History of the Atlanta Fire Dept.

[jim kay]

Sta.19 "Virginia Highlands" located at 1063 N. Highland Ave. NE opened in 1924.

[jim kay]

The front wall plaque....

[jim kay]

More artwork at sta.19.

[jim kay]

Engine 19

[jim kay]

Now you've done it,you just gave me something else to research.I really dig this History mission.

[Guest]

[quote name='thefireman4501' post='115882' date='Jun 4 2007, 21:32 ']Dang you Kay, now I've got to go home and scan all those old AFB/AFD shots I have.

KIK580 was their callsign, I'll date myself here, but I remember well the early 80's when my first purchase for my scanner after moving here was an ATL freq. crystal for my Bearcat scanner.

Now prove your mettle... show me the Bicentennial Mack![/quote]

Close... It was "KIK-258"



To answer a few other questions in this thread:

It was AFD until the early 80's, then AFB when Mayor Jackson put in a Public safety commissioner over the Police and Fire Chiefs (Public Safety Dept., Fire Bureau). It went back to AFD in the 90's when the Public Safety Commissioner was done away with, and now it's AFR (Atlanta Fire Rescue) thanks to Dennis Rubin.



For some reason, it seems important to each new Chief to redesign the patch when they take office...



Also be advised that Truck 11, which is housed in Station 15 has been (or will very shortly be) re-named Truck 15. This is in preparation for the new Station 11 which is being built in Atlantic Station.



Also, Battalion 1 is rumored to be about to be re-instituted (supposedly on July 1, 2007). It will be a "Special Operations" Battalion, and not a geographical Battalion. As such, it will consist of companies from various parts of the city: Squad 4, Company 1, Company 2, Company 14(GSAR), and Company 8 (GSAR).



Tom

[Guest]

Is the new station 4 right off of 75?

[Guest]

^ Station 4 is approximately 1 city block east of I-75 on Edgewood Ave. (SE corner of Fort St. & Edgewood Ave) <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drredengine.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />







Question for Tom2e, What apparatus or units are planned to go in service from the new Station 11 (Atlantic Station) when it opens up for business. I heard that the city is doing site prep now, but i cant for the life of me figure out the exact location in the AS development.

[Guest]

Here is the ever elusive Squad 4 in quarters. They were running with an 8 man crew today. (Normal manning is 6) They have 2 company officers, a Capt & a Lt. and split up into 2 teams on a fire (inside team & outside team).

[Guest]

[quote name='firemick' post='116020' date='Jun 5 2007, 08:26 ']^ Question for Tom2e, What apparatus or units are planned to go in service from the new Station 11 (Atlantic Station) when it opens up for business. I heard that the city is doing site prep now, but i cant for the life of me figure out the exact location in the AS development.[/quote]



Unfortunately, I don't really know what apparatus will be there, although I'm sure there will be a Spartan/Quality Engine, and I do know that the Truck will be an aerial platform (the exact type was mentioned to me a few months ago, but I don't recall right now). A mini pumper was also talked about for the parking decks of Atlantic Station. As far as other apparatus, Battalion 1 will be there, and last I heard, Division 1 also. Possibly some Special ops equipment - but I'm not too sure at this time.



The Station will be very close to where Atlanta Communications used to be, but that is all I know.

[Guest]

I'd also like to add a little about the 1976 Mack CF that was pictured at Station 1. This was the first apparatus that I ever drove. Company 1 and Company 4 got matching 1976 Engines that were painted Red, White and Blue for the Bicentennial. They had pre-plumbed deluge guns, and foam nozzles under the front bumpers and could pump-and-roll. This was very different from the standard AFD Engines. I was told once that they were purchased from the floor of an apparatus show, and so were not "custom" like our other engines. By the time this picture was taken, the engine had been wrecked and re-painted.

[jim kay]

OK after a little time regrouping and checking photos and dates I will get started again.



Here is what I know so far about Sta.2 They were originally located at #2 Washington St. possibly near City Hall which is located on Washington St. between Trinity and Mitchell in the 1850's They were one of the original volunteer fire companies known as "Mechanic Fire Co. No. 2" and formed in 1857.Still trying to fill in some gaps. as you can see on this stone this sta.2 was erected in 1906, but at which location.



And in 1939 Sta.2 was located at 1361 Lakewood Ave. and moved to their current location at 1568 Jonesnoro Rd. in 1978.

