St. Louis Metro

[Truckman]

[quote name='Roto-Ray' timestamp='1322452885' post='465333']



From what I was told at FDIC last year, when the new Smeal pumpers were on display - the old quints were labeled engines, but called pumpers on the radio. Now, with the new engines coming in, the engines are actually called engines, the remaining quints (less than 100') are called trucks, and the 100'+ aerials are called "Hook & Ladder".

[/quote]





That makes sense! <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#>/icon_crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Guest]

You are right. The new Smeal Engines are still called Pumpers on the radio. And when a new pumper/engine/non-aerialed apparatus is OOS, someone has to remember to say truck 24 or truck 31 on the radio.

[Guest]

[quote name='LFPDT75' timestamp='1322448189' post='465323']

does anyone have any photos of Creve Coeur FD and how many rigs are at Station 2 and are they photographer friendly

[/quote]



House 2 Should have 1 rescue pumper, 2324, Medic Unit 2327, A reserve pumper and possible a reserve ambulance. Also a boat. Last time I went by there was a tactical police vehicle that was being stored there that belonged to the StLCo. Police.

[firetrucks]

thank you STLFire2494 and can you also tell me what is at Station 1 and are they photographer friendly will they pull out apparatus if asked or not just wondering looking to photograph Station 2's apparatus pulled out if they will pull them out

[Guest]

[quote name='LFPDT75' timestamp='1322522150' post='465419']

thank you STLFire2494 and can you also tell me what is at Station 1 and are they photographer friendly will they pull out apparatus if asked or not just wondering looking to photograph Station 2's apparatus pulled out if they will pull them out

[/quote]

Station 1 has a Pierce Quantum 105', 2 International ambulances, Pierce Saber HazMat, and probably a reserve piece. Theyll let you take pics if you can catch them in quarters, they stay fairly busy.

[firetrucks]

SCLPDEXPLORER so the apparatus has to be photographed in the station they won't pull them out and is that for just Station or both Station 1 and 2 and also does valley park fd have the brockway anymore if not could please post picture of it

[Guest]

[quote name='LFPDT75' timestamp='1322529879' post='465428']

SCLPDEXPLORER so the apparatus has to be photographed in the station they won't pull them out and is that for just Station or both Station 1 and 2 and also does valley park fd have the brockway anymore if not could please post picture of it

[/quote]

I dont know if theyll pull the trucks out at Creve Coeur or not. Probably depends on who you get, what time and your attitude. I meant it may be hard to find them while they arent running calls. I believe they avg 5500/yr. We dont have the Brockway anymore, got rid of it in early 2007. It went to a vollie department down around the lake of the ozarks. Sorry, but that was before my time, I dont have a pic of it.

[MFD76]

FYI,



Just looked at a photo on FaceBook of the newly refurbished St.L Black over Red Smeal H&L. It is lettered for St.L Hook & Ladder 3. Says it should be delivered on Thursday.



Stay Safe,

Rick

[kenosha]

What firehouse will H & L 3 be assigned at?







[quote name='MFD 61 KS' timestamp='1330237294' post='475937']

FYI,



Just looked at a photo on FaceBook of the newly refurbished St.L Black over Red Smeal H&L. It is lettered for St.L Hook & Ladder 3. Says it should be delivered on Thursday.



Stay Safe,

Rick

[/quote]

[MFD76]

[quote name='firepicsMW2' timestamp='1330271011' post='475944']

What firehouse will H & L 3 be assigned at?

[/quote] Said it will take the place of Hook & Ladder 4 which will go to reserve for a while. Interesting can the St. L guys shed any light on this?

[Guest]

A few months ago, while on duty and on a store run at a nearby grocery store, Pumper 31 was there as well, and we talked to the Captain, and he said he was hearing rumors that they were getting Hook and Ladder 3 at the 31s and that it would run in place of Pumper 31, but that it hadn't been confirmed.



Hook and Ladder 4 is booked in on all 1st Alarm commercials here in Shrewsbury. It'll be nice seeing H&L 3, though. Those refurbs turned out really nice!

