Tim Olk travelled a bit north of the border yesterday and submitted the following:
Milwaukee Fire Dept 5-11 Alarm Fire 631 East Center (100 degree temps)
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
Tim Olk photo
#1 by Rowen A Sterling on July 14, 2015 - 8:38 PM
A small nitpick over the header naming this a “5-11”. “Elevens” and “alarms” are not exactly interchangeable terms. Chicago’s idea of an extra alarm equals two typical “alarms” worth of rigs. For some funny reason, Chicago takes no damn chances with fires 😉 Also factor in the “S&B”, which by Chicago lights is still a first alarm response, but really is a full “alarm” by any other standard. So, a 2-11 is functionally equivalent to a 4-alarm anywhere else (including FDNY), up through 5-11 equaling ten alarms. Five alarms plus the special (“one and one”) puts it equal, in number of rigs, to a Chicago 3-11. Of course, in organizational terms, the 5-alarm taxed Milwaukee’s total capacity the way a 5-11 would Chicago…
#2 by Daniel C. Rode on February 13, 2014 - 3:56 PM
Rescue 2 is still at Engine 24. For the time being, Truck 11 & 13 are used as spares for the Rescues, when needed. At Station 5 (formerly Engine 5), is Med 7, Bn. 1, and Car 14 (Arson Investigator). Truck 1, 6, & 16 are all single truck houses. I don’t think Engine 1 is leaving their station anytime soon, Northwestern Mutual is planning on building a new 35-story office tower on their campus and on the site of the Downtown Transit Center (Lincoln Memorial & Michigan), plans are in the works to build the Couture, a 44-story mixed use structure. We need a company in the Eastown area (also covers the Third Ward and South Side Warehouse District).
#3 by Crabby Milton on February 13, 2014 - 3:05 PM
Good thoughts Mike. I thought that there was still a med unit at Station 5 but heck, they seem to change things every 5 minutes. I’m sure there are spare/reserve units in there since they have to put them somewhere.
I like to think they won’t sell off potential empty stations since there may very well come a day where we will get a mayor that actually cares about public safety and the cost to build new stations would not be worth selling them now.
#4 by Mike Mc on February 13, 2014 - 1:27 PM
Thanks for that mind boggling update, Dan. Is Rescue 2 still on the north side? Ladders 6 (Station 11) and 16 (Station 35) are kind of by their lonesome out there, aren’t they? Sounds like quints are next.
I was at the Engine 33 house in West Milwaukee.
Wikipedia provides updated information. The official MFD website still lists companies that have been disbanded. I am suprised they did not move someone into Station 5 in order to keep up appearances. I am guessing that the city or private business wants the property. Couldn’t the city make enough money on a closure of Station 1 to save a company or two? It would be easy to move Engine 1 to Station 3 where they could rejoin Ladder 1or west to Station 2. Just a thought.
Thanks again.
#5 by Daniel C. Rode on February 13, 2014 - 11:42 AM
Mike,
A lot of changes have occurred recently in Milwaukee. First, on December 22, 2013, Engines 5-11-35 and Truck 14 were disbanded. Second, on the same day, Rescue 1 & 4 relocated to Engine 23’s quarters. Third, on the same day, Engine 12 & 23 switched firehouses. Fourth, Engine 23’s quarters is dedicated as a Surge House. Stationed there are Med Units 20 & 21 as well as TEMS 1. On Engine 23, daily assignment is 4 paramedics (officer, HEO, & 2 firefighters), 2 of the paramedics have to be SWAT trained. During a TEMS assignment, 2 members staff TEMS 1 and respond to the incident while the remaining 2 members staff Med 20 as an additional Med Unit (Engine 23 is temporarily out of service). During a Surge incident, both Med 20 & 21 go into service as 2 additional Med Units while Engine 23 is temporarily out of service. Finally, due to the four companies disbanded, there are no brown outs at this time.
#6 by Crabby Milton on February 13, 2014 - 11:42 AM
Engine 33’s old quarters on Forest Home Ave. closed many years ago when MFD took over fire protection duty for West Milwaukee and moved into their station.
If you knew that already forgive me. As for the rescue’s they move them around all the time because of the lousy brownouts.
#7 by Mike Mc on February 13, 2014 - 8:37 AM
What happened to the Rescue companies? I drove through Milwaukee the other day and I did not see them at Engine 12 and at Engine 24. Ladder companies, I presume Ladders 11 and 13, were in the apparatus bays.
