Austin, Tx Fire/Rescue

[A/TCEMSPM]

[quote name='Ladder 68' post='232352' date='Jul 24 2008, 15:57 ']I know its been explained before, I got to ask again...what is the difference in the AFD between a Ladder Co. and a Quint Co. if they both operate quints? It was staffing but that has been changed with Quint Co.'s going to 4 man staffing.



So what is the difference? How they are dispatched, single houses, etc.?



Thanks in advance.[/quote]





I hope I can get this right for you. Up until 2006 there were ladder companies staffed with 3 and quints staffed with 6. The City of Austin has 13 aerial devices in frontline service with I believe 5 reserve pieces. In 2006 3 were considered "quints" stationed by themselves and expected to do first in engine and truck work in their own still district and to be an aerial device or engine when responding as 2nd due. In 2007 the desicion was made by the higher ups at AFD to purchase "wet ladders" i.e. 1500-2000 gpm pump minimal hose and minimal water tank 100 -200 gal. That idea was scratched and now every aerial device being purchased by the city will be an NFPA standard quint. All aerial devices effective earlier this year have gone to staffing of four instead of the 3 on a ladder and 6 on a quint. If you listen to afd radio traffic you will still hear vehicles being referred to as "ladders" these are the true no pump having aerial devices. These are at Ladder 3, Ladder 8, one of two aerial platforms, Ladder 15, Ladder 18 until the velocity goes into service, Ladder 31 and now i guess the other aerial platform will be at 36's. The three quints that are stationed alone are Quint 19, 27, and 38. The newer quantums purchased since 07 are at 1, 17, 35, and 40. These newer devices are all housed with engines with the new and improved Quint 1 being housed with 2 engines downtown at central station.



Now here is the tricky part.... If one of the single house quints 19, 27, or 38 have to go out of service for repair one of the other in service quints that are housed with engines has to give their vehicle to the quint that is housed alone. This is because the reserve aerial pieces do not have pumps. Which is why you could see "quint" 17s 06 Dash at station 38 acting as quint 38 for a month and a half earlier this year when something went bad on 38s '03 Quantum. Confused yet?



As an Aside I would not be surprised to see that next quint ordered be an aerial platform to go back to Q... Ladder.... OH Hell Aerial Device 1 <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/banghead.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dizzy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/shrug.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />