IzzyEng4

I'm sure that Spartan will continue to supply other manufacturers with their cab and chassis just like HME does. As for single source, they actually should have qualified for single source under the Crimson name since they were branded "A Spartan Company". FWD (Four Wheel Drive) when they purchased Seagrave way back when, offered their products under two different names. Chassis and cabs for others were sold as FWD while "sole source" apparatus was Seagrave. Then back in the 1990s I belive the company dropped the FWD name (don't remember how or why) and sold everything as Seagrave, including thier chassis to other builders. Now I think they reserected the FWD name again for the chassis sales.

I tried searching the forums and came up with nothing. And so I ask, how many water tanker cars does Metro-North store up at Harmon Yards? With the recent brush fire that was in Milfrod CT along their tracks, couple people have asked how many do they have. MN was dispatching one of their fire tankers to Milford the other day. Just curious.

About time! Should have been under the Spartan name for a long time.

Date: 4/6/12 Time: Approx 14:30 to 15:00 hours Location: Virginia Beach, VA Units Operating: Virginia Beach FD, U.S. Navy NAS Oceanic Description Of Incident: US Navy F/A 18 Hornet crashed shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceanic, developed problems, dummped fuel and crashed into an apartment complex. Both pilots ejected safely and transported to hospital. Reported 9 people injured, no reports of fatalities. http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/us/virginia-plane-crash/index.html Reporter: IzzyEng4

Just like Ed said, many of us our very fond of the old "doghouse" design. When the switch to fully enclosed apparatus began during the late 1970s through the 1990s, engines were primarily located between the jumps seats and were the norm for both canopy and enclosed cab-forward fire trucks. They were available in both fixed cab and tilt-cab (full or split) designs for engine access. During the 1980s custom cab manufacturers began to offer the placement of the engine forward in the driver / officer portion of the cab. This desgin was actually around for a long time and offered througth the Mack MC /MR, Ford C and other style cab and chassis. The push by fire apparatus manufactures was to be able to offer more room and increased passenger numbers and also "better access" for mechanics under the hood. Hence the creation of those 10-man model cabs offered by the likes of Pierce, E-One, Sutphen, Spartan, ect.

True Brotherhood there my firends!

Hey, that is why you need to look when your going ito the firehouse for a call!!! DUH! LOL

Simply beautiful!

I have to say good heads up by the MPO of Engine 56 going right for the deluge gun to attack the fire. Many of us who are in the old "mill" cities, towns and villages along the North East of the country will face exactly what Boston faces, these tighty packed buildings with little to no room in between them.

Who built the body?

More than likely the reported never put that in, probabbly didn't think that part was important on her rise through the ranks.

A cross lay like the picture in the OP's post is not that uncommon. A lot of people are missing the point here with crash protection. Everyone is looking at the very front of the bumper, which is only used to protect the front bumper extension, not the frame rails. The beef of the bumper should be in the original picture closer to the cab and everyone should be asking is what is the crash rating for the structural cross members directly under the front of the cab. Is a fire engine without an extended bumper any safer with an extended bumper? What is the cross member's crash ratting that is closest to the cab and frame itself? Extended bumpers do add to the crash protection but are not the primary portion of the bumper, it is secondary. Remember extended bumpers are just that, they still have to have a structural cross member for it to attach to directly under the cab. If that is not there then its crap.

In downtown Milford,CT there is a building that formally housed Harrison's Hardware. The building to the left of it burnt down years ago. One of the amazing things was that the Harrison building, which had space between them no more than a 1 1/2 feet had an old drypipe sprinkler system running along side of it. When the fire began to spread, it activated and save the Harrison building. The amazing thing was that everyone forgot that the outside sprinkler system was there. Where I work, our below-grade garage has a dry-pipe sprinkler system and its is definitely an asset. You find these outside systems more so in an industrial setting rather than a commercial one, though they are not rare. Its up to the building owner if they want them installed for their protection.

