Apparatus updates by Jack Lerch
Re-printed from Fire Apparatus Journal March-April 2002
A DONATED 2002 FERRARA INFERNO
1000 gpm pumper
was delivered on December 20, 2001. It carries the wording The Spirit of
Louisiana, with
an outline of that state on both sides, as well as a metal plaque with the
donation details next to the pump panel. The pumper has a Waterous 1000 gpm
pump and a 500‑gallon water tank. It is powered by a Detroit Diesel 60
Series engine. The large six‑person, tilt‑cab is aluminum, however
the body is steel. From the cab backwards, it closely resembles the FDNY
Seagrave pumpers in configuration and equipment, including the hydraulic ladder
rack mounted atop the right side of the hose body. It is being assigned to Engine
Company 283 and replaces a 1993 Seagrave pumper.
The pumper
contracts with Seagrave currently consist of nineteen standard 1000 gpm pumpers
under the World Trade Center emergency contracts, plus forty standard 1000 gpm
units from a regular contract.
There are also
three 1000 gpm rescuepumpers as well as four 1000 gpm high‑pressure
pumpers from the World Trade Center emergency authorization.
The first of
these, a standard pumper, a highpressure pumper, and a rescue‑pumper,
which will be assigned to Engines 15, 6, and Squad 1, have been delivered. The
other two rescuepumpers will follow shortly and are going to Squad Companies 18
and 41. Two of the regular squad apparatus (Squads 1 and 18) were lost on
September 1Ith, as was a retrofitted spare pumper being used by Squad 252. The
other three high‑pressure pumpers will be assigned to Engine Companies
10, 34 and 65. All lost their high‑pressure rigs at the Trade Center.
Soon after the
disaster, Engine 65 was given a newly delivered 2001 Seagrave 1000 gpm pumper,
with Engine 34 getting the 2002 American LaFrance 1000 gpm pumper. Both of
those will be re‑assigned when those two units get their new high‑pressure
pumpers. The remaining seven standard 1000 gpm pumpers, are slated for Engine
Companies 7, 21, 55, 28, 76, 202 and 204. All of these had their assigned
apparatus destroyed on September 11 th.
The next eleven,
due in during the spring and summer months, will replace the remaining 1992
Seagrave pumpers at Engine Companies
69,210,212,222,231,265,280,287,298,and
the first two 1993 Seagrave pumpers which are at Engine Companies 236 and 241.
All of the
original order of nineteen 2001 Seagrave 100‑foot rear‑mounts have
entered service with Ladder Companies 3, 4, 8, 11, 29, 38, 43, 49, 61, 80, 113,
116, 125, 128, 132, 165, 173, plus one at the Bureau of Training. One,
originally assigned to Ladder 4, was lost at the Trade Center and replaced by
another of the 2001 models originally at the Bureau of Training. The next six,
from a previously approved add‑on contract, are going to Ladder Companies
40, 55, 56, 140, 15 1, and 176. Those going to Ladders 40 and 151 are replacing
1991 Seagrave 100‑foot tillers, with the other four replacing 1991
Seagrave rear‑mounts.
There are also
seventeen Seagrave 100‑foot rear‑mounts on order under the Trade
Center contracts. The first of these, displaying a largerthan‑life size
full‑color mural of the nowfamous World Trade Center flag raising scene
set against a large American flag on both sides of the apparatus, has been
delivered. The murals on this apparatus were donated by Seagrave employees.
The first of five
Seagrave 100‑foot tillers is due in shortly and is going to Ladder
Company 101 to replace their apparatus lost at the Trade Center. The next four
are going to Ladder Companies 5, 6, 20 and 104. The first three of those
companies lost their rigs on September I Ith. Five additional Seagrave 100‑foot
tillers were ordered under the Trade Center contracts.
Four of the
original contract of eight 2001 Seagrave/Aerialscope 95‑foot towers have
been placed in service at Ladder Companies 107, 119, 152, and 163. The next
four, coming in shortly, are going to Ladder Companies 14, 117, 121, and 153.
The 1999
Seagrave/Acrialscope 95‑foot tower of Ladder Company 9, badly damaged on
September I I th, is back in service with a new Seagrave cab and chassis. The
five add‑on Seagrave/Aerialscope 95‑foot towers will be coming in
later this year, as will the five Seagrave/Aerialscope 75‑foot towers
from a Trade Center emergency contract. Bid opening for two 75‑foot
towers has taken place.
Delivery has
started on the order of thirtynine 2002 diesel powered Ford Excursions.
Currently, plans call for twenty‑five of these to be assigned as
battalion vehicles, with the other fourteen going to the EMS Bureau. Two new
Thawing Units have been ordered under an existing contract from the Department
of Sanitation. They will have Reading bodies on GMC chassis and are being built
by a local deal
er specializing in this type of
equipment. Delivery is expected during the spring. FDN‑Y actually has
funding for three more similar vehicles. These will either go out for bids, or
two will possibly be added on to the contract for the first two. The five
current Thawing Units, used to thaw out frozen hydrants and apparatus, are all
on GMC chassis. The three 1984 models have Columbia Coach bodies, with the two
different style 1989 models having Saulsbury bodies.