Denver Metro Fire Apparatus

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[quote name='Toneslider12' post='305435' date='May 15 2009, 12:29 ']Yeah, Engine 13 got drilled by a sedan on EB 285 near Highway 8 while "Successfully" blocking an accident scene. It was a rear impact and enough to total out the rig. The driver and passenger of the car were injured pretty badly and may have been cut out. No Firefighters were injured luckily. Although I haven't seen it, a fellow buff said they've been running in one of the old KME's. I thought they'd be in one of the older Dash's from 3s or 10s but I guess not.



The ALF Squrt was actually re-assigned as Squrt 14 for quite awhile before their accident occurred. I've heard they were SB on Kipiling during a nasty snow storm heading to C-470. Something happened in front of them at an intersection and the chauffeur didn't think they could stop without plowing into some cars... so he took it off road. They took out a fence and came to a hard stop against a tree in a residential yard. The crew had minor injuries and the driver nearly had to be extricated because of the intrusion.



Both rigs may still be at the shops, if they are I'll try to sneak over and take some photos.



I've got one for you, how many KME's did/does WMFR have? I've always thought it was only the two at 5's and 6's but there must be one or two more.[/quote]



Hey Eric (correct?) - Thanks for the info. Any photos would be great - I live in AZ now, and only get up to CO once or twice a year, so I do try to keep up on West Metro. There were three KME's total. They were bought by the Lakewood FPD in 1991, right when Lakewood/Bancroft Combined Fire Authority was created. They were the first "modern" customs that Lakewood bought, to replace the Ford C/E-Ones, and the first rigs lettered for the LBCFA. If I recall, they originally ran as Engines 491, 493 and 494 (current Engines 1, 3 and 4). Engine 1 ran with the KME until the first Quantum was delivered in 1998 or 99 (which later went to 13's). That KME then went down to Engine 15 for a few years, until it was "replaced" by Roxborough's old E\-One (not sure why), then became a reserve. Engine 3 ran with theirs until 1994 or 95 when they got their Dash. As a matter of trivia, the 94 Dash rigs were originally delivered to Engines 6 and 10, but someone figured out that it would be much better served at Engine 3, since 6's was so slow of a company (at that time), so they traded. Engine 6 got the KME and 3's got the Dash (which many of the officers didn't like because the cabs were so tight). Engine 4 ran with their KME until the second Quantum was delivered in 99 or 2000 (I can't remember for sure). They then sent that one out to 5's, where it still is, I believe. I'm not surprised they're still running. One of the shop guys told me at one time that the only real problem they ever had was with the rubber air collar that went in between the front tilt-cab and the rear fixed part. Other than that, they weren't much trouble (of course I've been gone for 9 years). Hope that helps. Somewhere I have a photo of Engine 4 running down Alameda on a call, lettered for the LBCFA (try to fit that on a cab door!). I'll see if I can find it.



Cheers!



John.