Emergency! questions

[Guest Cota1992]

It's a friday night with freezing rain outside and hot pizza and a nice cozy night and season 3 of Emergency! from Netflix.

My wife has a question I don't really have the answer for and sort have wondered myself. Being as I was alreadylooking on this site, I thought I'd throw it out.

What was the thinking behind open cab fire engines?

I grew up in San Deigo Ca and Engine 32 the local fire truck was a open cab crown like the first Engine 51 and my wife just asked me what happens when it rains?

I told her "They get wet."

I still shake my head when seeing photos of open cabs in snow country.

The other question I have is what's the siren used for the show, is it a power call? I know the pitch is not high enough for a Fedreal Q.

Thanks for any answers,

Art

[Guest partyrock]

Open cabs were part of the evolution. Cars were initially equiped with canvas roofs for passanger comfort. On fire apperatus comfort was not an issue. Bigger concerns were visibility and cost. The driver compartment was eventually enclosed to protect equipment and improver driver safety but there still wan't alot of attention paid to the effects of apparatus accidents. The fully enclosed cabs biggest positive is the extra safety provided in accidents. Cities like NYC were driven towards enclosed cabs sooner due to concerns about falling debris in some of the more lovely neighborhoods.

[bartman884 0]

I remember being told that windows fogging up in the days before defrosters played a role. Not sure how accurate this actually is.

[Guest partyrock]

I just found this while looking for something completely different.

http://www.firehouse.com/magazine/american/apparatus.html

[IzzyEng4 427]

If you really look at cars, it wasn't until the early 1930's that the first cars had hard top roofs, many of the early automobiles were all removable or canopy canvas tops and fire apparatus were built the same way. Even early 1920's cars did not have passenger doors on them.

In the fire service the no roof and no door theories were to be able to see what you were going up against and without any doors on the cab, you can jump into action faster (myths of course). But this was the era of when "men were men and the sheep were scared" situation. Many fire chiefs argued that their men were firemen and not passengers, so they didn't need the amenities of automobiles. Heck, many 1910 - 1920's era fire trucks didn't even have windshields!

If you really think about it though, there were many pictures of members responding on this trucks in a tradition that even today, many firefighters don't do, riding in the truck with full turnouts and sometimes you would see a driver with his helmet on (of course this didn't happen all the time).

Many changes to fire apparatus began with the World War eras when blackouts were common. With too many apparatus accidents occurring, manufacturers began offering open cabs with doors and even Seagrave offered the "safety canopy cab" with a roof that cover the entire crew and also the hose bed. Hard top cabs began to take hold in the 1950's and 60's but there were still departments that utilized the open cab trucks (mine was one of them and the first hard top was purchased in 1969). Money was one this as mentioned and also visibility. Heck FDNY was still purchasing open cab, open door rigs in the 1950's and even purchased some wooden aerial ladders in 1955 (i think that is the correct year, have to check FAJ). Some states out west and down south didn't feel the need for roofs since weather was really not a problem.

With the civil unrest of the 1960's, hard top roofs and the eventual fully enclosed cabs took hold as a means to protect the firefighters from the weather and also the crap being thrown at them. Today and have to say finally, its a major safety issue to have completely closed cabs.

I remember our company's 1962 pumper when I was younger going out for a ride int it with my father and grandfather and how fun it was to ride a "convertible" as I called it then. Event today riding on it is a joy (sitting down of course).

[RWC130 594]

Credit: Greg Halpin

Greg Halpin's EMERGENCY! Page

http://greg.halpin.com/emergncy.htm

EMERGENCY! EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS

ENGINE 51 (1972 to 1974)

The first Engine 51 was 1965 Crown Firecoach 1000 gpm pumper unit which was an actual unit assigned to the LaCoFD as Engine 60. The Firecoach with her trademark front and overall "looks like a fire engine should" looks was the "stereotypical" fire engine in the minds of Hollywood film producers as many were used in all types of film products. Crown produced several types of equipment, the pumper, which was originally available in the "open cab" configuration, and the closed cab configuration. The Closed Cab was a later updated model of the Firecoach. At the time of the open cabs, the Closed Cab was most noteably used for "boom and basket" apparatus such as the Snorkel (Truck 127). Truck 127 was a for real unit stationed at Station 127 (which we see as Station 51 in Emergency!). The Closed Cab was also deployed in pumper appplications. The Closed Cab Crowns can be seen in the industrial fire featured in the pilot. Closed Cab Crown pumpers are a regular feature in many Emergency! episodes.

