953 Ward LaFrance 750/250 pumpers that year. Here is Engine 4 in 1973 with WLF #3338.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

In 1954 Baltimore purchased three 1954 Pirsch 1000/200 pumpers. Here is Engine 8 using Pirsch #2155 delivered on 10/11/1954.

- William Porter Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.

[Guest]

Here is Engine 28 using 1954 Pirsch 1000/200, Pirsch #2154 also delivered on 10/11/1954.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

The department also purchased two 1954 American LaFrance 100-foot TDA's. In 1973 Ladder 6 was using ALF #N-22. I believe I read somewhere that this rig was involved in an accident and rebuilt by the shops.

- William Porter Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.

[Guest]

Here is Ladder 9's 1954 ALF 100-foot TDA, ALF #N-23.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

In 1973 Baltimore was using this 1954 GMC former Civil Defense 750 gpm pumper as Second Line Engine 23.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

Another American LaFrance 100-foot TDA was delivered in 1955. Here is Ladder 9 using ALF #N-31.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

Baltimore purchased two 1955 Pirsch 1000/200 pumpers that year. Here is Engine 42 in 1973 using Pirsch serial #2202 delivered on 4/30/1955.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.