St. Louis Metro

[MFD76]

[quote name='JM82' date='26 December 2009 - 09:18 PM' timestamp='1261882729' post='354324']

Personally, I like the 4 digit numbering system and I think it makes sense. I also like it for the organizational sense that it brought about. When it was first introduced 20 years ago I thought it was horrible, having units with 4 digits instead of the "traditional" 2 or 3! But after awhile I got used to it, as did everyone else, and today, looking back at how it used to be, it definately makes more sense.



The thing is, 20 years later, most, if not all, pumpers and quints in St. Louis County carry vehicle extrication equipment, so it seems that having a '4' at the end of the unit number designating it a rescue pumper (or a '5' for a rescue quint) instead of a '0' or a '1' (or a '2' for an aerial or quint) seems a thing of the past. I guess it was "in vogue" back then, being designated as a rescue pumper or quint, because having a set of Jaws on your truck was not as common as it is today.



Below are several fire and EMS units in St. Louis County with their new and their old numbers. This list is by no means complete!



1114 - 31

1124 - 32

1134 - 33

1117 - 305

1197 - 306

1139 - Rescue 3

1100 - 301

1210 - 61

1214 - 62

1216 - Rescue 6

1200 - 601

1710 - 21

1722 - 22

1730 - 23

1760 - 26

1752 - Ladder 1

1717 - 205

1757 - 206

1727 - 207

1702 - 202

2315 - 281

2324 - 282

2317 - 286

2327 - 287

2302 - 2904

1414 - 451

2714 - 273

2114 - 424

2117 - 417

2611 - 261

2625 - 269

2624 - 263

2617 - 257

2627 - 256

1814 - 507

1817 - 509

3214 - 321

3212 - 319

3217 - 318

2024 - 503

2017 - 504

2005 - 500

2000 - CFD

3114 - 431

3414 - 441

5110 - 133

5125 - 132

5214 - 251

5217 - 248

4510 - 221

4511 - 222

2814 - 361

2817 - 356

2914 - 385

2917 - 377

3914 - 391

3917 - 386

3514 - 351

3522/3525 - 352

3312 - 339

3333 - 343

3324 - 332

3317 - 326

3337 - 338

4814 - 234

4824 - 233

4827 - 226

4015 - 12

4034 - 14

4024 - 15

4910 - 121

4920 - 122

4210 - 111

4610 - 81

4310 - 42

4414 - 243

4425 - 239

4417 - 236

3810 - 204

3822 - 209

3830 - 211

3827 - 206

3837 - 207

4714 - 91

4724 - 92

4717 - 96

3710 - 71

3720 - 72

3735 - 79

4115 - 51

4124 - 52

1610 - 41

1614 - 42

1617 - 405

1697 - 406

1914 - 51

1917 - 505

1314 - 81

1325 - 82

1334 - 83

1327 - 805

2414 - 474

2420 - 472

2417 - 486

2427 - 487



When Town and Country had their own fire department, their pumper's number was 371. Then Manchester (renamed West County EMS and Fire Dist.) took them over in 1983 and T&CFD's station became Manchester Station 3.





[/quote]

In Johnson County, Kansas we had simlar issues. When the county fire alarm started we used road and bridge freq. All of the fire depts took the 800 series. At Merriam we were 860's so our ALF was Engine 1 was 863 later renumbered 862 our Ward was Engine 2 was 861. Olathe still used tradtional numbers Engine 3, 2 Snorkel 1. In the mid 1970's we each recieved seperate numbers Merriam's was 600's so Engine 1 was 620 and Engine 2 was 621 the ladder was 650. Lenexa for example used 922 for Engine 1 and 920 for Engine 2 and 950 for Truck 1. It was extremely confusing. So in 1990 everyone agreed the last number would be the house and zero stood for only one house. Our rigs stayed the same but Lenexa Engine 1 became 921 Engine 2 922 and Engine 3 923. Here is how our numbers used to be.



2= Engine

3= second Engine

4= Ambulance

5= Truck Company or Quint

6= Brush or Air Light

7= Haz-Mat

8= Tender

9= Special unit

so 921 was 9= Lenexa 2= Engine 1= Fire House 1



100 Lake Quivera now 10'S

200 Conslidated Fire District Two CFD2 now 20's

300 Leawood 30's

400 Overland Park 40's

500 Olathe 50's

600 Merriam 60's

700 Shawnee 70's

800 Fire District Two 80's

900 Lenexa 90's

1000 Fire Alarm

1100 County Ambulance

1200 Fire District One 120

1300 Gardner DPS 130

1600 Desoto 160

1900 Fire District 3 190





It worked well but we were the only county in the metro to use this system. I like it and thought it worked well for us it was very clean. All others on the Kansas and Missouri side use clear text Engine, Pumper, Truck, Ladder ect. So that is why we switched to the clear text. So now Lenexa 921 is Engine 9= Lenexa 1= Fire House Engine 91. It has made things much easier with mutual aid. A metro wide number system could be a great assest. Thanks for sharing the St. Louis metro info. I had no idea that some departments shared the same numbers.



Stay Safe Brother, Rick