[quote name='Image7801' timestamp='1352335017' post='502580']
An LT doesn't have all of the technical rescue equipment a typical heavy rescue would carry - That equipment is either carried on a Squad or a specialized rescue truck, which are called support units here in metro Phoenix.. I would almost call it a modern-day city service rig. They run on pretty much every ladder call except reports of fire. For example - Auto accidents (called 962's here), extrication's, medicals (they're only BLS, so any ALS would get the closest ALS engine), residential fires, etc... I don't know exactly all the protocols, but I've always heard they respond with whatever rig the officer determines is necessary to handle the incident from a truck company perspective.
[/quote]
The fine folks on C-Shift at Ladder 1 in downtown Phoenix shared the protocol with me nearly 20 years ago when the LT's were first introduced: "Big call, take the big truck, little call, take the little truck."
The initial purpose of the LT's was to reduce the wear and tear on the (mostly) tiller ladder truck fleet that was in service in the PFD through the 1990's and; except for then Support 8, there were no traditional heavy rescue companies in the PFD; the ladder companies handled most of the extrication work. The company officer had/has the flexibility to take which ever rig he/she best met the mission of the call they were dispatched to and some elected to take the big rig all the time while others chose to take the LT as much as possible.
From what I have seen, some of the LT's in the surrounding jurisdictions have morphed into rigs the size closer to that of a heavy rescue but I haven't had a chance to visit them and learn more. Perhaps in early 2013 when I retire to the Valley of the Sun I can provide more updates.
PFD SOP on Ladder Tenders: [url="http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@fire/documents/web_content/074793.pdf"]http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@fire/documents/web_content/074793.pdf[/url]
An LT doesn't have all of the technical rescue equipment a typical heavy rescue would carry - That equipment is either carried on a Squad or a specialized rescue truck, which are called support units here in metro Phoenix.. I would almost call it a modern-day city service rig. They run on pretty much every ladder call except reports of fire. For example - Auto accidents (called 962's here), extrication's, medicals (they're only BLS, so any ALS would get the closest ALS engine), residential fires, etc... I don't know exactly all the protocols, but I've always heard they respond with whatever rig the officer determines is necessary to handle the incident from a truck company perspective.
[/quote]
The fine folks on C-Shift at Ladder 1 in downtown Phoenix shared the protocol with me nearly 20 years ago when the LT's were first introduced: "Big call, take the big truck, little call, take the little truck."
The initial purpose of the LT's was to reduce the wear and tear on the (mostly) tiller ladder truck fleet that was in service in the PFD through the 1990's and; except for then Support 8, there were no traditional heavy rescue companies in the PFD; the ladder companies handled most of the extrication work. The company officer had/has the flexibility to take which ever rig he/she best met the mission of the call they were dispatched to and some elected to take the big rig all the time while others chose to take the LT as much as possible.
From what I have seen, some of the LT's in the surrounding jurisdictions have morphed into rigs the size closer to that of a heavy rescue but I haven't had a chance to visit them and learn more. Perhaps in early 2013 when I retire to the Valley of the Sun I can provide more updates.
PFD SOP on Ladder Tenders: [url="http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@fire/documents/web_content/074793.pdf"]http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@fire/documents/web_content/074793.pdf[/url]
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