Boston Fire Department

[hp1530]

[quote name='rjtoc2' post='23434' date='Aug 16 2006, 15:02 ']I am sure it has been posted but I am unable to locate it... why do the new Pierce engines have the deck gun mounted near the front of the roof atop the apparatus cab?[/quote]



It's for the foam. Some of the ones with the turrets also have All Steer

[Guest]

[quote name='rjtoc2' post='23434' date='Aug 16 2006, 18:02 ']I am sure it has been posted but I am unable to locate it... why do the new Pierce engines have the deck gun mounted near the front of the roof atop the apparatus cab?[/quote]



They are Compressed Air Foam Systems(CAFS) equipped.



Engines 2, 3, 4, 5, 41 are equipped with them, the other Pierces don't have them.

[Guest]

[quote name='JFong' post='23469' date='Aug 16 2006, 18:41 ']It's for the foam. Some of the ones with the turrets also have All Steer[/quote]



Does Pierce still offer "all steer" as an option? I believe they had a series of BAD accidents due to malfunctioning "all steer" components. One of the bad ones was a demo tower enroute to a fire show and rolled several times when the rear end turned on its own while the apparatus was travelling a freeway speeds. They apparatus was obliterated. They initially faulted tires blowing out but later recanted when it was determined that the "all steer" was in fact the cause.



Anyone have any other details?

[hp1530]

[quote name='rjtoc2' post='23502' date='Aug 16 2006, 19:08 ']Does Pierce still offer "all steer" as an option? I believe they had a series of BAD accidents due to malfunctioning "all steer" components. One of the bad ones was a demo tower enroute to a fire show and rolled several times when the rear end turned on its own while the apparatus was travelling a freeway speeds. They apparatus was obliterated. They initially faulted tires blowing out but later recanted when it was determined that the "all steer" was in fact the cause.



Anyone have any other details?[/quote]



Per my contact: All Steer is still sold although, although they are not actively marketing it.

If you currently have a All Steer truck they will still continue to sell one to you. Other than that, you might have to speak to your salesman.





Now Back on Topic please

[KDWMAEMT]

When I spoke to a local Pierce rep a while back, he informed me that Pierce was no longer offering all steer to municipal fire departments. They would continue it in its origonal form which was for the military but due to its severe unreliability, municipal FD's could no longer get it.



The turrets as stated are for CAFS, but to my knowledge, none of those engines are all steer equiped. Engines 8 and 32 and tower ladder 10 are the only vehicles in BFD to feature the all steer.



And to my knowledge, the new E\-One engine they have on order will not have any of that extra hoopla. Back to the basics, the way the guys liked it.

[hp1530]

Whoops looks like I was a bit misinformed back there.



Upon closer inspection heres the breakdown on the CAFS trucks:



CAFS only: E2, E3, E4, E5, E41

All Steer only E8, E32

All Steer and CAFS E4

[edburke]

The CAFS Engines were a federal mandate for the new Centeral Artery/Tunnel project. Those are the rigs that will be first due into the tunnels, so they got the CAFS. When Engine 10 gets replaced, I'm sure you'll see the CAFS (bells and whistles) included in that spec.

[hp1530]

[quote name='edburke' post='23584' date='Aug 16 2006, 21:52 ']The CAFS Engines were a federal mandate for the new Centeral Artery/Tunnel project. Those are the rigs that will be first due into the tunnels, so they got the CAFS. When Engine 10 gets replaced, I'm sure you'll see the CAFS (bells and whistles) included in that spec.[/quote]



Ed does that mean that E4 is firstdue to the tunnel? Its interesting that thats the only rig to have both All steer and CAFS.

[edburke]

[quote name='JFong' post='23596' date='Aug 17 2006, 01:42 ']Ed does that mean that E4 is firstdue to the tunnel? Its interesting that thats the only rig to have both All steer and CAFS.[/quote]



It is, from the tunnel entrance at the Zakim Bridge southbound to the Purchase St on ramp. It is also first due to Beacon Hill, which has streets just as narrow as the North End.

[Guest]

[quote name='edburke' post='23610' date='Aug 17 2006, 03:08 ']It is, from the tunnel entrance at the Zakim Bridge southbound to the Purchase St on ramp. It is also first due to Beacon Hill, which has streets just as narrow as the North End.[/quote]



Odd I thought Engine 8 cover most if not all of that area, especially the entrance in Haymarket Sq. Although it does make sense to have at least one engine in the are without the system...





