[quote name='JM82' date='26 December 2009 - 09:18 PM' timestamp='1261882729' post='354324']
Personally, I like the 4 digit numbering system and I think it makes sense. I also like it for the organizational sense that it brought about. When it was first introduced 20 years ago I thought it was horrible, having units with 4 digits instead of the "traditional" 2 or 3! But after awhile I got used to it, as did everyone else, and today, looking back at how it used to be, it definately makes more sense.
The thing is, 20 years later, most, if not all, pumpers and quints in St. Louis County carry vehicle extrication equipment, so it seems that having a '4' at the end of the unit number designating it a rescue pumper (or a '5' for a rescue quint) instead of a '0' or a '1' (or a '2' for an aerial or quint) seems a thing of the past. I guess it was "in vogue" back then, being designated as a rescue pumper or quint, because having a set of Jaws on your truck was not as common as it is today.
Below are several fire and EMS units in St. Louis County with their new and their old numbers. This list is by no means complete!
1114 - 31
1124 - 32
1134 - 33
1117 - 305
1197 - 306
1139 - Rescue 3
1100 - 301
1210 - 61
1214 - 62
1216 - Rescue 6
1200 - 601
1710 - 21
1722 - 22
1730 - 23
1760 - 26
1752 - Ladder 1
1717 - 205
1757 - 206
1727 - 207
1702 - 202
2315 - 281
2324 - 282
2317 - 286
2327 - 287
2302 - 2904
1414 - 451
2714 - 273
2114 - 424
2117 - 417
2611 - 261
2625 - 269
2624 - 263
2617 - 257
2627 - 256
1814 - 507
1817 - 509
3214 - 321
3212 - 319
3217 - 318
2024 - 503
2017 - 504
2005 - 500
2000 - CFD
3114 - 431
3414 - 441
5110 - 133
5125 - 132
5214 - 251
5217 - 248
4510 - 221
4511 - 222
2814 - 361
2817 - 356
2914 - 385
2917 - 377
3914 - 391
3917 - 386
3514 - 351
3522/3525 - 352
3312 - 339
3333 - 343
3324 - 332
3317 - 326
3337 - 338
4814 - 234
4824 - 233
4827 - 226
4015 - 12
4034 - 14
4024 - 15
4910 - 121
4920 - 122
4210 - 111
4610 - 81
4310 - 42
4414 - 243
4425 - 239
4417 - 236
3810 - 204
3822 - 209
3830 - 211
3827 - 206
3837 - 207
4714 - 91
4724 - 92
4717 - 96
3710 - 71
3720 - 72
3735 - 79
4115 - 51
4124 - 52
1610 - 41
1614 - 42
1617 - 405
1697 - 406
1914 - 51
1917 - 505
1314 - 81
1325 - 82
1334 - 83
1327 - 805
2414 - 474
2420 - 472
2417 - 486
2427 - 487
When Town and Country had their own fire department, their pumper's number was 371. Then Manchester (renamed West County EMS and Fire Dist.) took them over in 1983 and T&CFD's station became Manchester Station 3.
[/quote]
In Johnson County, Kansas we had simlar issues. When the county fire alarm started we used road and bridge freq. All of the fire depts took the 800 series. At Merriam we were 860's so our ALF was Engine 1 was 863 later renumbered 862 our Ward was Engine 2 was 861. Olathe still used tradtional numbers Engine 3, 2 Snorkel 1. In the mid 1970's we each recieved seperate numbers Merriam's was 600's so Engine 1 was 620 and Engine 2 was 621 the ladder was 650. Lenexa for example used 922 for Engine 1 and 920 for Engine 2 and 950 for Truck 1. It was extremely confusing. So in 1990 everyone agreed the last number would be the house and zero stood for only one house. Our rigs stayed the same but Lenexa Engine 1 became 921 Engine 2 922 and Engine 3 923. Here is how our numbers used to be.
2= Engine
3= second Engine
4= Ambulance
5= Truck Company or Quint
6= Brush or Air Light
7= Haz-Mat
8= Tender
9= Special unit
so 921 was 9= Lenexa 2= Engine 1= Fire House 1
100 Lake Quivera now 10'S
200 Conslidated Fire District Two CFD2 now 20's
300 Leawood 30's
400 Overland Park 40's
500 Olathe 50's
600 Merriam 60's
700 Shawnee 70's
800 Fire District Two 80's
900 Lenexa 90's
1000 Fire Alarm
1100 County Ambulance
1200 Fire District One 120
1300 Gardner DPS 130
1600 Desoto 160
1900 Fire District 3 190
It worked well but we were the only county in the metro to use this system. I like it and thought it worked well for us it was very clean. All others on the Kansas and Missouri side use clear text Engine, Pumper, Truck, Ladder ect. So that is why we switched to the clear text. So now Lenexa 921 is Engine 9= Lenexa 1= Fire House Engine 91. It has made things much easier with mutual aid. A metro wide number system could be a great assest. Thanks for sharing the St. Louis metro info. I had no idea that some departments shared the same numbers.
