Phoenix Metropolitan Area Fire Apparatus

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Caught a couple of "nothing" fires over the past week.  No decent photos but a couple of apparatus shots.

 

Here's a "mystery" rig - Sun City Engine 1340 (shows as such in CAD, too).  What makes it strange is the numbering.  First a little background:  Sun City is assigned the 130-series in the Phoenix metro fire consortium scheme.  So, Sun City Ladder 1 is Ladder 131, Engine 3 is Engine 133, etc...  The only time (In my memory) that companies go to 4 digits is if their Department exceeds the number of stations in their numbering range, which is typically 9 stations (i.e. Stations 151-159, in Glendale's case).  For example Gilbert is assigned the 250-series, but they have more than 10 stations (251, 252, 253, etc...).  So, when they built Stations 10 and 11, they became Stations 2510 and 2511. 

 

However, Sun City only has three stations (131, 132, 133).  So, what is Engine 1340?  This rig is x-Engine 133's 2003 Quantum (they now have a 2012 Spartan/CustomFire).  My guess is that it's a fully equipped reserve rig.  I'm not sure why they decided to give it it's own numbering, rather than having it assume the number of whatever rig it's acting for, which is more common.  Sometimes Cities and Fire Districts have permanently numbered reserves for strike team duty, but those are usually numbered at the top of the range.  Sun City had one such rig, numbered as Engine 139.  I'm not sure if they went away from that or not.

 

I'll have to make some calls and find out...

 

Here it is on a house fire in north Peoria on Friday.

 

Sun City, AZ Engine 1340 - 2003 Pierce Quantum, Ladder 131 - 1996 Pierce Lance