And the federal requirement explains why Engine 9 is getting a new engine after only four+ years in service, it's first due to both the Ted Williams Tunnel and Sumner Tunnel.

[hp1530]

[quote name='efin98' post='23625' date='Aug 17 2006, 00:56 ']Odd I thought Engine 8 cover most if not all of that area, especially the entrance in Haymarket Sq. Although it does make sense to have at least one engine in the are without the system...

And the federal requirement explains why Engine 9 is getting a new engine after only four+ years in service, it's first due to both the Ted Williams Tunnel and Sumner Tunnel.[/quote]



Im curious though, is it federal regulations due to the tunnel or something else? I find it strange to mandate a foam engine although I did notice that fire departments in my area are getting foam on their newer engines especially if they are near the freeway.



Oh BTW does anyone know what the TCU unit does? Is it a interoperability communications unit? Also what became of the Ford/Pierce Mini Rescue?

[Guest]

[quote name='JFong' post='23645' date='Aug 17 2006, 05:09 ']Also what became of the Ford/Pierce Mini Rescue?[/quote]



It is now H8-Technical Rescue Support Unit, stationed at Engine 28.

[Guest]

Tower Ladder 17 testing the bucket

[Guest]

Spare Engine 9 1987 E\-One Cyclone.

Responding to a call last week.

Amazing this things still in Service.







And the 1993 E\-One Heavy Rescue 1 was not far behind.

[Guest]

I dont know if this was brought up before, but is it true that Rescue 1 recieved a Pierce Quantom and then it was returned? I heard this rumar last week but have not had it confirmed.

[apb2148]

[quote name='GMACK24' post='19809' date='Aug 6 2006, 13:17 ']Here is a pic of a Boston Fire Truck I took on July 22, 2002 on Milk Street.



I am assuming it is Engine 10 but can't be sure.

anyone wanna help me out ?



Thanks.



Greg[/quote]



That looks like a Pierce to me. Why is Boston going away from the Pierce truck? Thanks DREW

[edburke]

[quote name='York Engine 4' post='23930' date='Aug 18 2006, 11:12 ']I dont know if this was brought up before, but is it true that Rescue 1 recieved a Pierce Quantom and then it was returned? I heard this rumar last week but have not had it confirmed.[/quote]



The Pierce is currently under construction. Your rumor is false......at least for now.

[edburke]

[quote name='JFong' post='23645' date='Aug 17 2006, 05:09 ']Im curious though, is it federal regulations due to the tunnel or something else? I find it strange to mandate a foam engine although I did notice that fire departments in my area are getting foam on their newer engines especially if they are near the freeway.



Oh BTW does anyone know what the TCU unit does? Is it a interoperability communications unit? Also what became of the Ford/Pierce Mini Rescue?[/quote]



They had to re-write the specs and reassign the engines that were being replaced because they were unaware of it, and the Feds wouldn't allow full opening until the pieces were in place. It was originally going to be Engines 7, 21, 49 and two others to be replaced, but they got hand-me-downs instead.

[hp1530]

[quote name='apb2148' post='23938' date='Aug 18 2006, 11:07 ']That looks like a Pierce to me. Why is Boston going away from the Pierce truck? Thanks DREW[/quote]



They are going back to E-Ones. Why fix something that isn't broke?

[KDWMAEMT]

Why is Boston going away from the Pierce truck? Good question with a very simple answer. They dont work as good in Boston as they might elswhere, the guys dont like them at all, pumpers included, and they are returning to what had made sence for the city for 20+ years.



I know that E\-One has its problems right now, but the fact remains that E\-One was put on the map through Boston, they worked VERY well here, and the opinion of most is they never should have switched to Pierce in the first place. Thats not to say Pierce doesnt make a great truck, because thats not the case. But E\-One makes a better truck that has a better fit for the city of Boston. Every department is different and their needs are different. Boston needs a smaller ladder to fit down the tight streets and a smaller jack spread to work on those very same streets. Pierce cannot deliver that, E\-One can. The guys shouldnt have to rely on short-jacking to make the truck perform half as good as an E\-One can at full capacity.



The Pierce Quantum rescue will be the last Pierce bought by Boston under the current administration (according to the new Boss' own words, but that can always change). They have 1 E\-One pump on order and the rumor is 4 E\-One ladder trucks shortly. Question there is what will they be? E\-One doesnt build the hurricane anymore, so they'll have to go with the cyclone II, will they be tandems axle or not etc. etc. etc. To my knowledge, both the Pierce rescue and the E\-One pump should be delivered around the same time in or around October/November.