Terry, Mount Weather was built as one of a series of bunkers on the outskirts of Washington DC from Northern VA out to underneath the Greenbriar Resort to Raven Rock, PA (Site R) just north of Camp David. Mount Weather consists of two activities, originally it was constructed as one of the said doomsday bunkers, that is Area B and it is the underground facility. Site A is the FEMA facility that also supports Continuity of Government operations and other FEMA activities that has sprung up over the top of Site B to give it "cover." Here is an eyeball of the site... http://cryptome.org/eyeball/weath3/weath3-eyeball.htm. While the above ground camp has 20-25 some buildings, I doubt that any of them truly need the capabilities of a 105' aerial, other than this is the US Government and they have a lot of our money to freely spend, and hell as long as it is on a Pierce, I guess I don't care.
My original comment was meant as a sarcastic comment not a full analysis of whether they truly need a 105' aerial, which I seriously doubt they do, but come on the comment about an underground facility was funny!!!!!
By the way only to of those sites I mentioned earlier are still operational. The site under the Greenbriar resort has been shut down, it originally was designed to be the bunker that Congress would adjourn to. Mount Weather has always been an upper leadership bunker (ie President, Vice President if they could not get them out of town via aircraft.......Mount Weather is a short helicopter ride from DC and it has a helipad......while Site R was always the military bunker and in fact is the site of the Alternate National Military Command Center the back up to the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon.
My original comment was meant as a sarcastic comment not a full analysis of whether they truly need a 105' aerial, which I seriously doubt they do, but come on the comment about an underground facility was funny!!!!!
Dave,
I did take it as sarcasm but added my comment knowing some might wonder anyways. Heck the new truck will reach 30' further down the tunnel...
Today did not turn out as I had hoped so I traded a trip to Singer's in Gainesville for shots of Leesburg Rescue Squad's 2009 Pierce Lance squad. As many know this was the last new Lance to be built in Appleton.It was Pierce's top of the line chassis for many years and I hope that the ones in service now last for many years to come.
Thanks! I would have preferred the drivers side and down the street about 200 feet but the paid folks didn't want to venture there so I got the best shot I could. Hopefully no one will take this as any kind of shot on the paid crew as they are on a very busy street and were in the middle of some training as well,so for me to get any shot was a good day for me...
Mt.Weather - I have been to the facility to photograph the apparatus and will be going back in the near future. There are a variety of buildings "above ground" where a ladder truck would be a nice asset to the fleet. In addition, the ladder truck has run a variety of calls into Loudoun and Clarke Counties in Virgina. The county line just about splits the Mt. Weather area. I will try to get more information on the E\-One quint that has been replaced when I get back there.
Loudoun Rescue squad - nice photo Terry. Station 13 has always been a very difficult and challenging place to get photos. There is not much of a ramp and the driveway to the station basically wraps around the station. Catoctin Circle runs right in front of the station and is fairly busy. Not long ago, we had a rather large fire at the car wash next door to the station where we had to stretch hose through the apparatus bays of Station 13 to a hydrant. Quite a fire.
I know a variety of the folks at the station - great group, both volunteer and career. I am still wondering what exactly happened to the E\-One squad that the new Pierce replaced. I believe it was sold or being sold and I am interested to hear where it ended up. Terry, was that mentioned?
[quote name='mnsand' date='02 December 2009 - 08:21 PM' timestamp='1259802088' post='350546']
A couple of thoughts...
Mt.Weather - I have been to the facility to photograph the apparatus and will be going back in the near future. There are a variety of buildings "above ground" where a ladder truck would be a nice asset to the fleet. In addition, the ladder truck has run a variety of calls into Loudoun and Clarke Counties in Virgina. The county line just about splits the Mt. Weather area. I will try to get more information on the E\-One quint that has been replaced when I get back there.
Loudoun Rescue squad - nice photo Terry. Station 13 has always been a very difficult and challenging place to get photos. There is not much of a ramp and the driveway to the station basically wraps around the station. Catoctin Circle runs right in front of the station and is fairly busy. Not long ago, we had a rather large fire at the car wash next door to the station where we had to stretch hose through the apparatus bays of Station 13 to a hydrant. Quite a fire.
