10-22-2010, 06:04 PM (This post was last modified: 10-22-2010, 10:48 PM by GA_Dave.)
On October 2nd, there was a parade in Montevallo, AL to kick off Fire Prevention Week. It has been an annual event there for about 20-25 years, but I had not heard about it before. It was estimated that about 100 apparatus would be attending, which is HUGE in this part of the world. I got up at "zero-dark-thirty" and drove for over two hours to get there with enough time to scope out the parade route and locate a good spot to shoot it from.
1. The parade began 75 minutes later than the announced time.
2. There were less than 40 apparatus.
3. Most apparatus had hosebeds full of people, with more hanging off wherever they could, all of them throwing candy.
4. I will never return.
Here are a few rigs, the ones that were not covered in bodies. Information is sketchy at best.....
Quote:Ex Dumfries-Triangle, VA. Love seeing where these ex Virginia rigs end up.
Thanks, Taylor. You're a Good man. Do you have the specs on it too?
Quote:I guess this Quint Concept did not work in the DFD. I never knew they had an engine like this. Do you have a photo of the rear hose loads? Thanks.
PS: What is the story with all the ladder companies having pumps?
I wouldn't call what Detroit is doing at Engine 48 a "Quint Concept" move. It's more of a solution to a situation. Engine 48 is located somewhat remote from other companies, separated by the Rouge River, and there is no truck company with them. Back in the day, Engine 48 was assigned a 1962 Seagrave quad. When it came time to replace it, quads were no longer in vogue, so it was replaced by a 1986 Sutphen quint, which in turn, was replaced by the Pierce. Sorry, I didn't photograph the rear of the apparatus.
I'm sure one of our Detroit area members can better explain why the ladder companies have pumps and tanks, but I was told that it was primarily for two things: rapid attack when they arrived first and for overhaul. This setup dates back to the soda-acid booster systems of the Teens and Twenties and has been standard on Detroit rigs since the Thirties, if not earlier.