Stay Safe Brother, Rick
Personally, I like the 4 digit numbering system and I think it makes sense. I also like it for the organizational sense that it brought about. When it was first introduced 20 years ago I thought it was horrible, having units with 4 digits instead of the "traditional" 2 or 3! But after awhile I got used to it, as did everyone else, and today, looking back at how it used to be, it definately makes more sense.
The thing is, 20 years later, most, if not all, pumpers and quints in St. Louis County carry vehicle extrication equipment, so it seems that having a '4' at the end of the unit number designating it a rescue pumper (or a '5' for a rescue quint) instead of a '0' or a '1' (or a '2' for an aerial or quint) seems a thing of the past. I guess it was "in vogue" back then, being designated as a rescue pumper or quint, because having a set of Jaws on your truck was not as common as it is today.
Below are several fire and EMS units in St. Louis County with their new and their old numbers. This list is by no means complete!
1114 - 31
1124 - 32
1134 - 33
1117 - 305
1197 - 306
1139 - Rescue 3
1100 - 301
1210 - 61
1214 - 62
1216 - Rescue 6
1200 - 601
1710 - 21
1722 - 22
1730 - 23
1760 - 26
1752 - Ladder 1
1717 - 205
1757 - 206
1727 - 207
1702 - 202
2315 - 281
2324 - 282
2317 - 286
2327 - 287
2302 - 2904
1414 - 451
2714 - 273
2114 - 424
2117 - 417
2611 - 261
2625 - 269
2624 - 263
2617 - 257
2627 - 256
1814 - 507
1817 - 509
3214 - 321
3212 - 319
3217 - 318
2024 - 503
2017 - 504
2005 - 500
2000 - CFD
3114 - 431
3414 - 441
5110 - 133
5125 - 132
5214 - 251
5217 - 248
4510 - 221
4511 - 222
2814 - 361
2817 - 356
2914 - 385
2917 - 377
3914 - 391
3917 - 386
3514 - 351
3522/3525 - 352
3312 - 339
3333 - 343
3324 - 332
3317 - 326
3337 - 338
4814 - 234
4824 - 233
4827 - 226
4015 - 12
4034 - 14
4024 - 15
4910 - 121
4920 - 122
4210 - 111
4610 - 81
4310 - 42
4414 - 243
4425 - 239
4417 - 236
3810 - 204
3822 - 209
3830 - 211
3827 - 206
3837 - 207
4714 - 91
4724 - 92
4717 - 96
3710 - 71
3720 - 72
3735 - 79
4115 - 51
4124 - 52
1610 - 41
1614 - 42
1617 - 405
1697 - 406
1914 - 51
1917 - 505
1314 - 81
1325 - 82
1334 - 83
1327 - 805
2414 - 474
2420 - 472
2417 - 486
2427 - 487
When Town and Country had their own fire department, their pumper's number was 371. Then Manchester (renamed West County EMS and Fire Dist.) took them over in 1983 and T&CFD's station became Manchester Station 3.
[/quote]
In Johnson County, Kansas we had simlar issues. When the county fire alarm started we used road and bridge freq. All of the fire depts took the 800 series. At Merriam we were 860's so our ALF was Engine 1 was 863 later renumbered 862 our Ward was Engine 2 was 861. Olathe still used tradtional numbers Engine 3, 2 Snorkel 1. In the mid 1970's we each recieved seperate numbers Merriam's was 600's so Engine 1 was 620 and Engine 2 was 621 the ladder was 650. Lenexa for example used 922 for Engine 1 and 920 for Engine 2 and 950 for Truck 1. It was extremely confusing. So in 1990 everyone agreed the last number would be the house and zero stood for only one house. Our rigs stayed the same but Lenexa Engine 1 became 921 Engine 2 922 and Engine 3 923. Here is how our numbers used to be.
2= Engine
3= second Engine
4= Ambulance
5= Truck Company or Quint
6= Brush or Air Light
7= Haz-Mat
8= Tender
9= Special unit
so 921 was 9= Lenexa 2= Engine 1= Fire House 1
100 Lake Quivera now 10'S
200 Conslidated Fire District Two CFD2 now 20's
300 Leawood 30's
400 Overland Park 40's
500 Olathe 50's
600 Merriam 60's
700 Shawnee 70's
800 Fire District Two 80's
900 Lenexa 90's
1000 Fire Alarm
1100 County Ambulance
1200 Fire District One 120
1300 Gardner DPS 130
1600 Desoto 160
1900 Fire District 3 190
It worked well but we were the only county in the metro to use this system. I like it and thought it worked well for us it was very clean. All others on the Kansas and Missouri side use clear text Engine, Pumper, Truck, Ladder ect. So that is why we switched to the clear text. So now Lenexa 921 is Engine 9= Lenexa 1= Fire House Engine 91. It has made things much easier with mutual aid. A metro wide number system could be a great assest. Thanks for sharing the St. Louis metro info. I had no idea that some departments shared the same numbers.
Stay Safe Brother, Rick
Member: F.O.O.L.S of OZ, IAFF L2542
www.kansasfiretrucks.com
Rick Mosher
Olathe, Kansas Fire Department
Engine Co. 4
Metro Kansas City, Missouri
www.kansasfiretrucks.com
Rick Mosher
Olathe, Kansas Fire Department
Engine Co. 4
Metro Kansas City, Missouri