[jim kay]

The present day Sta.2 on Jonesboro Rd. and the Bronze Plaque.

[Guest]

How is the department organized ? How many Companies, etc....

[GA_Dave]

That's a BIG question! Hopefully, it will get answered here in this thread. That answer changes on a regular basis too, so that doesn't make it any easier to answer, nor to keep track of. Stations are numbered 1-40, although there are a few missing numbers right now. There are five on the Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (It takes six gallons of paint just to letter a Striker!), Stations 24, 32, 33, 35, and 40. The rest of them I call "downtown" stations. All Engine Companies carry their respective station number EXCEPT Engine 6 which runs out of Station 4 and Quint 4, which runs out of Station 39 (Quint 4 is a Sandy Springs rig that operates out of the northern-most Atlanta station and covers the territory of old Engine 39). All downtown Ladder Companies carry the station number as well. That is a recent fact, since Ladder 11 was just renamed Ladder 15. It has been running out of Station 15 for several years since Station 11 closed. A new Station 11 is in the works and there will be a new Ladder Company 11 when it opens. Are y'all still keepin' up?



The current Engine Companies are: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38, Q-4, and 40. There is also a newly activated company on the west side of town in a recently annexed part of Fulton County, but I don't recall what number they were assigned. Probably 36 or 37. With the exception of Quint 4, all Engine Companies are assigned Spartan/Quality 1500/500 pumpers. The thirty-two newest ones also have 60 gallon foam tanks.



The current Ladder Companies are: 1, 2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 21, 25, 26, 29, 31, 38, 41 and 43. Ladder 41 and 43, both Spartan/LTI TDA's, are at the airport, running from Stations 24 and 40, respectively. Ladders 25, 26, 29 and 31 operate Spartan/Quality/LTI 90' midship aerials. Ladders 1, 2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 38 run with Spartan/Quality/AI 105' TDA's.



Special units include Squad 4, Light Unit 10, Foam 38 and a couple air cascade trucks. There are also several other apparatus at the airport, which I'll cover as I post their photos.

[GA_Dave]

Just to give an example of how things change.....



Since I moved here in 1985, previously disbanded stations 3, 5, 33, and 34 were opened in new houses. Engine and Ladder 4 were disbanded. Stations 6 and 11 were closed, Station 6 becoming the museum. Squad 5 and Engine 6 moved to Station 4, the Squad later changing its number. Station 23 was closed and later reopened with the former Engine 11. Ladder 11 was moved to Station 15. New Stations 4, 14, 15, 17 and 35 were built. Ladder 7 became Ladder 17. Ladder 30 became Ladder 34 and was later disbanded. Ladder 8 was disbanded. Rescues 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15 were replaced by MedCom 1 and 2. And I've probably left out several things!

[Ladder 68]

Keep going Dave. The details are what make it interesting and I for one appreciate them. Thanks.

[Ladder 68]

Dave, who got the new International/E-One air unit?

[GA_Dave]

Just for fun, let's hook up with Mr. Peabody and take a ride in the "Wayback Machine" to 1973.......



A 1973 AFD roster shows Stations numbered 1-38. There were two on the Atlanta International Airport, 24 and 35 (It only took two gallons of paint to letter the 1972 Walter CB-3500!). There were 38 Engine Companies and 18 Ladder Companies operating out of 36 stations. There were three 1500 GPM pumpers with the rest were 1000 GPM. Only five of the Ladder Companies operated TDA's. There were two Snorkels and two Aerialscopes. The oldest front line pumper was Engine 25's 1959 Pirsch, the oldest truck was Ladder 23's 1956 ALF 75' TDA.



A major change occured in 1977 when the Fulton County FD was formed. Three stations became Fulton County Stations 2, 6, and 11. Atlanta Engine Companies 32, 33, 34, 36 and 37, along with Ladder Company 32, were disbanded and most of the apparatus were transferred to Fulton County as well.

[GA_Dave]

Unless they've changed it, Atlanta's air truck reponds as Car 810, out of Station 7. The 1992 International/E-One air truck, like the 1983 Ford/Harless before it, will probably be staffed as needed by personnel from the shops. There is also a Ford stakebody truck that can pull an air trailer that is usually staffed by Training personnel. I haven't tracked down the new Car 810 for a pic yet, but when I do, I'll get any updates on their operations.