Kansas

[MFD76]

Andy and I have been working hard get more departments for Kansasfiretrucks.com



Recently I visited one of my favorite fire departments in the state Pittsburg, Kansas. Pittsburg was once a town fueled by the southeast, Kansas strip mining operations for Zinc and Lead. Pittsburg was also home to a large roundhouse engine shop for the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The city is divided in numerous locations by rail tracks. The city is made up of older buildings, shotgun houses, and Pittburg State University. The population is diverse and the fire department remains active with working fires.



They have operated a career fire department since 1898. They operate an eleven man shift from three fire houses. They display a large amount of historical artifacts in the fire houses. They still maintain at the Crawford County Museum a 1937 Peter Pirsch 65ft Jr Aerial Quint ex Ladder 4. The Pirsch is placed in the shopping mall each year during fire prevention week and is used for Parades. For years Pittsburg running boards were painted dark Memphis green. The story relates upon returning from the IAFC conference in Memphis the fire chief ordered all running boards painted. Since all apparatus have been painted Solid Vermillion Red with the exception over the years of Snorkel 7, Rescue 7, and new Ladder 4. The fire houses and fire apparatus are the spotless, they take great pride in this. The fire apparatus are in numerical sequence from 1-9 and for years responded with the assigned unit number. There is currently no unit No.8. Currently the lead engines carry 1-3 and the truck carries 4. Automatic fire alarms and first alarm assignments bring three engines and the truck. Pittsburg was one of the last true fire departments in the state only running EMS first response for the last three years. Rescue 7 from Fire House 1 makes all EMS city wide, leaving the district engines in service for fire responses. The district engine will respond with Rescue 7 for life threatening medical alarms. Two fire chiefs ago the decision was made to add Quints to the fleet. This plan was started with a Smeal 55ft Ladder. With added repair cost and little added value this will plan most likely be discontinued with the next engine purchase. Returning to the correct fire department deployment plan of engines and trucks.



Over the next week I will post my collection of Pittsburg Fire Apparatus starting with current units and ending with the classics. This metal sign and fire pole below are from old Fire House 1 1961-2009. The fire pole is active currently.