how about a fire apparatus by type forum

[yfdgricker]

I did mention several weeks ago in a PM lfpd75 that there were some great books which covered many apparatus manufacturers. For anyone just starting out with an interest in fire apparatus, these are great books that your local library can track down and get for you to read at no charge. They are great sources of information that would help further anyone's knowledge of fire apparatus and its history.

Fire Engines: Motorized Apparatus since 1900 by Sheila Buff
Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers by Walter M.P. McCall
Fire Engines by Peter Henshaw
The Illustrated History of Fire Engines by Keith Ryan
The Fire Engine by T.A. Jacobs
and
Fire Engines by Rob Leicester Wagner

Also, check out the Fire Books section of the forums here for other good resources I might have missed.

[wfd44]

Since I had posted here on a new WFD rescue pumper it appeared convenient to add at this time that I was informed that the local rep for E-One is supposed to demo a commercial chassis rescue pumper at WFD 111 South St Warren, Ohio at 0900 hours Friday thats May 7 2010  I believe and there will be future demoes presumably as vendors are contacted and invited to bring their latest and greatest apparatus to Warren for the men to look em over. I am hoping that numerous reps will respond and considering a 40% drop in municipal apparatus purhases during the second great depression in USA history I would hope everybody would jump at an opportunity to sell one of their rescue pumpers to Warren--not just the big name makers but even some smaller ones--bottom line will be whoever meets the specs satisfactorily and for the very least sum.


      ]

[wfd44]

Circa 0930 hours this forum member took a ride to downtown Warren avoiding the square where Relay For Life is holding their events and riding down Park Av southward I caught site of the demo that was scheduled to arrive as it turned onto South St and into the parking lot of WFD. Following it I parked and waited for the Chief Ken Nussle to exit the driver's seat and make his way over to my car.

The demo appeared to be a 2-door FL-80 /Eone 1250gpm/1000gwt with silver roll-down cabinet doors and  side-mounted pump controls. After a few words with the chief it became evident that he was favorably impressed with the unit. We chatted about some of the pros of commercial chassis/cab and it was determined that the present economy was unfavorable to the tradition of full-custom thrills and frills bells and whistles and that a sturdy-built commercial unit could readily and reliably fulfill the immediare needs of the department quite adequately. Also at an attractive price it would demonstrate to city officials that the FD is very sensitive to the economic hardships that the city is facing and that the dept would try to get on with more modest-priced apparatus than had been th case in past times.


Yet in deference to the perceived views of ranking officers in the dept it would appear that a custom cab/chassis vehicle is likely to be chosen. More info as it comes.

[wfd44]

The process involved in aquiring a new piece of firefighting apparatus can be a very long and slow one. Warren City Fire has been informally advised that they are in line to be able to obtain such when a future municipal bond issue is foremd and sold to investors who will receive  periodic dividends on their investments and eventually the full amount of the bond when such are retired at the end of the term whatever span of time that may be.

The talk around the WFD is for a new rescue pumper combining the duties and capabilities of the now moth-balled heavy rescue unit with a class A triple combination pumping engine preliminarily slated to be lettered as
''Rescue Engine 1" and quartered at Central Fire Station in downtown Warren City. Preliminary general parameters are along the lines of a side-mounted full-body rescue pumper circa 1500gpm and 750gw . Unknown any further details except no automatic ladder rack and a minimum raised roof.

Does anybody on the forum know what Austintown Twp FD will purchase with the new vehicle grant from AFG? recently announced.

[START WATER]

        In this day and age  you can save money by adding on to a builders  current orders
for  example 
  Pierce and KME have  military orders,   Other builders  also have orders  Seagrave has  FDNY . engines  ,  etc  ,  Many  Fire co's in Pa  have brought KME  APPARATUS on the  factory is rigged up , to build chasis cabs etc  and  that  saves a lot of money in engineering ,   also  Pa gives a extra  10% in the loan if your buying from withing the state ,,  KME had the contract for  many top mounted pump panels for the  USAF ,with 4 x4  and or 2 wheel drive

       If you really get down to basics  most componets  are the same in all rigs  there are only so many sprinds  steering gear boxes  , etc .    you can go to military fire apparatus  thread here at youngstown to  see the different  rigs .