There were no private vehicles at Engine 33. Closed for a brown out?
I need a scorecard everytime I visit.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
#8 by Crabby Milton on July 23, 2013 - 4:51 PM
Yes I’m a lifelong Milwaukee resident and am troubled that there is money for foolishness that our so called mayor wants to spend but fire and police has to suffer. We also have many bordering suburban communities which have MFD stations closer to them and likewise so there is really no reason not to have more cooperation regardless of economic times short of a county wide department which would not be good since our county govt. board is largely dysfunctional as well. MFD works well but not if it’s constantly cut. But I guess the brown out concept is better than shutting down companies if it MUST be done. I too hate the idea of OPEN SKY. I love scanning but the idea that Milwaukee spent a ton of money on this thing is more of a concern than me not being able to hear MFD and MPD. We could have joined the county 800 system years ago when offered but the powers to be in Milwaukee turned it down.
The county 800 system is patched to IFERN and often fire events in the Chicago area can be monitored. I have resisted the temptation to jump in the car to see(at a distance 🙂 ) but I get up early.
#9 by Daniel C. Rode on July 23, 2013 - 3:48 PM
I have to chuckle looking at the photos taken by Tim Olk. The last photo has me in it-standing there with my hands on my hips and my orange flashlight dangling to my side. It was very hot that day and I was assigned to Engine 5. We responded on the 1 & 1 (Special call for 1 engine & 1 truck) prior to the 2nd alarm. The 2nd alarm was pulled while we were enroute and once on scene, heavy fire and black smoke were pushing from every window in the auto body shop. I immediately grabbed the deluge set from Engine 30 and set it up in front of the auto body shop while my firefighters grabbed two supply lines from Engine 18. I remember we left the fire around 3-4 p.m. (it started shortly after 9 a.m.) and everyone was exhausted from the heat. I’ll take a fire any day in the winter!
#10 by Daniel C. Rode on July 23, 2013 - 3:42 PM
I also agree about keeping Engine 1 at their current location. There are several high-rise projects in the works including a 35-story office building built by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance as well as the Couture, a 44-story mixed use high-rise located on the current site of the Downtown Transit Center at Lincoln Memorial Dr. & Michigan. Developers are looking to redevelop that area around the Discovery World museum including reconstruction of the I-794 off/on ramps.
#11 by Daniel C. Rode on July 23, 2013 - 3:38 PM
Bill,
Currently the trucks sit in quarters and are taken to responses at the discretion of the Rescues. 3 trucks are sent to Truck 11 & 13’s 1st due area. A full assignment now gets 3 engines, 3 trucks (3rd truck is RIT), 1 rescue, 1 med unit, 2 B.C.’s, and Car 18 (ISO). 2nd alarm gets 3 engines, 2 trucks, 1 B.C. (Accountability Chief), 1 med unit, Car 3, and Compressed Air. 3rd alarm gets 3 engines, 1 truck, 1 B.C., E9, ICP, & Med 4, 2nd rescue, Engine 12 & Rescue 4. 4th & 5th alarms each get 3 engines. The MFD is currently reviewing their IMS system so its more in line with NIMS and our suburban partners.
#12 by Bill Post on July 23, 2013 - 3:04 PM
So now that the Heavy Rescues are responding instead of their Truck companies do they still dispatch 2 Trucks in Ladder 11 and 13;s district or do they just send the Squad and one Truck. I’m not including the RIT (3rd due) Truck as I assume that the RIT truck would only get sent if it was a confirmed working fire correct?
Trucks 11 and 13 have good sized first in districts and it would make more sense to me if they ran Trucks 11 and 13 as two piece companies when responding to fires in their first due districts. Yes they would run as Truck/Squads , similar to Chicago’s (Snorkel Squads) except with an Aerial Ladder. That really isn’t a new concept San Jose California had run with a rescue/utility unit as a second piece to their Truck companies for many years. That has since been modified however due to manpower and company reductions.
Better to keep Engine 1 in service where they are at and not let greed take over as to where a fire station should be.
#13 by Mike Mc on July 23, 2013 - 1:02 PM
Thank a lot! I will follow developments with interest. Yours is a great city and a great fire department, even if you did encrypt everything and your police cars now look like they belong in southern California.
