[quote name='Skip Olson BFD L14' post='95409' date='Apr 7 2007, 17:31 ']Commissioner Fraser stated that TL17's Pierce MidMount will be reassigned to TL3 as soon as a replacement truck can be found for 17. TL3's rig sustained close to $40,000 worth of damage in a collision with a Boston EMS Ambulance as they were leaving quarters. The cost, coupled with the age of the piece (1992) make it impractical to fix. The spare Tower, a 1985 model, blew it's engine from what I was told and will also not be repaired for the same reasons stated above. The rumor regarding TL2 is just that, a rumor, at least until a new truck is delivered to them or someone comes out and states it as fact. It IS true that we have put out for bid 2 ladder trucks, I've been told that they will be 110' E\-One Rearmounts and I've also been told that there is money set aside to purchase up to 5 more, something we SORELY need. I'm not going to argue the benefits of a Tower Ladder, but in many parts of the city they are impractical which is why we didn't have them for many years. The size, coupled with the tight narrow streets found in many of the city's neighborhoods makes them an unwise choice. There is a rumor that 2 of our downtown trucks will be reverting back to TDA's due to the tightness of their first alarm response area. Like everything else in the fire service, what works for one municipality, doesn't necessarily work for another. This is the case with Tower Ladders & Boston. One for each Division works just fine.[/quote]
Thanks for the reply that's quite interesting to know as I know that Boston has a higher Ladder company to Engine company Ratio then most Fire Departments do so apparently Boston is a '"Truck Company" City. I personally am surprised that Boston hasn't gone back to ordering TDA's sooner because of the narrow streets in some of your areas.The majority of the Ladder company's in Philadephia,Baltimore and Washington D.C. are TDA's for that very reason as most of the older east coast city's have quite a few narrow streets.
It's quite surprising that the LA City Fire Department's entire Ladder company fleet is made up entirely of TDA's when you consider that most of the streets there are quite a bit wider then on the east coast so they really don't need to use TDA's like they do in some cities.
I read within the last two years that Boston lost the fifth man from their Ladder company's.When did that happen?
Chicago, where I'm from, is one of the few Lucky Cities that still run with 5 men on both Engine and Truck company's.
It did take a 3 week strike, however (in early 1980) to restore the fifth man on the 2/3's of our Engines and Trucks that had been running with less then 5 men for about a dozen years.
Firepost
Thanks for the reply that's quite interesting to know as I know that Boston has a higher Ladder company to Engine company Ratio then most Fire Departments do so apparently Boston is a '"Truck Company" City. I personally am surprised that Boston hasn't gone back to ordering TDA's sooner because of the narrow streets in some of your areas.The majority of the Ladder company's in Philadephia,Baltimore and Washington D.C. are TDA's for that very reason as most of the older east coast city's have quite a few narrow streets.
It's quite surprising that the LA City Fire Department's entire Ladder company fleet is made up entirely of TDA's when you consider that most of the streets there are quite a bit wider then on the east coast so they really don't need to use TDA's like they do in some cities.
I read within the last two years that Boston lost the fifth man from their Ladder company's.When did that happen?
Chicago, where I'm from, is one of the few Lucky Cities that still run with 5 men on both Engine and Truck company's.
It did take a 3 week strike, however (in early 1980) to restore the fifth man on the 2/3's of our Engines and Trucks that had been running with less then 5 men for about a dozen years.
Firepost
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