Phoenix Metropolitan Area Fire Apparatus

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[quote name='JFong' timestamp='1354071773' post='504146']

Got some questions about Phoenix Ladder 9:



-Any reason the department wants/need the Bronto?

-What happened to the old unit? I read that it rolled over but never could find a cause.

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In terms of your first question, I really don't know, other than Phoenix does have downtown and Central Ave corridor high rises, in which that sort of rig might be helpful. Several Departments in metro Phoenix (Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, just for starters) have Bronto's. E\-One must have been having a big sale back in the mid-late 2000's.



Phoenix ordered the first (and replacement second) E\-One/Bronto to assign to Ladder 9, which is just a little north of downtown. The first one, a 2001 model 118' was rolled over September 29th, 2003 when the Engineer went around a corner too fast, non-emergent, if I recall. The replacement unit, a 114' was delivered a year or two later. Both rigs are pictured on [url="http://www.angelfire.com/planet/chucksfirepics4/PhoenixFire1.html"]Chuck Grow's site.[/url]



One interesting side note is that the first rig was named "The Big Unit", which was the nickname of Randy Johnson, starting pitcher of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series winning 2001 season (definitely overshadowed by 9/11). Ladder 9 carried the World Series trophy through the streets of Phoenix during the celebration parade.