Texas Volunteer Apparatus

[kieferfire]

Eric, great series of photos.



Juergen

[Engine504Driver]

[quote name='hansinoman' timestamp='1356801942' post='506390']

Cypress Creek Engine 21, rear view, with all-steer activated

[/quote]



not a big fan of all-steer - drove a quint with it and had it fail on too many occasions.......plus everytime you change a tire, you have to have the all-steer re-aligned, or at least you "used to"......maybe they made some improvements to it, hopefully !

[hansinoman]

[quote name='Engine504Driver' timestamp='1357141757' post='506702']

not a big fan of all-steer - drove a quint with it and had it fail on too many occasions.......plus everytime you change a tire, you have to have the all-steer re-aligned, or at least you "used to"......maybe they made some improvements to it, hopefully !

[/quote]

That was "the latest thing" 12 years ago when these were built. I havent seen any rear-steer or all-steer rigs in quite awhile, so I doubt they produce many nowadays.

[drfeelgood]

[quote name='hansinoman' timestamp='1357167366' post='506714']

That was "the latest thing" 12 years ago when these were built. I havent seen any rear-steer or all-steer rigs in quite awhile, so I doubt they produce many nowadays.

[/quote] Pierce abandoned that option about 5-6 years ago

[Roto-Ray]

They don't produce nearly as many as they used to. Interestingly, a nearby department (Chesterfield Fire & EMS) had an excellent apparatus lieutenant who worked diligently with Pierce for a couple of years to work out AWS issues on their ladders. Through their work, Pierce/Oshkosh was able to fix a lot of the issues with AWS reliability for all customers, and CFEMS continues to purchase AWS ladders to this day.



Back on track however, I need to see if I can dig out my photos from Annaville and Crosby I took about 8 or 9 years ago. I could spend a year in the Lone Star state photographing volunteer rigs.

[hansinoman]

The Ponderosa VFD, also in Harris County, has really nice rigs.



Ponderosa VFD, Tx

Rescue 61

2000 Pierce Lance #11171

Heavy Rescue



(Photo taken in 2000)

[hansinoman]

Ponderosa VFD, Tx Tower 61

1998 Pierce Dash #EB-901

2000/150/100' tower



(Photo taken 10/27/1998)

[hansinoman]

Little York VFD, Tx



Rescue 81

1998 Freighltiner FL-80/Central States

1250/750/40f-A



(Photo Taken on 6/7/2000)

[hansinoman]

Little York VFD, Tx



Tanker 81

2000 Pierce Dash #10880

1500/3000



(Photo taken 6/7/2000)

[hansinoman]

Little York VFD, Tx



Engine 83

2000 Pierce Dash #10882-01

1500/1000/20f-A/20f-B



(Photo taken 6/7/2000)

[hansinoman]

This is one of my favorite tankers...



Northwest VFD, Tx



Tanker 41

1993 Freightliner FL-120/KME #1940

1250/3000



(Photo taken 10/27/1998)

[hansinoman]

Northwest VFD, Tx



Rescue 42

1999 Freightliner FL-70/Pierce #EC187



(Photo taken in 1999)

[hansinoman]

Northwest VFD, Tx



Engine 43

1999 Freightliner FL-80/Pierce #EC184

1250/750



(Photo taken in 1999)

[Roto-Ray]

Eric, can you help explain how the ESD's and FPD's work there?

[hansinoman]

Magnolia VFD, Tx

(Montgomery Co)



Engine 184

2000 E\-One Cyclone II #121340

1500/750/foam

[hansinoman]

[quote name='Roto-Ray' timestamp='1357170188' post='506728']

Eric, can you help explain how the ESD's and FPD's work there?

[/quote]

As far as I know, ESD (Emergency Services District) and FPD (Fire Protection District) are set up for funding from county tax dollars. For example if one were to live in or have a business in an unincorporated area, part of the taxes they pay on their property go to the ESD (mostly EMS-related) and the RFD (for fire protection) that covers that particular area. If one of the ESD's or RFD's is fortunate enough to have properties of high tax value and/or a larger population, then they typically get more money. This explains why some VFD's have more stations and nicer equipment than others. Most of northern Harris County fits this bill, which is why the City of Houston has its eyes on these areas for future annexation.



The residents of these areas have it pretty good: no city taxes, but the benefit of city conveniences and decent fire and police protection. Nearly all of the VFD's in this area have paid "duty crews" assigned to some of their stations while their volunteer base is away at their day jobs. The duty crews are mostly Houston firefighters, as well as others from other paid departments.

[jbrown9079]

[quote name='hansinoman' timestamp='1357168468' post='506720']

Ponderosa VFD, Tx Tower 61

1998 Pierce Dash #EB-901

2000/150/100' tower



(Photo taken 10/27/1998)

[/quote]



It was replaced with a new Pierce 100ft tower on a Velocity about 2 years ago. This apparatus now serves Richmond FD in Fort Bend County as Tower 43.

[Guest]

[quote name='hansinoman' timestamp='1356736659' post='506286']

Cypress Creek VFD protects a high-value area and their apparatus have always been fun to shoot...



Cypress Creek VFD, Tx

Tower 23

2005 Pierce Dash #17181

2000/300/100' tower



(Photo taken 6/12/2006)

[/quote]Interesting how the main sits while craddled becasue the cab is not notched. I guess clearence in now issue in their station or coverage area.

[Guest]

Back in the late 1970's, early 1980's I was a volunteer and paid dday crew member with Southeast VFD in Harris County, Texas. This department is still active today. They cover an area southeast of the City of Houston near Ellington Airfield.



First up is one of the two primary engines of the day.



Engine 22 was a 1976 Ford C/Pierce Suburban 1000/500. A real work horse.

[Guest]

Next is a photo of Engine 22 and Engine 23. Identical except Engine 23 was a 1975 model.