M' Ave

What defines that?

Aluminum has it's own issues. It pits and does corrode. It also can crack. Stainless is the best way to go.

I'm glad to see that the flag can remain. However, I'm also glad to see that most of the posts here are in support of the enforcement of the rules. The rule might suck, but I think that we pride ourselves on calling our command structure paramilitary and I can assure you that NO ONE questions a superior order and gets away with it in the armed forces. If you worked in the private sector and your boss told you to take down something you hung on your office wall, you would. If you didn't you be fired. It's that simple. I'm not sure why there is so much bending and pushing of rules (not that I'm not completely guilty of this!!). The fire service isn't a democracy.

Interesting....well, maybe they're going to begin stainless construction. If they specs went to stainless for the new engine order, I'd be surprised if they didn't stick with that.

Comparing LAFD and FDNY isn't really fair with regard to special ops. equipment. For one, the cityscape is different. As large cities, we both have different challenges. Second, as large as LA is, it's not even half the size of NY, so the odds of needing certain specialized units is more justifiable here in the big apple. As for a rotating boom crane, what are you going to do with it? Need to move something heavy to free someone? That's what airbags, along with other small more precise tools are for. If a crane was needed, they're not in short supply around the city. It's like the vac truck that ConEd has. Why don't we have one? 'Cause it's really expensive in hardly necessary. Any new tool, or rig is a good one. No one would ever complain about more resources, tools and toys are great! However, with real world budget cuts and probable firehouse closings looming in the not too distant future, I can't even complain about the apparatus floor that needs to be replaced after it's 104th year.

Are you sure about this? The job doesn't seem to care about what we ride around in and since they can stretch the purchases to the end of the 10th year, I don't see why they'd spend more money. The most recent order filled that time frame, as will the next order of rear mounts.

All engines and trucks proceeding the most recent order were built with galvanized bodies......and this is why they are rusting out BADLY after 4 or 5 years. They tend to look pretty shabby by the time they head to the spare pool.

Rigs go for Preventative Maintenance about 4 times a year, like someone said, when the Co. is OOS for the day. The PMP shop ia at The Rock. I think there is also one in Staten Island, a smaller one. Larger, long term repair work is done in Long Island City at, " 'da shops" and the Co, will drop the rig off and pick up a spare. Spares have no tools or hose. ALL equipment is stripped in quarters and repacked on the spare and vice versa. The shops are pretty good, and turn around time is as fast as possible. However, the problems that have arisen, and been pointed out in the media have to do with warranty repairs which are done by Seagrave in Jersey. They're not so swift......so you're stuck with a junker of a spare for a long time.

The 10 engine companies that carry these nozzles are IN ADDITION to the high pressure high rise engines. It's another tool for wind driven fires, in addition to the KO curtain that every truck company is no carrying. To a high rise fire, the second due roof man will now carry the KO in place of the rope.

Having been a fireman is not necessarily one of the prerequisites for being a good commissioner. Some of the most popular FC's were not. Hynes, (spelling?) I believe was very well liked and was never a fireman. On the flip side, you had the previous FC, Van Essen.....he was a fireman AND union president....by all accounts, total ZERO. The commish is a business man and has to run a that business successfully. I'm sure the chairman of the board at Goldman Sachs doesn't know banking as well as some of his subordinates, but that's okay, he doesn't need to. A commissioner is never going to be a hero to the rank and file. Us lowly firemen don't have to make the big decisions that he does, HOWEVER, it should appear that the guy at the top has at least SOME idea and respect for the work that we have to do. This was not the case with Scopetta. No one ever felt that this guy was ever looking out for HIS department, HIS men. He has a completely adversarial relationship with those of us in uniform. When firehouse closings came up last year, it was Scopetta laying out all the plans and justification for the closures. Of course the guy works for the mayor and has to meet the mayors budget, but wouldn't it have been nice to hear, "no Mr. Mayor, we can't make that cut, my men need this and yada yada yada..." and have him at least TRY to argue and fight for his staff. Nope, mayor says cuts, he says okay, with our fearless COD in tow, backing everything he had to say. Are cuts a reality in some cases, sure, but who's looking out for us? Is it only the union? Scary....

