Kansas

[MFD76]

Correct it was to keep a Pierce Product. The city wanted fire to try another manufacture. The fire department purchased a KME Tender for Water Tender 1 at No.17. There were a number of issues during and after delivery and with the dealer. So the fire department again asked for Pierce. When the original contract went for approval it was for Quantum-PUC's. As the Dash CF had not been released yet. At the time I was told the Quantum gauge cluster matched the older Dash's. Regardless this maneuver was to keep Pierce as the manufacture. Since other manufactures could not offer the folding steps and PUC option. When the build order was submitted they choose the newly released Dash CF and PUC. I have a large number of close friends that sat on the committee. They requested Arrow XT with a low hose bed standard pumper. They were told the RFP was for PUC on the Dash CF and no changes where allowed. They however did get to make the low hose bed and a number of other changes. 

 

I found out yesterday WFD has ordered two tandem axle 75ft Quints and one 100ft Ladder Tower. All Pierce Dash CF. This will finish the current RFP that previously included nine pumpers and one ladder tower. These will be the last two Quints WFD will order. They wanted two 105ft Ladders however the current RFP limits there ability to change what was approved. All future orders will be for pumpers and trucks with all Quints being phased out. Wichita prior to 1984 Quint and Squad invasion operated eight Truck Companies. During that period the Trucks or Aerials matched the fire house number. As with most fire departments many years ago apparatus including Trucks and Aerials were tradtionaly sequentially numbered. WFD returned to sequential numbering. 

 

These two new Quints will be called Ladders. This will distinguish them apart from the remaining Quints for two reasons. First they will be staffed with Truck Company quallified members that have completed the Truck Company Acadmey and have been approved. Second there primary focus will be Truck Company Operations with engine work being second. They are being placed in two outlaying areas of the city where truck company response times are long. I have been told Fire House 20 and 21. The current Quints primary function as Engine Companies. Wichita has already begun reducing the number of Quints by reactivating Engine 19 and Engine 15. Although Engine 15 was a swap between Engine 20 and Quint 15. Quint 20's current machine will become a spare and will not be reassigned. 

 

The new ladder tower will be assigned as Truck 1. The current Truck 1 will be reassigned to reactivated the long disbanded Truck 5. Truck 5 will be housed with Engine 10 at Fire House 10. This will give a much needed Truck to that area of the city. This will also provided on duty staffing of six to seven for Haz-Mat 10. Squad 10 will be removed from service. 

The squads for now will remain. The union does not want to loose the Lieutenant position if the squads are removed from service. I believe the squads will continue to disband as the fire department works in coming years toward reactivating Truck 6,7,8. However with the 2000's fire house relocation program some of the first due districts became very large. Since some fire houses were moved there are now some critical coverage gaps in the urban core of the city. So some squads will have to remain unless new fire houses are opened in these areas or double engine houses return.