Kansas City area fire apparatus

[MFD76]

[quote name='tobydi' post='303022' date='May 5 2009, 10:03 ']Kansas City area guys. I lived in Grandview, MO in the late 70's and moved to St. Louis in 1980. My first fire truck experience was on a Sutphen Tower. Does any one have any pictures and a truck and station list. Grandview's web site does not have much info.



Thanks in advance,



Toby D.

Metro West F.P.D.

Washington F.D.[/quote]



Toby,



I have heard about the Grandview Sutphen Tower, however I do not have any photos. I will see what I can dig up. I believe it was an 85ft model from talking with the guys. It was sold in 1989 when they took delivery of a Yellow 75ft Sutphen Quint. The Quint was sold last year or the year before. Story goes Grandview had a chief that was not popular with the firefighters I believe he came from AZ or that region. He speced and ordered the Sutphen 75ft Quint and did not tell anyone. One day the Quint rolled onto the ramp and the firefighters asked what is this short ladder with our name doing here. He stated its your new fire truck so strip the Tower Ladder becuse the dealer is comming to pick it up as a trade-in. They striped the Tower Ladder and it was gone and a few weeks later the chief was gone too. The 75ft Quint never fit the need as the ladder was to short and not enough comparment space for a Truck Company.



The 1960-1970's K Seagrave Engine Pumper 1 left in 1993 when the current Sutphen Pumper now in reserve was delivered. The 1982 American Lafrance Century Engine Pumper 2 left in 1999-2000 and the 1981 CF Mack Pumper 3 left in 2002.



Grandview now has a White over Yellow 2002 105ft Pierce Dash All Steer Ladder at Truck 3 and a 1998 Pierce Dash at Pumper 2 and no fire units respond from Fire House One anymore only two medic units and the Batt Chief. Grandview has suffered severe staffing shortages (two firefighters per fire Engine and Truck), in the last twenty years mostly due to needed a second staffed ALS Ambulance. So the union agreed to remove Pumper 1 from service so its staffing could give Pumper 2 and Truck 3 three person crews.



Stay Safe, Rick