Akron Fire

[CFFDEngine5]

thanks again for the pics still cant find on of ladders 7,8

[GRide]

thanks again for the pics still cant find on of ladders 7,8

Check the first page of this thread , reply #12 for a pic of Ladder 8.  With the exception of L4, the other ladder companies have the 75' Pierce single axle trucks.

My question is, what's up with the trend of 75' aerials?  AFD isn't the only department I've seen going to them instead of 100'. 

[johnmocha]

I'm out in Seattle and per discussion here the Seattle Fire Department is moving to tractor drawn aerials for all truck companies.  Currently 6 out of our 12 truck companies are running TDAs.  The newer ones are Pierces with 3 axle tractors.  Per a discussion I had recently with one of the deputy chiefs, SFD is moving towards an all TDA fleet. He thought that we have another 3 The reason he gave is that weight restrictions are making 100' rearmounts - when loaded with all equipment - overweight per axle based on new regulations.  It wasn't clear which regulation he was referring to.   My guess is that the trend to 75' aerials may be weight and potentially cost based.   That said, I'm looking forward to my neighborhood getting a new TDA or two soon.  Trucks 12 and 3 are the local responders for me and both are running pretty old pieces - 12's a 99 Becker AI 100' and 3's a 92 Spartan LTI 100'.  3's is the oldest in the fleet.   The first due engine to our house is Engine 30, a 2008 E-One Quest - ugghhhh, not one of the prettiest things out there.

[GRide]

John, I should have been more clear.  I understand the weight and cost issues, but I was thinking of it from a perspective of ISO ratings.  ISO ladder company ratings state that to receive full credit, the aerial should be "Of sufficient height to reach the roof of any building or 100 feet, whichever is less. ISO prorates the credit if existing equipment has insufficient reach."   Even if a department doesn't care about the ISO points, a 2.5 story house that is set back from the street might be too far for a 75' ladder to reach.

It's not the topic of the thread, just something that makes me say "hmmm..."

Thanks for the SFD info.

[MATT3045]

John, I should have been more clear.  I understand the weight and cost issues, but I was thinking of it from a perspective of ISO ratings.  ISO ladder company ratings state that to receive full credit, the aerial should be "Of sufficient height to reach the roof of any building or 100 feet, whichever is less. ISO prorates the credit if existing equipment has insufficient reach."   Even if a department doesn't care about the ISO points, a 2.5 story house that is set back from the street might be too far for a 75' ladder to reach.

Does that mean the every ladder has to be able to reach, or they have to have at least one ladder that is capable? I am asking because I do not know.

[YARBFD10]

I work with a few AFD guys at my part-time job.  One of them told me that the City of Akron appropriates $250,000 per year to the FD for apparatus purchases and maintenance.  That amount includes purchasing engines, ladders, med units, chief's cars, & maintenance on all apparatus.  When the current Ladder 4 was purchased, it set the FD back almost 5 years on apparatus replacement.  That could be the reason why AFD is purchasing the 75' straight stick aerials.  This is also the reason why most of the 1991 Sutphens are still in service at Tower 5, Tower 6, Engine 11, Engine 12, Engine 13, & Tower 14.  AFD just keeps fixing them instead of buying new rigs for them.  Engine 7 is running a mid 90's Sutphen.  Engines 2 & 4 have newer Sutphens from the mid 2000's.  Engines 3, 8, 9, & 10 all have Pierces from various years.  Most of AFD's stations are "Combo" companies.  Stations 2, 3, & 4 are the only stations with "Straight" fire companies.  Engine 2 & Med 2, Engine 3 & Med 3 are each staffed with dedicated crew.  At Station 4 I believe Ladder 4 and Med 4 are combo and Engine 4 is dedicated.  Stations 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, & 14 are staffed with 3-4 members and take whatever rig is called for.  In my opinion it leaves a huge gap in fire protection.  Stations 7, 8, 9, & 10 are also combo companies.  These stations are either engine/med combo or ladder/med combo.  So if you drive by an AFD station and see the ladder truck sitting there, but no med unit, chances are that ladder is out of service due to an EMS call.

The E/H-4 on that Pierce engine on the first page was actually called Engine/HazMat-4 because they operate HazMat/Rescue-4 also.

[Engine33Truck]

Sorry to sort of change the subject, but what are the model years those Pierce Lances posted earlier in the thread?

[MATT3045]

http://ci.akron.oh.us/FireDept/pdf/2009AnnualReport.pdf

Page 55 will give you all the information of their trucks as of the begining of 2010.

[GRide]

Does that mean the every ladder has to be able to reach, or they have to have at least one ladder that is capable? I am asking because I do not know.

I don't know, thankfully my involvement with ISO was nil other than hearing the officers responsible complaining.

[ACPD227]

Sounds like akron needs to up the replacement budget.

[Truck11]

You can pretty much guarantee Akron won't be upping their budget any time soon with the money problems they have. I think our Fire replacement budget is more than that here in Wadsworth, and we have less than 10% of the population of Akron.

[doomonyou]

I have to ask the question. On the numbers mentioned, how the city bought 3 engines, 4 squads and have an engine going out for re furb  in the last four years?

Again just question, check out the end of the year reports on the fire portion of the Akron site. All specs for the trucks are there.

[CFFDEngine5]

if you have any photos of current or past Akron rigs please feel free to add them to this thread and thanks for the photos of ladder 8 all i need is on of ladder 7.

[johnmocha]

It's possible that they had everything financed such that they are paying their entire budget ($250K?) as a payment for a number of years.  My impression is that most fire districts and cities purchase their apparatus outright - i.e. cash at sale. 

[MATT3045]

Here are a few pictures from the monthly HazMat training for Akron and Summit County. First pic is front of HM/Rescue 4 & Ladder 4

Next is Med 8 and Ladder 8 (with spare rig)

HazMat pickup with mass decon trailer

A side shot of HM/Rescue 4