#14 by Daniel C. Rode on July 22, 2013 - 6:50 PM
Hi Mike,
Rescue 1 (cross staffed by Truck 11) & Rescue 2 (cross staffed by Truck 13) respond to every type of run infirst due areas of Trucks 11 & 13. Rescue 1 covers the south side and portions of Downtown while Rescue 2 covers the North, Northwest, and East Side of the city. One rescue responds on all full assignments while the 2nd rescue will respond on a 3rd alarm with Rescue 4 (Collapse Unit). The 3rd truck on the 1st alarm provides RIT and the Rescue can supplement RIT if needed, their primary role at working fires is search and rescue, secondary role is carrying out truck functions. It is unknown at this time what will happen to Trucks 11 & 13. I have not heard anything on plans for Engine 1 or their firehouse. Real estate in East Town (Engine 1’s 1st due area) is very expensive. If someone is willing to purchase the property for the asking price (I assume several million), then I am sure relocation plans would take place by the city and MFD administration. Time will tell, there has been talk the last 30 years or so to sell the firehouse and relocate Engine 1.
#15 by Mike Mc on July 21, 2013 - 4:24 PM
Can any of you Milwaukeeites provide information on Rescue 1 and Rescue 2, such as: what alarms they respond on, how the city is divided between the two, do they provide RIT, will it be permanent, are Ladders 11 and 13 gone forever?
Also, is Engine 1’s house endangered now that the truck (tower ladder) 1 moved to old Engine 3? The real estate must be desired by businesses and they could move Engine 1 to Engine 2 (just like old Engine 20).
Anxious to hear what is going on up there. Drove through the city and was taken back by the changes. I would figure it out for myself if you could still scan fire dispatch on the radio. The firefigthers are friendly but very cautious as to what they tell fans.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
#16 by Daniel C. Rode on August 2, 2012 - 10:01 AM
Mike,
There is no website out there that keeps up on current developments. There are 2 things though that provide a timely update on MFD happenings. First, if you go to http://www.ifba.org website and click on TURN OUT magazine, its the official magazine produced for Fire Bell Clubs around the world. I write the column for the Milwaukee Fire Bell Club which contains the latest MFD Updates. Second, there is a local newsletter called Metro Milwaukee Fire News, similar to Joker Stand Journal, that is available for subscription. $10.00 gets you 4 issues a year, each newsletter contains 8-10 pages of articles, photos, greater alarm rundowns, etc. of the 6-county metro area. As far as the large battalions are concerned, we at one time had nine battalions covering 96 square miles. It is now down to five due to budget cuts. Battalion 1 has 8 stations while Battalions 2-5 each have 7 stations. The only administrative problem is when the BC’s do their morning rounds (stop in each station to pick up any mail, talk to on duty crews, pass along pertinent information, etc.). Between staffing, training, and going on runs, some BC’s do not complete their rounds until the evening hours.
#17 by Mike McAuliffe on July 30, 2012 - 8:56 AM
Is there a web site that will keep me current with developments in Milwuakee? I still enjoy visiting Milwaukee but I sure miss being able to scan the radio traffic. It would be great if somebody wrote an update to “Beer Town Blazes”.
Does the high number of fire companies per battalion cause administrative problems?
Thanks.
#18 by Daniel C. Rode on July 24, 2012 - 7:00 PM
Mike-
We still do our own dispatching while each department in Division 107 does their own dispatching. Wauwatosa handles all of the MABAS incident dispatching in 107. The only time we respond into 107 is if it’s at a Box level or higher. However, if it’s a working still in Wauwatosa, we automatically send a truck & BC. Last week when we struck a MABAS Box alarm for Change of Quarters due to the 5th alarm, Division 107 sent 3 engines, 2 trucks, & 2 BCs to cover five of our stations. They took 10 responses during their four hours in the city. We have 15 firehouses on the city limits set up as MABAS transfer houses which 107 will cover. Each house has a large black box which contains map books, phone # directory, Open-Sky radios, hydrant wrenches, and various fittings. We have been doing numerous meet and greets with 107 to familiarize everyone with our operation. As far as Med Units are concerned, the MFD currently runs 12 in the city and most communities in 107 have their own as well. Our two Bariatric Med Units (4 & 7) have been running quite a bit into 107 lately, especially into South Milwaukee and West Allis. As for BLS transports, the city is divided into four quadrants and served by Bell, Curtis, Medacare, and Paratech. We do operate one BLS unit. Ambulance 1 (went in service this year on 01-22 at E-13’s quarters) and they do no transports, strictly the 1st out unit in 13’s house to do BLS assessments (supposed to help reduce the wear and tear on E-13, the busiest engine in the state) Last year they did 4,332 runs (3,301 for EMS, 914 for fire, & 117 for misc.).
