[quote name='firebuff55407' post='158274' date='Oct 24 2007, 21:16 ']Here is one of the eight 1974 IHC/Pierce 250 gpm "Attack Units" PFD #740196. I am a little curious as to how these were used by the department and for how long. Were they assigned to the Truck Companies or were they part of the Engine Company?
- 1980 Photo by Steve Skaar[/quote]
Steve,
These were known as Tac Units - short for Tactical Units. They were assigned to the engine company they were housed with. The radio call sign for the engine was Unit. The combined manning for the Tac and Unit was one officer and five firemen. Two firemen and the officer would ride in the Tac and three firemen would ride the unit. If for some reason the Tac was out of service, the Unit would revert back to the call sign of Engine. On local alarms, for rubbish, autos, etc the Tac would respond by itself. On boxes it would respond as part of the two piece engine company. If the fire was on one of the smaller side streets, the Tac could easily pull up in front of the fire dwelling and act as a manifold. It would be supplied by the Unit hooked up to the hydrant on the corner. If the fire went to an extra alarm, the Tac would be returned and used to cover its local area. The first Tac was placed in service during December 1972. Eventually ten would be placed in service. All of them were disbanded on January 8, 1980. They were disbanded as when the running strength of all companies was reduced as a result of budget cuts.
PFD #740196 was assigned to Tac 6
PFD #730221 was first assigned to Tac 68 - it was reassigned to Tac 41 in 1978
Jack Wright
- 1980 Photo by Steve Skaar[/quote]
Steve,
These were known as Tac Units - short for Tactical Units. They were assigned to the engine company they were housed with. The radio call sign for the engine was Unit. The combined manning for the Tac and Unit was one officer and five firemen. Two firemen and the officer would ride in the Tac and three firemen would ride the unit. If for some reason the Tac was out of service, the Unit would revert back to the call sign of Engine. On local alarms, for rubbish, autos, etc the Tac would respond by itself. On boxes it would respond as part of the two piece engine company. If the fire was on one of the smaller side streets, the Tac could easily pull up in front of the fire dwelling and act as a manifold. It would be supplied by the Unit hooked up to the hydrant on the corner. If the fire went to an extra alarm, the Tac would be returned and used to cover its local area. The first Tac was placed in service during December 1972. Eventually ten would be placed in service. All of them were disbanded on January 8, 1980. They were disbanded as when the running strength of all companies was reduced as a result of budget cuts.
PFD #740196 was assigned to Tac 6
PFD #730221 was first assigned to Tac 68 - it was reassigned to Tac 41 in 1978
Jack Wright