Stillwater, Oklahoma F.D.

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Thanks for the background, Rick. That's pretty interesting stuff. From what I found out about Station 2, they do use some space on the 2nd Floor for the Officer's quarters/office, but they're pretty much limited to the first floor. I guess for the most part that the troops aren't crazy about the private ambo service. From what they told me they feel like customer service has been reduced by going private. LifeNet actually dispatches out of Texas, isn't consistent about calling SFD for response, doesn't know the area, etc, etc... I consider it a benefit that they got to keep the staffing, but I'm still thinking it doesn't sit well with the brothers.



Anyway, thanks again for the input. I don't get back to Stillwater very often, but it's fun to see the changes over the years.



John



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Fantastic Photos!!!! Glad to see the Ferrara's finely.



Sad to see Truck 2 only on special call now, I imagine the Quint at 3's stopped that. I was hoping they would staff Truck 2 fully when the ambulance departed, I guess as in the KC metro the Rescue Company won.



Yes both Ferrara pumpers were lime green. I will find out the department, can't remember a friend of mine was the sales rep on them. It was a really good deal for SFD. They basically got a two for one deal with repaint.



The SFD ambulance issue was a hot topic for a number of years. SFD cross staffed most of the fire units with the Ambulances. As the call volume increased over the years it lead to tough staffing and emergency response situations. This is what lead to the EMS being outsourced so the fire units could be fully staffed. The chief proposed a number of different options and this is the one the city choose. Now the Ambulance color debate, Chief Millukin now Fire Chief at Salina, KS. He is a retired District Chief from Wichita, KS FD and became Chief in Ponca City, OK he then left for the Chief's job a Stillwater. He was very well liked at WFD and SFD and did a number of positive things in both departments. He purchased the white over red Wheeled Coaches as the story goes in an effort to take SFD back to red. Red was SFD's original motorized color. However the members wanted to stay with their new tradition of solid white which they have had since the late 1940's. Thus the Sutphen was delivered in white.



Reserve Engine E\-One Sentry was delivered without the Q siren

Rescue 1 was delivered without the Q Siren.

The commercial Ford-F/ Smeals were always a mechanical nightmare. Very odd combination for a suburban department.

My favorite SFD rigs were the Seagrave K at Pumper 1 and the Ford C/Boardman/LTI 75ft at Ladder 2 now at Wagoneer, OK



Rumor was the fire poles were going to be reinstalled at Fire House 2 on the campus. The relationship between SFD and OSU was mending. Fire House 2 was built as a WPA building. It is a classic fire house and one of my personal favorites. Many, Many years ago any fireman in the state could reserve a room on the third floor and take courses thru OSU Fire Training on campus. The poles were not removed due to safety, they were removed due to a falling out between SFD and OSU over the student firemen program. When they were removed SFD moved into the watch office on the first floor and make shift living quarters were created behind the first bay or the bay at the east end. At that point SFD was not allowed to use the second and third floor. However they still used some portions. There is a fantastic hands on classroom lab on the rear of the fire house that is original to the fire house.



Rick

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