Quote:Great photos. Seems they are thin on Ladders. Did they ever have any more Ladders in the city? Also have they ever staffed the Ladders with four? Thanks in advance. Stay Safe, Rick
In the 1970's they had 6 ladder company's. But alot of engines and ladders were disbanded in the 1980's. They have added engines 4, 8, 17, 18, 19 starting around 1994 with new annexation. They added a ladder at station 19 when that annexation in 2006 took place. They are light on trucks but do not use trucks as trucks. Trucks almost never get the front of the building and most of the time an engine company is sent to the roof to vent. Companies are assigned the task that is needed by the next company as they arrive. The only time a truck does truck work is when a aerial master stream is needed. Most of that time it is the driver only setting up the rig because the crew has been sent to do another task. As far as ladders staffed with 4. Yes 4 are assigned each tour but with sick call ins the ladders are the first to be cut to 3 to fill in sick / vacation calls. It could in fact happen that they have 4 but not normal. Once they have the ladders down to 3 they post hire backs. Currently Fort Wayne Fire is about 30 FF down so hire backs are every day. The city just approved 15 new hires and the process is under way.
Alot of what Fort Wayne does works for Fort Wayne as is alot of the country. Without talking tactics this fire was lost from the start. They began to fight the building of origin and never began to protect surrounding buildings. All Fort Wayne Companies were at this fire and they only set up 1 tower ladder. They had water supply issues and this property is on the river. They never set up a drafting operation. They didn't even have a reason why they didn't when asked. They simply could not think out of the box on this day and this fire will help them improve from the day after and forward.
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