Kansas

[MFD76]

Visited my good friends in the Captial City last month to welcome the new addition. Besides being the State Captial of Kansas, Topeka is still deeply rooted in the ATSF Atchison-Topeka-Santa Fe Railway now BNSF. The Santa Fe once operated their own fire department in the large Topeka Yard with their own street boxes. 

 

Topeka operates from twelve fire houses with twelve Engines, two dry Aerial Ladder Trucks, four dry Service Ladder Trucks, two Battalion Chiefs, one Assistant Chief (shift commander), one Fire Safety/ Training Officer each shift. They operate a large full service Fire Department Mechanic Shop and Fire Training Acadmey at the Fire Headquarters Complex including Fire House Three. The complex is located on the west edge of the large Santa Fe Railway yard and east edge of downtown. They are in process of designing Fire House Thirteen. With plans for a thirteenth Engine and seventh Truck Company most likely it will be a Aerial. Currently the fleet is painted a mix of TFD historically accurate Solid RED and new Black over RED.

 

Topeka is still a very aggressive traditional fire department. Two fire chiefs ago just before the first order of black over red they successfully defended their fire ground proven traditional Engine-Truck concept against a Quint invasion. Thankfully no Quints were purchased and Aerial 5 was ordered dry.

 

This represents one of each style of the Black over Red machines in the fleet. 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

One of Three

Engine 5

#13701

02-2014

Rosenbauer/ General Commander 

1500/720/30FA

 



 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

One of One

Aerial 5

#MN3216

03-2011

Spartan Gladiator/ Rosenbauer General / RK Aerial

0000/000

100ft  Ladder Tower

Note: Aerial 5 and Aerial 8 are Ladder Towers

 



 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

One of Three

Engine 3

Ex: Engine 5

#MN3236

03-2011

Spartan Metro Star/ Rosenbauer General

1500/750

 



 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

One of Two

Truck 3 (City Service Truck Company)

#210048-01

02-2011

Spartan Metro Star/ Crimson

0000/000

103ft Ground Ladders

Note: 210048-02 is at Truck 9

Note: Truck 3,9,10,11 are service trucks

 



 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

Aerial 1 Reserve

Ex: Aerial 8

#H-1129

10-1998

HME 1871/ Ferrara/ RK Aerial

0000/000

109ft  Ladder

Note: This has been a very problematic machine with one trip back to the factory.

 



 

 

Topeka has an impressive fleet of eight historic apparatus. They are a mix of hand drawn, horse drawn, and motorized apparatus. Late in the day the only remaining tiller on the TFD roster Aerial 2 made a quick appearance, running strong. Aerial 2 is normally stored at Fire House 5 but was temporarily stored at the Fire Headquarters Complex in the Fire Shop due to the First Lady visiting for Topeka School District Commencement. 

 

Topeka, Kansas Fire Department

Aerial 2

#6285 

04-1928

American LaFrance Type 31-6 Front Drive Aerial/ American Automatic Aerial Ladder #464

0000/000

75ft Spring Raise Aerial Ladder

Four wheel straight frame tillered aerial

Note: Served as Aerial 2 at Fire Headquarters until 1947

           Displayed at Gage Park 1947-1970

           Restored by TFD 1974 and stored at Fire House 5

Thanks for Information provided by Mr. Walter McCall