[Juice]

This might be an odd question, and I don't mean any offense by it; are the refurbished rigs a sign of the economy or a cost cutting measure by the department vs. buying all new replacement trucks? I thought I read that it was more of a "saving money" move, and not, not being able to afford new replacements. I'm only curious because most cities the size of St. Louis you don't see refurbing rigs and putting them out for another round of frontline service, but there's no reason not to if it's cheaper (obviously it is) and the reburshing is done right.



Thanks,

Trav!

[Guest]

The refurbed rigs should be good for several more years, I would think, because when they go to Smeal they're getting torn apart, to some degree, rebuilt, and repainted, LED lights installed, and gold leaf graphics to match the 2011 fleet. They look like brand new rigs when they return.



As far as being a sign of the turbulent economic times we're in now, I would think that that plays a part to some degree.

[Guest]

According to some people there, they are getting the entire driveline and engines rebuilt, pumps, ladder and hydraulics completely rebuilt or refurbed, all new roll up doors, and then fix and straighten the rest.

[Guest]

To be honest, I kind of like the refurbed H&Ls a little better than the new ones because I prefer the Spartan Classic cabs over the Evolutions.

[Guest]

Just my two cents on refurbing trucks. In this tight economy, city leaders are trying to get more out of a dollar nowadays. A piece of fire equipment is a big financial investment. By sending these trucks out to be refurbished adds life expectancy to these trucks. Instead of running the wheels off them and replacing them every ten or so years, they can be rebuilt and get another five out of them. Simple economics, fix it before it costs too much. All of us remember the FDNY selling relatively "young" trucks to smaller departments? These departments put a little money into these trucks and alot of them are still roaming around today. The City of Norwich (CT) bought a 1970 Seagrave 100' rear-stick back in the 80's, did a refurb on it, and just recently replaced it. They got 40-plus years out of that rig, that cost them pennies compared to what a new truck goes for. Like I said, just my two cents.

[drfeelgood]

Referb vs. replace vs. rechassis is quite an intersting game to play. It can save money or cost just as much as a new unit it just depends on which way you want to go. DC is just getting rid of two early 90's TDAs that where retractored in early 2000 and got 20 years out of the ladder and trailer.

[Guest]

T29 and T9 were the first 2 refurbs to be put in service and both have spent more time OOS since they returned because of Transmission issues. As for what is going on with H&L3, I've heard it going to the 31s, Ive heard it going to replace H&L4, I have also heard it going to replace/disbanding Truck 4. We should know what its role will be within a week. STL is big on hiding any ideas that may involve the people on the street. Instead, rumors occur.





As for our 2010 medic units, my (M10) unit is getting its THIRD engine put in it. We've been running on reserves for about 3-4 months. The truck doesn't even have 80K miles on it yet. M33 is getting a new engine. M12 was in an accident a month ago and is still sitting it the parking lot. M9 should be getting their new ride in a month or two. We've been having allot of problems with these Taylor Made Ambulances. Possibly because of the regenerations that are needed with these new government rules; but then again, that should be an international problem.

[ben_mazanec]

I was just at the shops getting some work done on my truck. Saw the extent of Medic 135's damage!



George says that H&L 3 will be going to H&L 4. H&L 4 will become a reserve. Truck 4 will be disbanded/replaced by a New H&L 4 sometime in the coming year. H&L 4 is the least used and abused H&L we have so it will be good in reserve status. The only problem it has had was a bad oil leak awhile back, but i think that has been stopped. H&L 1 is in for repairs for a Water Leak.

[Guest]

[quote name='STLFire2494' timestamp='1322507409' post='465387']

You are right. The new Smeal Engines are still called Pumpers on the radio. And when a new pumper/engine/non-aerialed apparatus is OOS, someone has to remember to say truck 24 or truck 31 on the radio.

[/quote]





Technically...what we are supposed to say is for example..if the 28s are on reserve 29 we are to say...



"Engine28 responding on Reserve Truck29"



because per new SOPs Trucks and H&Ls are to do truck work and engines/pumpers do engine ops.



It will make more sense when the next wave of new pumpers come in and a StillAlarm will consist of 2engines, 1truck, 1H&L





We are going thru a transition phase from total quint to traditional engine/truck ops. SOPs still give command officers to adjust duties by order due and/or type of apparatus responding on. so far no major issues