Crown fire engines, and most noteably Engine 51 were mostly powered by gasoline engines made by Hall Scott. They have a distinctivie "rumble." The engine power mated to (what was aboard Engine 51) a standard shift 4 speed gearbox. In 'Boot', one has a rare opportunity to "ride along" in the first few minutes of the response to the tanker accident as the camera is as as close to Mike Stoker as it can get. As Stoker is driving the engine one can hear the engine as he shifts through the gearbox. There's through different episodes view of the cab left (Mike) and right (Captain Stanley) so there's a complete view of the cab in the show.

The Hall-Scotts are inline 6 1090 cid or 935 cid (Engine 51 had a 935 cid engine). They are huge, heavy, low-revving torque-monsters. The Crowns came mainly with the 2 larger engines, to drive pumps of 1000-2000 gpm range. To compare most North American cars at that time had engines ranging from 200 cu in (found in the Ford Maverick, Valiants, and similar sized cars) to 450 cu. (found in Oldsmobile Delta 88's, Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals, and also in muscle cars such as the Barracuda, Corvette, Mustang, Mustang/Shelby, and Camero.)

The rigs with these Hall-Scott engines required the most attention from mechanices. The Hall-Scott engine was a high HP output machine that had to burn premium leaded gas. They had a chain driven overhead camshaft which gave little trouble but had a weak crankshaft. Every so often one would break a crank and have to be towed back to the shop. Some of the the Crowns also had a reputation of backfiring and were always on downtime in the shop.

A not-so-fondly remembered LACoFD chief spec'd and ordered some Crowns with anemic 478 cid Waukesha engines back in the 60's, in an attempt to get more trucks at the same budget allocation. They were know as the "Toyopet" Crowns, after the first Toyota Crown import automobiles (pieces of junk!) that were sold in California at the time.

LA County also had at the time Seagraves, Internationals, FWD engines. The snub-nose at the tunnel in the pilot and also at the camp in 'Brush Fire' was one of 2 late 50's Calavar-FWD all wheel drive brush rigs. To complete the dieselization of the fleet, LA County began phasing in new equipment to replace the Crowns which were unless still active stations were reassigned as backup units. In the pilot and first season episodes, one can see many of the older equipment that LA County had at the time, as all were actualy units in the fleet. Truck 8 in the pilot movie is a Seagrave. An Engine 51 Seagrave can be seen (briefly) in the arrival at the smokestack at the beginning of 'Botulism' (where a different electronic siren is heard).

Crowns were sold not only to LA County but to many southern California fire departments such as Pasadena, and Compton.

The lights found on the Crown apparatus were usually of two types. One is the familar revolving red light found on the front top center of the engine. This was the Federal BeaconRay. The BeaconRay was a light that found its way to police cars, and other emergency equipment in the 1960's and 1970's before the Federal Twinsonic squarish light bar started to appear. The other is a "red spotlight" also found on the front top center of the engine. This type of lamp was found on both open cab and closed cab Crowns, and was called a "Mars Light." When switched on by the engineer, it oscillated back and forth. A closeup of it is part of the drama unfolding in the pilot as Station 10 starts to respond to the industrial fire.

The oscillating lamps seen on Engine 10 and Truck 10 in the pilot are these Mars lights (the plate on the base reads "The Light From Mars"!). Another unit in the pilot Engine 268 which appears in the industrial fire in the pilot also had one of these. Another unit that had one of these is a Seagrave pumper that appeared briefly in one episode as Engine 51 (could have easily been a backup engine) The Mars lights were made in Chicago, IL, and were a standard LACoFD warning device until the Federal BeaconRay more-or-less replaced it.

It was been written that the Crown Firecoach was the "favorite" of the two engines featured on Emergency!. It was the only one that was mentioned by its name in the show (mentioned by Chet in 'Drivers' when an expastered Johnny Gage came up with an idea to catch civilians not pulling over for their squad).

Up until the late 1950s, open cabs were the norm throughout the entire United States. In general, Fire Departments only started covering or enclosing the cabs in large numbers after the civil disturbances that took place in the U.S. during the 1960s. People would throw trash and bricks from rooftops; covering the cabs was the easiest way to shield the firefighters.

Only within in the last 5 years has fully enclosing the crew compartments become an accepted standard. If you see an engine or ladder with a partially covered cab in the Southern parts of the U.S., it is a safe bet it was built prior to 1995.

Engine 51 (Engine 60) currently resides at the LaCoFD Museum where there is talkabout taking her on as the next resortation project as she is a bit rough around the edges. Engine 51 was a featured appearance at an Emegency event in October 1998. There is information that the Crown Firecoach is to undergo restoration next year.

