The Carol Stream Fire Protection District has taken delivery of a new tower ladder. They are currently undergoing an administrative change which entails renumbering their fleet. As such, the new tower is Tower 28 which replaces Tower 217. Tim Olk submitted images of the new tower ladder as well as the 2-piece squad company which is now Squad 27 and 27A.
Tower 28 is a 2011 E-ONE Cyclone II. Tim Olk photo
Another view of the new tower showing great similarities to Truck 217 with the exception of roll-up doors.. Tim Olk photo
When the new tower goes into service, this unit will stay with the department as a reserve piece.
The Squad Company has been renumbered as Squad 27 and 27A. Tim Olk photo
#1 by chris on January 4, 2012 - 6:33 PM
Does anyone know when the new numbering takes affect? They are still using the old system.
#2 by Zack N. on November 14, 2011 - 9:29 PM
In responce to Bill’s comment, a friend of mine’s department runs out of 3 houses with three engines and a “Truck” (strait stick with a pump) and if needed to keep up with the minimum staffing of 12 per shift they will shut down the engine at station 1 and just have the truck run all calls, that way they don’t have to rely on the closest 2nd due truck that is 20 min away.
#3 by Dan mcInerney on November 13, 2011 - 9:57 AM
A good point by Bill – I would add that some suburbs keep a pump on their trucks to help maintain their ISO rating…
#4 by Bill Post on November 12, 2011 - 8:54 PM
According to my understanding one of the reasons for having a pump on a tower adder or even a straight aerial ladder is so they don’t have to rely on a separate engine company to “pump” in to the ladder pipe as the suburbs don’t have the same amount of resources that the city has. Chicago normally will send 4 engines per extra alarm while many of the suburbs will dispatch only 3 or even 2 engines per extra alarm on a MABAS box.
In some suburbs the truck or tower ladder, while primarily serving as a truck company, will sometimes act as a “Quint” or engine company if first due on some runs as well.
As an example, Oak Park Station 1 no longer has a regularly manned engine company but their tower ladder does have a pump on it so it can respond on small fires and act as an engine if necessary. The same is true for Wilmette Station 26 who took Engine 26 out of service when they put Tower Ladder (Quint) 26 in service within the last 2 years.
#5 by Scott Peterson on November 12, 2011 - 10:58 AM
In regards to the pump on the tower, most aerials made a pump is almost standard for the ‘burbs. It is more unusal to not have a pump and considered a spec. There are only a very small handful of burbs that do not have pumps on their trucks. In the NW Burbs, Elk Grove, Itasca & Schaumburg still plain trucks. As most now, this is not true when it comes to bigger cities-Chicago, New York, etc, etc. True truck companies, no pumps.
#6 by Mike on November 8, 2011 - 7:28 PM
I really love that they have Chicago FD lettering, paint and classic green light. Think they made a great choice with another E-One
#7 by David on October 29, 2011 - 10:53 AM
It is kind of strange since glen ellyn has a eng 26,27,28 and 29 is it just carol stream or the other depts in ducomm
#8 by T. Rayumnd on October 28, 2011 - 4:14 PM
haha I do love the fact that they copied CFD’s lettering…but at least they didn’t change any of the functionality of the rigs just ’cause that’s what CFD does. These are very clearly “their” rigs, designed the way they want them….unlike some departments in the suburbs.
#9 by FireMedic553 on October 28, 2011 - 12:31 PM
I’m surprised there’s a pump on the tower as Chicago doesn’t have pumps on their aerials, but they do have Chicago’s lettering and color scheme.
#10 by Mike on October 28, 2011 - 11:46 AM
Wow looks a lot like Chicago !! So much for being original
#11 by Brian on October 28, 2011 - 9:37 AM
Is Carol Stream changing numbers or the whole division?