A very sad day, a tragic event. RIP and my heart goes out to his family, both at home and in the YFD.

Too true! As for the cab, I'm sure it'll have some features like the new engines and a tilt cab, since that's the new way the job is going. Also, word is, the job is looking for a new chassis for the 95ft TL's because the current chassis's aren't holding the weight very well and suspensions are going fast. The alternative is to no longer order 95 footers.

I should have looked closely....didn't realize that this was from 2008....

Wow.....17% over 4 years? Is that 3 - 4's and a 5 % or is 17% the total compounded raise? It would be nice to see it broken down.

No photos? That must be the new name for the MR chassis. Interesting that it never made the impact that the CF did. I've seen a few of the hose wagons that we have, seem like a decent cab with good viability.

I'm fairly certain this order will serve to replace the 2001's and any that are floating around from 2000 and 2002. It'll be at least a year before we see one.

Seatbelt alarm? You're a firefighter!! TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!! Why do you need an electronic babysitter? I'm not a chauffeur and I'm not a boss, so I don't ride up front, but if I did I'd wear a seatbelt. In the back, I don't wear one and won't wear one. Maybe it's not the smartest thing, but there's a lot of other things going on and it's just something I don't take the time to do. The point? You're a grown man/woman (at least I hope so), you can make the decision for yourself and deal with it.

I'm sure there weren't any other Deputy Chiefs with more time, time in rank and qualifications.......

20 isn't a lot of trucks....I wonder why it's so few. Could there really be only 20 ladders up for 2011 replacement?

Are you certain about that draft vs. hydrant thing? I believe that you can get maximum capacity out of a drafting situation. A GREAT hydrant might allow you 1000 to 1500 GPM. You can't go into vacuum on a hydrant.

Yes, sorry, this isn't the point I was trying to make. Certainly, from a shops and bean counter point of view, they would like a single manufacturer. My point is; they want uniformity in brand, but what that brand is is not high on the list of concerns.

The "343" will be assigned to Marine 1 and the "Firefighter 2" will be assigned to Marine 9. Marine Co.'s 1,6 an 9 are fully staffed 24 hrs a day year round. I believe that staffing is: 1 Officer, 1 Pilot, 1 Engineer, 1Wiper and 2 Firefighters. Correct me if I'm wrong. She's definitely a beautiful boat and much needed! Word around says that Marine 9's "Firefighter" won't make it through another inspection without a full re-plating of the hull.

My job has gone to 2000 gpm pumps. It had little too no impact on cost and the reason cited is; should any event, natural or otherwise, compromise our century old water system, we'd like to have the ability to draft and pump long distances and supply other units. This is similar to the reason that the new fire boats have 50,000 gpm pumps. Will it ever be necessary? I sincerely hope not. Is it necessary for us all to have this capacity? No, but it's easier to keep the rigs the same for cost and multiple company interoperability.

I assure you, no one cares who makes it. Whatever a company has available or has made in the past is not relevant. The city has a very specific set of specifications, including a shorter and narrower rig than most anyone specifies. Also, incredibly specific and extended warranties are a big part of the bid.

There are only a handful, maybe 5. I worked in one once. 54 engine. It's very similar and a quick glance doesn't show much difference. From the cab back it's exactly the same as the Seagrave. The inside felt a little smaller and they guys who are regularly assigned there said the same. They didn't seem to care for it one way or another. One one level, a rigs a rig as long as it meets your specs. No one has made something so great that it can take several thousand runs a year over city streets/traffic. The bottom line comes down to your spec. That's what the guys working the rig will care about. Do you have enough room in the back? How does it ride (is my spine compressed with every bump)? How do compartment doors hold up after being opened and closed a thousand times? How is the pump panel laid out? How fast and easy will you be able to move the aerial? AND......how often do you have to unload 2700 ft of hose or 400 assorted hand tools and load them on the P.O.S. spare the shops sends you? Reliable.....functional.....comfortable......... That's all the guys seem to care about, not the name on the grill.