Boston E-11

[SOlsonBFDL14]

We put it into service on Saturday December 28, 2013 @ 0800 at the quarters of Engine 9/Ladder 2 in the Maverick Square section of East Boston. It is being staffed with overtime with two 12 hour shifts per day (0800-2000 & 2000-0800) with an officer & 3 firemen (1 of which must be assigned to an Engine company normally so that there's always a chauffeur available). It is anticipated that we will keep it in service until mid to late March when the Callahan Tunnel reopens. This tunnel is one of two that connects the neighborhood of East Boston to Boston Proper. In addition, temporary running cards have been issued for this time period. Available strength in East Boston during the project must always remain 4 Engines & 2 Ladders. If any of the companies has to go out of service for any reason (training, maintenance etc) they must be covered. For example, if a full box assignment is transmitted in the neighborhood Engines 3, 10, 39 & 50 and Ladders 17 & 18 automatically move over via the Ted Williams Tunnel (except for E50 which takes surface roads through the neighboring cities of Everett & Chelsea to reach their assignment) to cover the empty houses. Engine 8 & Ladder 1, which normally cover in East Boston automatically, have had their cover assignments temporarily suspended as have Engine 4 & Ladder 24, which generally act as the RIT Assignment over there. Now the 4th due Engine in East Boston (Generally either Engine 11 or Engine 56) will act as the RIT Engine with Ladder 18 assigned as the RIT Truck on a confirmed fire (with Ladder 4 being added to cover Ladder 18's cover asignment).