In the early 1970's LA County began a program to complete dieselization of its entire fire apparatus fleet, and tendered for additional units. In 1971, Ward LaFrance won a bid for 46 new 1250gpm triple combination pumpers for LA County FD.

Crown (based in L.A.) produced fire apparatus for many departments, but also as a sideline manfactured buses. Many of these were school buses. American kids probably rode in one to high school (Canadians didn't have that luxury as the trusty Blue Bird with squeaky seats teeth jarring ride ear splitting gear shifting and heaters that didn't work in winter and when they did, steamed up the windows and in summer steamed up the passengers were used in most school districts) A Crown bus looked like a Closed cab LACoFD engine a the front with its rounded face and two piece windshield. Crown discontinued its fire appratus line in the mid 1970'sand for a time focused on its bus products before going out of business in the early 1980's.

Engine 51 (1974 to 1978)

Delivery began in late 1972 with rigs arriving about one or two a week. These were the beginning of the complete dieselization of the LACoFD fleet. One story given about Engine 51 was that Chief Houts suggested to Bob Cinader that since the County was getting all these new Wards, that the show should reflect that fact. Universal Studios went along withthat suggestion and contacted Dick Gergel, president of Ward LaFrance and arranged for a LACoFD look-alike to be used in the show. This unit was put on a "driving tour" across the U.S prior to arrival at Universal.

The tour itself is described in an excellently written "ride along" at:

http://www.emergency.simplenet.com/Where%2...tion_viewed.htm

Engine 51 made her debut on the second episode of the third season called

'The Old Engine'.

E-51 is a 1000gpm triple combination P-80 "Ambassador" model powered by a Cummins NH855 250hp naturally aspirated diesel engine driving through an Allison HT-70 power shift transmission. The LACoFD rigs were 1250gpm triples powered by Cummins NHCT295 turbocharged Diesels driving through Allison HT-70 5 speed manual transmissions. They had 500 gallon booster tanks as did E-51. In their outward appearance both E-51 and the LACoFD rigs were identical. All the County Ward rigs plus E-51 had Federal Q2B sirens and Grover "Stutter-tone" air horns.

There are many views of Engine 51 both inside and out from many angles around the cab and in several episodes the fan gets to "ride along" as Mike Stoker powers up the engine, and we get to see him as Captain Stanley would sitting in the Captain's seat as the engine approaches the incidents. There's with different episodes different views from Mike powering up the Engine, a look view from both Marco's seat and Chet's seat, the instrument panel (which is by design below Mike's knees). One can get a 360 degree view all around inside the cab by watching episodes. In one of the earlier episodes in Season 6 (1977) the viewer is treated to a detailed look at the instrument panel and a rare closeup look at the Federal siren where one can actually see the fins inside the siren just before it spins up (cover your ears!)

Additional Ward LaFrance units can be seen in later episodes, most notably Engine 73, and 114. These units are almost identical to Engine 51 and were actual LA County Fire Department units.

Ward LaFrance built fire equipment for many departments and along with the now famous P80 "Ambassador," WLF also had a "Diplomat" and "Senator" model. Ward LaFrance went out of business formally in 1979, but a few employees tried to keep it going for a year or so, unfortunatly without success.

Although out of business, there is a Ward LaFrance website. The address is:

http://www.wardlafrance.com/

Engine 51 (1979 - )

Once Emergency! was completed, Engine 51 sat in Univeral's lot for a time as a movie prop vehicle. She made another appearance in the movies, having appeared for a very brief time as the engine responding in 'The China Syndrome' (Columbia Pictures). However the siren and airhorn dubbing is markedly different as the engine approaches the freeway on ramp just before Jack Lemmon peels out in his BMW. (low tonal "moan" and yelp cycle with compressed airhorn, not the higher pitch Federal siren and Grover Stutter tone). She was then sold by LA County once Universal was finished with her. to the U.S. Parks Service and has been on station at Yosmite Park California. She was to be returned to LA County to retire at the LA County Fire Department museum after completing service at Yosmite Park.

Excellent reading regarding Engine 51's duty at Yosemite Park can be read through this website:

http://www.emergency.simplenet.com/Where%2...w/engine_51.htm

Universal and LA County were well aware of the huge success of Emergency! and because of it, two things happened. Station 127 was remained the R.A. Cinader Station, in memory of the late R.A. Cinader. LA County also renumbered its fire station at Universal from 60 to 51. Fans not aware may get a bit confused as Station 51 as it is today is not the same Station 51 that was in the show. Station 51 used outside shots and apparatus bay shots from Station 127 which is located next to I-405 in Carson City. Inside shots were done on the Universal Studio lot in a mockup of the station.

