[quote name='countryEMT' timestamp='1352325038' post='502549']
What is a Ladder Tender exactly? what is carried on it? Looks like a Heavy Rescue to me....
[/quote] The simple answer is that a ladder tender is a smaller vehicle that a ladder company can use to respond to calls that do not require the "big" truck. The original idea was to save wear and tear on heavy apparatus and reduce operating costs. At the time (late 80's) truck companies in Phoenix were responding to medical incidents, car accidents and all kinds of other incidents other than structure fires.
The prototype ladder tender was a 4-door cab pick-up with a camper shell on the back end that was obtained through a trade with another city department. It was repainted white-over-red and given to Ladder 26 to try out the concept. The first unit carried BLS medical equipment, extrication tools and not much else. The company officer had the discretion to take either rig on a call, depending on the nature.
After about 6 months the idea seemed to be working, so the first custom built rigs were purchased. At that point the crews decided that they needed more "stuff". The new vehicles were rescue style boxes on larger 4-door cab commercial chassis. They carried a duplicate set of almost everything that was on the big truck except the aerial ladder. They had an SCBA and a complete second set of turnout gear for each crew member, lots of tools, a PPV fan and even a couple of short ground ladders --- just in case they happened to stumble upon a structure fire on the way back from a medical call.
Over the years they have morphed into vehicles that look like medium rescues on commercial or custom chassis. The key factor is that they are assigned to a ladder company and operate as an either/or vehicle.
What is a Ladder Tender exactly? what is carried on it? Looks like a Heavy Rescue to me....
[/quote] The simple answer is that a ladder tender is a smaller vehicle that a ladder company can use to respond to calls that do not require the "big" truck. The original idea was to save wear and tear on heavy apparatus and reduce operating costs. At the time (late 80's) truck companies in Phoenix were responding to medical incidents, car accidents and all kinds of other incidents other than structure fires.
The prototype ladder tender was a 4-door cab pick-up with a camper shell on the back end that was obtained through a trade with another city department. It was repainted white-over-red and given to Ladder 26 to try out the concept. The first unit carried BLS medical equipment, extrication tools and not much else. The company officer had the discretion to take either rig on a call, depending on the nature.
After about 6 months the idea seemed to be working, so the first custom built rigs were purchased. At that point the crews decided that they needed more "stuff". The new vehicles were rescue style boxes on larger 4-door cab commercial chassis. They carried a duplicate set of almost everything that was on the big truck except the aerial ladder. They had an SCBA and a complete second set of turnout gear for each crew member, lots of tools, a PPV fan and even a couple of short ground ladders --- just in case they happened to stumble upon a structure fire on the way back from a medical call.
Over the years they have morphed into vehicles that look like medium rescues on commercial or custom chassis. The key factor is that they are assigned to a ladder company and operate as an either/or vehicle.
Facebook
Google
Reddit
Twitter