Prince George's County MD

[Guest]

I've always been fascinated with the PG County and DC Hosebeds (and racks). From what little I do know, they are patterned after the "Wagon concept," but I'm curious...who came up with the idea first? I know that speed of deployment is the hallmark of PG county companies...did this arise from inter-company rivalries or is there more background? Thanks, all, for posting the pics!

[SrFireOfficial]

[quote name='phyrngn' date='09 February 2010 - 11:03 AM' timestamp='1265730201' post='363124']

I've always been fascinated with the PG County and DC Hosebeds (and racks). From what little I do know, they are patterned after the "Wagon concept," but I'm curious...who came up with the idea first? I know that speed of deployment is the hallmark of PG county companies...did this arise from inter-company rivalries or is there more background? Thanks, all, for posting the pics!

[/quote]



DCFD ran two-piece engine companies until the early 1990's, each company consisting of a "wagon" and "pumper". The wagon consisted of the driver, officer and backstep firemen and would lay a supply line and deploy the attack lines. The pumper would pick up the supply at the hydrant it was laid from, complete a split lay or reverse lay to a fire hydrant to supply the wagon with water for fire attack. Each engine company (wagon and pumper) would develop their own water supply and with four engine companies dispatched on the box alarm at the time, there was plenty of hose in the street and lines going to a fire. DCFD had historically purchased pumpers with short wheelbases, low hosebeds and small booster tanks and has been able to keep this design into the 21st century; low hosebeds do lend themselves to rapid attack line deployment.



Many of the suburban fire departments in the metropolitan DC region also operated the "wagon-pumper" engine company concept to a degree but not with the scope and consistency DCFD did. And yes, in PGFD there are inter-company rivalries to see who can get "first water" on the fire. From my own personal experience and observation, much of what has been done in Prince George's County and elsewhere in the jurisdictions bordering on DC was predicated on what was learned from DCFD operational procedures and experience, some of it brought to PG and other volunteer fire companies by DC career personnel volunteering there in their off-duty time.

[Guest]

Found these images in a group of military photos I just acquired. From the Chillum Adelphi FD. Photos may be from 1956, no other info.

[Guest]

Ambulance 1 from Chillum Adelphia, no info, from about 1956

[Guest]

Thanks, Sr...that is some interesting stuff!

[SrFireOfficial]

[quote name='phyrngn' date='14 February 2010 - 11:16 AM' timestamp='1266162971' post='364054']

Thanks, Sr...that is some interesting stuff!

[/quote]



Anytime. Lots more information in the DCFD thread and the whole evolution of their apparatus, especially through the war years.

[Guest]

In May 1995, we visited the Chillum-Adelphi VFD, PGFD Sta.#34.

It was a treat to shoot the 1985 Spartan/68 Hahn/Thibault 100' TDA.

We had a slight delay as the tillerperson was in the shower... <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

WW Jenkins photos

[SrFireOfficial]

I remember Truck 34 with the open cab Hahn(?)tractor and "Stairway To Heaven" lettered on the bed section near the turntable. Wasn't there a sister (or close cousin) to that in Montgomery County or District Heights in PG County?

[Guest]

[quote name='SrFireOfficial' date='09 February 2010 - 12:03 PM' timestamp='1265733827' post='363137']

DCFD ran two-piece engine companies until the early 1990's, each company consisting of a "wagon" and "pumper". The wagon consisted of the driver, officer and backstep firemen and would lay a supply line and deploy the attack lines. The pumper would pick up the supply at the hydrant it was laid from, complete a split lay or reverse lay to a fire hydrant to supply the wagon with water for fire attack. Each engine company (wagon and pumper) would develop their own water supply and with four engine companies dispatched on the box alarm at the time, there was plenty of hose in the street and lines going to a fire. DCFD had historically purchased pumpers with short wheelbases, low hosebeds and small booster tanks and has been able to keep this design into the 21st century; low hosebeds do lend themselves to rapid attack line deployment.



Many of the suburban fire departments in the metropolitan DC region also operated the "wagon-pumper" engine company concept to a degree but not with the scope and consistency DCFD did. And yes, in PGFD there are inter-company rivalries to see who can get "first water" on the fire. From my own personal experience and observation, much of what has been done in Prince George's County and elsewhere in the jurisdictions bordering on DC was predicated on what was learned from DCFD operational procedures and experience, some of it brought to PG and other volunteer fire companies by DC career personnel volunteering there in their off-duty time.

[/quote]





Thanks for that informative summary SFO. I'd say you hit the nail on the head with your points!



Thanks!

[foghog333]

Warren: Great shot of Truck 34! This unit was the second Hahn/Thibault tractor drawn ladder built with the very first one going to Silver Spring, Maryland, where the closed cab unit ran as Truck 19. District Heights received the third Hahn TDA produced and the first with a Grove aerial. Truck 26 had Hahn serial number CDTA-3 and was delivered in April of 1970. In 1984 the entire unit went to Grumman in Roanoke, Virgina to their refub shop and was rebuilt with a Spartan Monarch two door cab installed on the Hahn tractor with the trailer being rebuilt as well.