Current Equipment at Station 51 (Universal) are KME and GMC Patrol unit. Equipment at Station 127 (aka: Station 51) is also KME purchased equipment (engine and truck) and a GMC Battalion Chief Suburban.

Squad 51 (1972 to 1978)

Squad 51 was a 1972 Dodge D300 1 ton with specialized body. Universal had two of these. One was furnished by Chrysler (as per credits in the show) the other was a unit from the LA County Fleet. Squad 10 (featured in the pilot) was a real LaCoFD 1970 Dodge 1 ton. These two vehicles had all the fittings as the real squads at the time did, but the Motorola radio with 51's was never switched on. We also see a 1970 Dodge in 'Mascot', 'Botulism' and also in 'Nurses Wild'. The 1970 Dodge has a center hood depression and on each side has louvers. The 1972 Dodge's hood is more "flat." Of interest to fans is that the Dodge Squad 51 furnished by Chrysler was not an actual member of the LA County fleet but was set up as a look-alike. It's this vehicle that is the star of Project 51 and the recent journey to the Smithsonian.

The other item that sets Squad 51 (1972) from Squad 51 (1970) is the unmistakable grille. The Dodge 1972 model had the "slit grille" which featured lots of chrome. The 1970-71 Dodge model years featured a "quartered bar" grille that also had the turn lights set into the lower left and lower right quadrants. Below the white quartered bar grille were slots for additional cooling air for the radiator. This from a distance causes the 1971 Dodge to have a top "long" grille, and a lower "short" grille. This becomes apparent as the two model year Dodges are used interchangably in the first season, even on the same run. The engine aboard the Squad was probably the largest V8 offered by Dodge for the 1 tons which would have been a 400 cu in.

There were actually three Squad 51's used, the last one provided in 1974.

We see the Squad from all sides inside and out, and with Johnny tinkering with the tape idea inside the cab, we get pretty close to the dash, and also close to the engine compartment when John and Roy do maintenance work We also get to see how strong the hood is as Roy accidently forgets John is still head down over the engine when Roy drops the hood on Gage.

Squad 51 featured the trademark Federal Twinsonic Light bar and electronic siren. In later episodes a European "high-low" two tone enhanced intersection siren is heard. This featured a seperate air compressor mated to two air horns. LA County experimented with this setup in real rigs, but it became unreliable and was never replaced. A ride along in 'Not Available' (Season 6, Episode 12) features the "high-low" airhorn intersection siren. The siren actually wasn't there, but was dubbed in by Universal based on real ones used in Squad equipment.

The radio aboard the Squad is a Motorola VHF radio used at the time by many fire and police departments. (it's also used on Adam-12). The equipment was there, but the radio calls were dubbed in.

Squad 51 was retired after the series ended and spent her days at the LA County Department museum. She made an appearance at an Emergency! get together in 1998. Word was that the squad which was used quite a bit in the show was a bit rough around the edges and because of it, she went through a complete refit this year. The vehicle restoration was exceptionally superior in every detail.

The resortation process is described and pictured in fascinating and exquiste detail at the Project 51 web site, as is the tour and festivities. The web site is:

http://www.squad51.org/squad.html

One minor error can be seen on the remade licence plates that are affixed to the exceptionally restored squad. It was that the original plates on the squad had to be turned in at the time Squad 51 was retired from active duty. So new ones were made.The serial is indeed correct (The "E" doesn't stand for Emergency the show, but rather "E" for county exmept vehicles, a series issued to fire equipment at the time - the 999007' is within the correct serial range) but California used on its 1956 black on yellow series base plates more rounder dies - particularly on the 9's and zeroes to press the serial numbers than the extended squarish letter style as one sees on the restored squad's front plate. The black on yellow plates were superceded starting in 1969 by yellow on blue base plates, and later with the currently used red/blue on white base plates (for passenger plates beginning with "1" in 1982 and currently in the "5" series for new registrations).

The Manifest previously appeared in it's entirety in this FAQ. Due to Paul's continued research and modification of the Manifest, and it's subsequent increase in size, the complete version of the Manifest has been removed from the FAQ. The most up-to-date, complete version of Paul's EMERGENCY! Equipment Manifest can be found at http://modena.intergate.ca/personal/pl8s/E!Manifest.htm.

KMG-365!

[JBE 328]

Just to add to this, FS 127 has a brand new KME Pumper, and Battalion 7 is no longer quartered at FS127. Check my out and about thread for pictures of the rigs.

Squad 51(Universal Studios) has a 2005 2 door Squad. All other Squads except for two others are 4 door.

Edited March 18, 2007 by JBE