#19 by Mike McAuliffe on July 24, 2012 - 2:51 PM
Dan, thanks for the information. I have not followed Milwaukee since you transitioned to trunked 800 mhz radio. If you don’t mind my asking: Do you still do your own dispatching or is it now county wide? Do you and the suburbs respond on the same alarms or extra alarms, such as in L.A. County? Do your share medic units? Does Bell Ambulance still make most of the removals? Thank you in advance.
#20 by Daniel C. Rode on July 24, 2012 - 12:18 PM
Gentlemen,
You bring up a lot of good points about our cuts which began in 2002. This year we have been doing 3 brown outs a day (engines only). Brown outs started in 2010 after Truck 10 was cut with 2 engines & 1 truck daily. After the Pizza Man fire, it was realized that we could not brown out a truck every day. Unfortunately this year, a 3rd brown out was added. The brown outs have definately affected our greater alarms this year-both 5 alarm fires required MABAS change of quarters boxes into the city (last time this was done was during the Pizza Man fire). I can tell you that the departments from Division 107 are 1st class and have no problems integrating into our operations, communications (Open Sky), etc. The only thing good to come out of the cuts is the cooperation between our department and our neighbors. Years of arguing have led to productive dialogue, training, meet and greets, and better understanding of how we all can work together. No fire department is an island any more and should work to cooperate with other departments. Someone had mentioned the LDH engines. You are correct that beginning with the 1st batch of Pierce Velocitys (2008) we began equipping all our new engines with 700 ft. of 4″ hose with Storz couplings. Known as the “green monster” (due to its color) in our parts, it allows us to do what previously had to be accomplished with (2) 3″ supply lines. Our trucks are now being equipped with Storz connections on their waterway inlet for water tower ops. Another recent change on our busy engines has been the placement of 5 sections of 1.88″ Combat Ready hose with a 15/16″ smooth bore tip. It puts out a lot of water and you have to know how to maneuver it.
#21 by Mike McAuliffe on July 23, 2012 - 10:29 AM
Bill, not to mention Engine 20 and Ladder 10 going out of service. Like I said originally, the conflicting paint schemes are unimportant. What you’re talking about is.
#22 by Bill Post on July 20, 2012 - 7:08 PM
I too am happy to see that they have gone back to red with gold trimming. I have never seen a fire administration (such as the previous one) that was so eager to switch color schemes. The thing about it is that the trucks had been red and white during most of the 90s, and then they went to the red and gold which most of the companies were when all of sudden the previous chief started going back to the scheme of the 90s.
Getting to more basic stuff, the Milwaukee Fire Department had run with 5-man companies for a long time, but then they started whittling away the manpower assignments. First they made the engines that were co/located with trucks into 4-man companies. Then all of the engines became 4-man companies and the trucks gradually followed suit.
Why do I bring this up? Because the City of Chicago had been pushing a proposal to reduce the manning on engines that are co/located with trucks into 4-man companies. Whether or not that proposal is still on the table I don’t know, but it is something to think about.
#23 by J.C. on July 20, 2012 - 2:45 PM
The white over red rigs when delivered were the first engines to carry LDH and the different paint scheme was used to make them stick out when on scene.
#24 by Jeff on July 20, 2012 - 12:57 PM
I beleive the white over red rigs used to be the ALS rigs.
#25 by DMc77 on July 20, 2012 - 1:03 AM
Anybody else notice the street sign in the top photo? Interesting when you look at it with all of the apparatus from the same manufacturer in the rest of the photos.
#26 by Daniel C. Rode on July 19, 2012 - 12:01 PM
Brian,
The white over red rigs (engines) are 2008 models while the 2010 and newer models are all red.
#27 by Brian on July 19, 2012 - 11:31 AM
Aren’t the white over red rigs newer than the all red rigs?
#28 by Daniel C. Rode on July 19, 2012 - 10:50 AM
Mike, the white over red paint scheme was during a previous Administration. Currently our rigs are all red and hopefully it will continue to stay that way.
#29 by Mike McAuliffe on July 19, 2012 - 9:38 AM
Great photos. Thanks. It is unimportant, but I wish Milwaukee would pick a paint scheme and stick with it.