Syracuse, New York

[Guest]

Unknown use

[Guest]

Unknown use

[Guest]

Unknown use

[Guest]

Unknown use

[Guest]

Unknown use, reserve perhaps.

[Guest]

I like this.

[Guest]

And last up, this "Sutphen" bus.  This is obviously parked outside, and is very faded.  Would love to have gotten this in its better days and in the sun, pretty cool to see it anyhow.

 

That's it for the Syracuse Fire Department!

[hp1530]

And last up, this "Sutphen" bus.  This is obviously parked outside, and is very faded.  Would love to have gotten this in its better days and in the sun, pretty cool to see it anyhow.

 

That's it for the Syracuse Fire Department!

 

Bus looks cool with the Sutphen grill and Q siren!

[fyreline]

Perhaps I can clear up a few of the questions raised. Sorry to have missed you guys, I have been quite busy since my retirement in September. In any case, I probably would have just recommended that you contact the Duty Deputy Chief anyway, so it sounds as though you made out OK. Anyway, here we go:


First off, Syracuse does not, and never did, run Quints. The engines equipped with telescoping booms are straight engine companies with the enhanced capability of the elevated master stream. They are not equipped, manned, or dispatched as Quints. Likewise, the tower ladders are straight truck companies, not Quints.


The 135' aerial ladder ("Ladder 1") is a special-call rig which is manned by the Squad Company and may be taken on any alarm the officer sees fit. It is typically taken to all high-rise buildings and Syracuse University dormitories, or anywhere that it's high reach may prove useful.


The yellow engines are basically used as training engines for our recruit classes until they go to auction - which they will soon. That keeps us from tying up a good spare or risking a blown engine or pump by a recruit. The Ford Explorer labeled "EMS" is used as a fly car for the paramedics staffing our EMS Division at the Training Academy. they may respond to any medical alarm or MVA where their added expertise (and extra hands) may be of use. It is designated as "Medic 1".


The many rigs labeled as "use unknown" are various support rigs used by the SFD. The blue Ford Focus is one of a pair assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau for inspectors to use. The 500 Van is used as a personnel transport for classes, continuing education, funerals, etc. The pickup trucks are for the Division of Maintenance & the Division of Training for yard use. The white boom truck is for our Department Electrician, who also helps maintain the Opticom traffic signal pre-emption system installed on nearly all Syracuse intersections.


The bus is used by the Division of Training for SFD recruit classes (we have a class of 25 starting next month). It has a Sutphen grille because the then-current Chief of Maintenance wanted it to. So there. And yes,it sure could use a new coat of paint. We'll see.


Hope that helps a little. Those are some great shots- sorry for the iffy sunshine, but welcome to Syracuse!

[DaveYoung]

Outstanding pics and thread! Thank you very much!

[hank]

Good photos!

 

tHANKs

[Guest]

Perhaps I can clear up a few of the questions raised. Sorry to have missed you guys, I have been quite busy since my retirement in September. In any case, I probably would have just recommended that you contact the Duty Deputy Chief anyway, so it sounds as though you made out OK. Anyway, here we go:


First off, Syracuse does not, and never did, run Quints. The engines equipped with telescoping booms are straight engine companies with the enhanced capability of the elevated master stream. They are not equipped, manned, or dispatched as Quints. Likewise, the tower ladders are straight truck companies, not Quints.


The 135' aerial ladder ("Ladder 1") is a special-call rig which is manned by the Squad Company and may be taken on any alarm the officer sees fit. It is typically taken to all high-rise buildings and Syracuse University dormitories, or anywhere that it's high reach may prove useful.


The yellow engines are basically used as training engines for our recruit classes until they go to auction - which they will soon. That keeps us from tying up a good spare or risking a blown engine or pump by a recruit. The Ford Explorer labeled "EMS" is used as a fly car for the paramedics staffing our EMS Division at the Training Academy. they may respond to any medical alarm or MVA where their added expertise (and extra hands) may be of use. It is designated as "Medic 1".


The many rigs labeled as "use unknown" are various support rigs used by the SFD. The blue Ford Focus is one of a pair assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau for inspectors to use. The 500 Van is used as a personnel transport for classes, continuing education, funerals, etc. The pickup trucks are for the Division of Maintenance & the Division of Training for yard use. The white boom truck is for our Department Electrician, who also helps maintain the Opticom traffic signal pre-emption system installed on nearly all Syracuse intersections.


The bus is used by the Division of Training for SFD recruit classes (we have a class of 25 starting next month). It has a Sutphen grille because the then-current Chief of Maintenance wanted it to. So there. And yes,it sure could use a new coat of paint. We'll see.


Hope that helps a little. Those are some great shots- sorry for the iffy sunshine, but welcome to Syracuse!

Thanks Chief.  We had a great day, and the hospitality shown by the members at each and every station, was perhaps the best I have ever encountered by a department of this size.  The last time I photographed the entire SFD, was in 1992.  I brought a selection of those photos with me, as almost all of those rigs are long gone.  Did that ever bring a smile to a lot of the members faces as they started talking about the old days, and even the younger members were enjoying it.

[Juice]

So what is a recall Engine?

[DaveYoung]

So what is a recall Engine?

"Spare engines are only loaded with hose, and all equipment must be transferred from the rig going out of service.  Recall rigs are fully loaded, and are available during major emergencies for use by recalled firefighters."

[Juice]

Thanks Dave!

 

Chief, I think I remember you mentioning that the flooded Engine was Engine 7, and that it was renumbered and sent to another company, which one was it?

 

Trav!

[fyreline]

Engine 7's former Sutphen is now Engine 18.

[hadg317]

Is the staffing on the engines still 3 and 1 on the minis?

[Guest]

Is the staffing on the engines still 3 and 1 on the minis?

Depends on the situation, 3 and 1, or if it is a medical, 2 go on the mini.  Back up is fairly quick as the stations are located in close enough proximity to back each other up in a very short period of time, hence this goes toward the Class 1 certification.

[upstatefire31]

They are going back to the quints.  I was told the only reason they went away from them was due to budget, they couldn't afford the booms, but they needed 3 trucks.  The Sutphen engines are very nice rigs, but the consensus was the guys preferred the booms.

I guess you could say things are looking up in Syracuse FD.  Makes you wonder if St. Louis will go back some day.

[fyreline]

Again, we are most certainly NOT "going back" to Quints, as we never had them . . . and don't intend to. Straight engine companies and truck companies, thank you. And staffing on our engine companies is 4 (1 officer, 3 firefighters) and all four will respond aboard the first due engine on structure fire assignments leaving the Mini in quarters. After all, it does still say "Syracuse FIRE Department" on the rigs. We try not to forget that.