Around 1996 the unit was sold to Bethesda, Maryland where it ran as a department reserve unit.



Tom Shand

Hamburg, New York

[OPEN CAB MACK]

[quote name='DualReverse' date='08 February 2010 - 03:29 PM' timestamp='1265659756' post='362951']

Bowie's Tower 39. Waited and waited for Tower 43 to come back from a run, but ran out of time...Next trip...

[/quote]

This truck was former F.D.N.Y. Ladder 153, a 1991 Mack CF aerialscope. It was sent to Pierce and is now classified as a 2003 Pierce Dash with a 10" raised roof. The boom, outriggers, and jacks were reconditioned and installed on a new chassis. It is powered by a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine and an Allison EVS-4000P automatic transmission and Jake Brake. It also has a Harrison 10,000 watt hydraulic generator. Bowie also refurbed another 1991 Mack Cf 95' aerialscope at the same time. That one, Tower 43, was refurbed by Interstate Mack out of Hagerstown, MD. It was kept as a Mack with a new CF cab. The boom, and body were reconditioned and reinstalled on the original chassis along with a reconditioned Mack 400 HP engine with a Jake Brake, new wiring, complete electrical overhaul and a new 15,000 watt Harrison hydraulic generator. Bowie bought 3, 1991 Mack CF 95' aerialscopes and refurbed 2. The third was used to help refurb the other two. The refurbs were around $350,000 per scope.

[Guest]

[quote name='foghog333' date='14 February 2010 - 07:11 PM' timestamp='1266191499' post='364162']

Warren: Great shot of Truck 34!





Tom Shand

Hamburg, New York

[/quote]

Thanks,Tom. Here is an old photo of the original Hahn cab on the CAVFD piece. Looks like they tried to go off-road unsuccessfully.

WW Jenkins collection

[Guest]

[quote name='foghog333' date='14 February 2010 - 07:11 PM' timestamp='1266191499' post='364162']

District Heights received the third Hahn TDA produced and the first with a Grove aerial. Truck 26 had Hahn serial number CDTA-3 and was delivered in April of 1970. In 1984 the entire unit went to Grumman in Roanoke, Virgina to their refub shop and was rebuilt with a Spartan Monarch two door cab installed on the Hahn tractor with the trailer being rebuilt as well.



Around 1996 the unit was sold to Bethesda, Maryland where it ran as a department reserve unit.



Tom Shand

Hamburg, New York

[/quote]

Here is the District Heights unit after rehab.

WW Jenkins collection

[EngineMan]

[quote name='Dr. Stinebaugh' date='14 February 2010 - 09:52 PM' timestamp='1266201148' post='364187']

Here is the District Heights unit after rehab.

WW Jenkins collection

[/quote]



Photo at Station 829 Silver Hill

[Chasselber1]

That would be station 29! The 8 is only used as an apparatus designator, not station designation. Flippin COG weenies...

[Guest]

[quote name='Chasselber1' date='14 February 2010 - 11:14 PM' timestamp='1266209672' post='364198']

That would be station 29! The 8 is only used as an apparatus designator, not station designation. Flippin COG weenies...

[/quote]

Wouldn't that "8" be Department/Area designator,Not apparatus designator??

[Roto-Ray]

The county calls the new Northview station 816. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/stirpot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[dcfdtech]

Warren,



Nice picture of my old Truck!! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Thats the Truck I learned to tiller on!! Glad I did cause when I got out of DCFD TA I was assigned to T9, A 1981 Hahn/LTI. Yes T34 was a sister to Mont Co T19. The Hahn was rehabbed in 1985 and the Spartan cab was placed on it. It ran until It was replaced by the 1998 Seagrave that is in service now!! The Old T34 is now owned by Former A/C Delehanty from Co 44. Mont Co T19 was retired when they got there 1980's Seagrave that ran until they got a Tower. then the Seagrave was placed in Service as Takoma Park T2 after T2 had problems with the Seagrave RM that they had. The Seagrave TDA remained in service until T2 got there new Pierce.Now I think it is OOS for good now. Maybe Tillerman1664 or Cosgrove can fill us in on that.

[dcfdtech]

[quote name='SrFireOfficial' date='14 February 2010 - 04:53 PM' timestamp='1266183230' post='364114']

I remember Truck 34 with the open cab Hahn(?)tractor and "Stairway To Heaven" lettered on the bed section near the turntable. Wasn't there a sister (or close cousin) to that in Montgomery County or District Heights in PG County?

[/quote]









Sr,

That was correct. We did have "Stairway To Heaven" on the Ladder. It was supposed to be put on there but we put the "Pride Of Langley Park" on the cab doors instead. BTW, The Pride was the Muppets "THE Animal"!!

[Guest]

They were great trucks untill they were refurbed. What were they thinking?