The unfortunate thing about CFs is the body rot problems around the front wheel wells. But for durability, they could take one heck of a beating.

Effective streams vs. non-effective streams. There is a lot of good learning here in this video. Too bad we didn't find it six years ago when it was first posted on youtube. I love looking at good vids and making them into training material First off, it still amazes me that we as firefighters still pull 1 3/4" lines when we see that much fire. The first lines off the first due engine were both matties (see 2:50 mark in video). Granted I'll have critic say "well we only have XXX gallons of water" but with that much fire and heat, and the really bad exposure problem (I hate developments like this), go right for blitz attack. Practically all modern pumper shave deck / stang guns, use them! We all have big 2 1/2" lines, use them! The minimum diameter line that should be pulled off first should be at least a 2" hose line. Remember this equation: Big Fire = Big Water, GPM battles BTUs. I think though the tactics were good, one line right to the B side exposure (white hose) as you can see the siding melted off in the video. All these homes are the same construction (cracker boxes in my opinion) and the focus on the exposure problem. I can't tell where the blue line goes except for some place on the D-side. The tower bucket crew did good work hitting the center of the fire was and worked its way around. Looking at their rig on the dept's website, they have dual monitors (a big plus on TLs in my book). The only utilized one, the smoothbore. More than likely they they didn't have enough water but this would have been ideal to use the adjustable stream on this fire. More than likely getting the smoothbore in operations was priority due to the amount of fire, still a good call. Just think if they had enough water to operate both guns, the fire would have gone out quicker. A pumper with a two-stage pump set in volume would have helped supplied but again if their isn't enough water, you have to do whatever it takes. Again overall from what we see on the vid, the crews did a hell of an effort and the ICs appeared to have made good calls protecting the crews.

Rest in peace brother, you we here to short.

I think Westport did also. Does this mean there are too many trucks and towers around you now too??? (I jest and stir the pot also! )

.....Can't say much, I'm a Chiefs fan.

LOL!! I figured no one would beat you!!! Thanks for all your help.

Calling all apparatus buffs (You too Angelo!) Met a guy up in Boston at the parade from the Raynham, MA Fire Dept. He's looking to find out where their department's old 1957 Maxim S cab aerial went to. He thinks its a museum somewhere either in CT or NY. Any leads would be appreciated.

Alex hit the mark petty much on the SHARPS team that is utilized in Metro New Haven. The team is made up of doctors and physicians assistants from Yale-New Haven and St. Raphael's Hospitals, both comprise the New Haven Sponsor Hospital program. Since their implementation, they have been involved with a lot of different incidents. They primarily will respond throughout the area covered by both New Haven hospitals and their affiliated clinics. They can also be special called into another area within the South Central Region if need be in the case of a MCI or massive trauma where a field amputation may be needed. Vary rarely have they been called outside of Metro-New Haven and the Shorline area. When I was still actively dispatching at C-MED New Haven, every week there was a different on-call doctor from the SHARP team. Usually the on-call was the first contacted unless it was a major incident where additional doctors and PAs were needed. If I remember correctly the first time we utilized the team was a major bus crash in the Long Wharf area of New Haven on I-95. Needless to say the team proved their place within the response system.

Boston's Central Fire Alarm and Metro Fire Control is also in that area. Heard reports that they were also knocked out for a little bit, not sure if the had problems with their back up systems. I'm also assuming since Beantown still uses a Gamewell System throughout the city and its isolated, that it was still working to notify all the BFD houses. I'm going up there this weekend, I'll see what I can find out.

The Citizen's Patrol car, is that like a block watch type or CERT of service?

The arrangements are tomorrow 3-13-12 at the Norwich Free Acadamy, starting at 15:00. This is a memorial service as requested by the family in lieu of a funeral. Additional information can be found on Local 892's website (link above on my first post).

Willy, I had the privileged meeting Ben not long after I got hired by Mashantucket. I met him during a Hazmat Class up at Norwich FD HQ. He was a class act and all around nice guy.