I know a variety of the folks at the station - great group, both volunteer and career. I am still wondering what exactly happened to the E\-One squad that the new Pierce replaced. I believe it was sold or being sold and I am interested to hear where it ended up. Terry, was that mentioned?
Mike Sanders
Winchester, VA
[/quote]
I second Mike on Co.13's location and the crews that run at station 13. Speaking of that fire, looks like the new roof of the car wash is in the background. As for the old rescue, I thought the E\-One was to be a county "ready reserve" squad. Granted, being inactive for over a year hasn't help me much. By the way, beautiful shots of Rescue 13. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/luxhello.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
The old E\-One Rescue 613 that was replaced by the Pierce is being stored at the fire and rescue training center and is in the process of being sold. Have not seen an advertisement advising of it on the used apparatus market but that is what we are told.
Terry, Mount Weather was built as one of a series of bunkers on the outskirts of Washington DC from Northern VA out to underneath the Greenbriar Resort to Raven Rock, PA (Site R) just north of Camp David. Mount Weather consists of two activities, originally it was constructed as one of the said doomsday bunkers, that is Area B and it is the underground facility. Site A is the FEMA facility that also supports Continuity of Government operations and other FEMA activities that has sprung up over the top of Site B to give it "cover." Here is an eyeball of the site... http://cryptome.org/eyeball/weath3/weath3-eyeball.htm. While the above ground camp has 20-25 some buildings, I doubt that any of them truly need the capabilities of a 105' aerial, other than this is the US Government and they have a lot of our money to freely spend, and hell as long as it is on a Pierce, I guess I don't care.
By the way only to of those sites I mentioned earlier are still operational. The site under the Greenbriar resort has been shut down, it originally was designed to be the bunker that Congress would adjourn to. Mount Weather has always been an upper leadership bunker (ie President, Vice President if they could not get them out of town via aircraft.......Mount Weather is a short helicopter ride from DC and it has a helipad......while Site R was always the military bunker and in fact is the site of the Alternate National Military Command Center the back up to the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon.
[/quote]
While on the subject of secret bunkers, there used to be some type of underground facility in Culpeper near Rt 3 & Rt 522. Someone once told me it was part of the Federal Reserve Bank but I don't know. Now the Library of Congress has a huge facility at that site. Also, there is a very secure compound nearby called S.W.I.F.T. that handles electronic currency transfers or some such activity.
[quote name='LCFR16LT' date='02 December 2009 - 08:43 PM' timestamp='1259803400' post='350551']
It is not and will not be used as a county "ready-reserve", it has seen its better days and is in need of a major rehab.
[/quote]
Thanks for the update LCFR16LT and I'm not surprised to hear that she is to be sold. I agree on her seeing better days despite the amount of tlc she's received in the last few years.
Just to add my penny's worth they did say it was being stored at the training center and they weren't sure where it was as far as being sold. Also thanks for the compliments one and all!
This question goes out to Mike Sanders. How do you get to go on base when from what everyone says it would be easier to get into Ft. Knox for a free sample ? Is it because you write for VFN or do you have contacts or work connections? Just curious, not busting chops or planning any invasions...
[quote name='dawson_fire' date='02 December 2009 - 10:51 PM' timestamp='1259811062' post='350573']
This question goes out to Mike Sanders. How do you get to go on base when from what everyone says it would be easier to get into Ft. Knox for a free sample ? Is it because you write for VFN or do you have contacts or work connections? Just curious, not busting chops or planning any invasions...
Terry
[/quote]
I made some contacts a number of years ago with doing different articles for several publications on the FD. They have actually been coming to Apple Blossom on a routine basis, bringing a variety of rigs over the years. The security aspect is tough, meaning they require information and when going to the facility I must follow certain procedures. I will say that the FD staff has been extremely flexible and nice, and excited to see there is interest in their department and apparatus.
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