Rosenbauer posted the following on their Facebook page today:
Rosenbauer Receives Order for Two-Piece Squad Company Apparatus for Chicago Fire Department
WYOMING, MN (January 28, 2013) Rosenbauer has received a five year contract from the Chicago Fire Department for the replacement of the department’s two-piece Squad Companies. The initial order consists of two Rosenbauer 55′ Articulating Cobra Platforms (ACP-55) and two Rosenbauer Walk-In Rescues. Both apparatus will be built on the revolutionary Rosenbauer Commander chassis which was introduced in 2012.
“Rosenbauer is honored to serve the Chicago Fire Department. We are pleased that the CFD has chosen the Commander chassis for the squad companies and feel it will be a great fit for them,” said Harold Boer, President of Rosenbauer America. “We value the trust placed in Rosenbauer by the second largest fire department in the United States, and we are looking forward to growing our relationship with the CFD.”
The ACP-55’s will be built on the Rosenbauer Commander chassis featuring a long two door cab with flat roof. The chassis will include seating for two and a large transverse compartment in the rear of the cab. Rosenbauer’s heavy-duty 3/16″ EXT extruded aluminum body carrying a lifetime transferable warranty will provide the framework for more than 400 cubic feet of compartment space. The ACP-55 includes a 750 pound tip load and has rated flows up to 1250 GPM. Features of the ACP-55 include Rosenbauer’s unmatched Smart Aerial technology that enhance the safety and performance of the aerial, Soft-Touch controls which ensure smooth aerial operations, and a hot dipped galvanized torque box and outriggers which carry a 25 year corrosion warranty.
The walk-in rescues which make up the second piece of the squad companies will be built on the Rosenbauer Commander chassis with a 60″ cab and a 24″ raised roof and include seating for six. The 18′ rescue body will also be constructed utilizing the heavy-duty EXT body and will include in excess of 600 cubic feet of compartment space.
The Chicago Fire Department is the second largest fire department in the United States and the oldest major organized fire department in the nation. The department has nearly 5,000 firefighters and paramedics and operates out of 98 fire stations.
Rosenbauer dealer, Trans-Chicago Truck Group located in Elmhurst, Illinois provides service and support to the Chicago Fire Department.
Rosenbauer is the world’s leading manufacturer of firefighting vehicles and equipment. In North America, Rosenbauer incorporates the international strength and innovation of a global company with top American manufacturing firms. For more information, please visit the company’s website –www.rosenbaueramerica.com.
thanks Dennis & Dan
#1 by Drew on January 2, 2014 - 7:38 PM
I had heard that Reserve Snorkel 1 had broken down in quarters during the 3-11 on Peterson? Anyone have an update on the status of this rig?
#2 by Mike Mc on January 2, 2014 - 7:31 PM
I don’t think the Rosenbauer engineers will find making a snorkel boom all that complicated or challenging. It will probably be the cost, everything will have to be made new and without prefabrication, that will be the problem. I assume they considered this in the bid.
Since O’Hare is going to get at least one new firehouse because of the new runway configurations, and possibly Engine 12 will return, perhaps District 3 knows what they are doing with regard to a new Squad 7A replacing the mini-pumper. The mini-pumper may end up being reclassified as a special unit, like at Midway.
In addition to to the far northwest part of the city, Squad 7 also responds as a RIT in Bensenville and to some other suburbs on the 2-11. The snorkel will be put to use a few times, I am sure.
The soon to be old Squad 7 will probably be made the reserve hazmat truck, since it is too large to be quartered in tandem with a snorkel. When all four squads get new snorkels, perhaps a spare squad snorkel will replace the reserve snorkel at Engine 35. The old Seagrave snorkel and the current spare squad snorkel (G-482) should then go in a museum for their amazing longevity.
#3 by Bill Post on January 2, 2014 - 7:00 PM
I agree with you Bill ,as this is Rosenbauers first venture into making a “Snorkel” it would have been much wiser to just build one and have it go through thorough testing before even manufacturing any additional Snorkels.
It should first go through a trial “by fire”,pun intended.
#4 by Bill Friedrich on January 2, 2014 - 3:43 PM
The other thing to consider guys is the company that got the bids for the snorkels has never made a snorkel boom. They have to actually make one and hope it works. I will not look like the current snorkel booms. Should be very interesting.
#5 by danny on January 2, 2014 - 3:41 PM
unless its changed NJ squad 7 covers ohare field and off the field as far west as austin city litis to the north and i believe either montrose or lawrence to the south not a big chunk of the city but takes some of the load off squad 2 least thats how it was years ago had a fire near my dads old place and squad 7 and the hummer were the squad on the box
#6 by NJ on January 2, 2014 - 2:49 PM
Mike,
Apparently the city thinks so from what I understand. I wonder about the original design, as the current Snorkels have the extra row and seating. It would be a change in operations to not have them. That’s why I wonder if someone was asleep at the wheel or they decided against them and then had second thoughts.
#7 by Mike Mc on January 2, 2014 - 1:47 PM
NJ: Now I get it, you mean they could stay in service before going to the shops for a spare rig. It could happen a few times, but is it worth changing the specs on the new rig?
#8 by NJ on January 2, 2014 - 1:44 PM
Right now they’re operating a much larger heavy duty squad and a mini pumper. Replacing them will be a regular squad (much smaller) and a snorkel which if of little use at the airport. Keeping the mini pumpers as either separate company or as a third piece to the squad co changes manning requirements etc.
Squad 7 does not respond off the airport except as a last resort. Thus the snorkel unit would likely be very underutilized and given the age, wear and tear on the existing squad snorkels, it’s hard to rationalize putting one of the new ones at O’Hare.
#9 by Drew on January 2, 2014 - 1:39 PM
For one thing, I know Squad 7A (and 637 at Midway) were in part designed/purchased and are used for car fires in the parking structures and all the other hard access areas for larger rigs.
#10 by Mike Mc on January 2, 2014 - 1:27 PM
I’m not so sure it was an oversight in the original specs or just second thoughts. When the new rigs go in service, they should have enough spare rigs: old Squad 1, old 5-1-1, and the two rigs to be replaced, that I doubt if crew cabs will be an issue. They also have old Engine 23 that has a crew cab and, in a jam, any old engine could operate as a spare.
I would not be surprised if the need for riding room for local fire fans and out town visitors is a factor.
I don’t understand how new rigs for Squad 7 would change ops at the airport. Perhaps you could explain that further. They could always use the minipumper as at third piece to the squad or a second piece to the tower ladder or one of the engines.
What might be of interest is that the new Squad 7A could be tied up in prolong operations while operating as a snorkel at a far northwest side Chicago or suburban fire. That is something for District 3 to consider.
#11 by NJ on January 2, 2014 - 9:15 AM
Bill,
Are you saying Fleet made these purchases without CFD input? Because if they do put one of these sets at Squad 7 (assuming they ever come) it will totally change both units and effect ops significantly.
#12 by NJ on January 2, 2014 - 9:07 AM
My understanding is the 4 door issue is true. The city needs that (and whoever missed that in the initial drawings should be sacked) because if the main unit goes OOS, they need to be able to all ride the Snorkel so the whole squad doesn’t go OOS.
On the issue of putting heavy extrication equipment on some of the Truck Co’s that is vital. On a far South Side pin in wreck, if they need a squad, but the squad is tied up a fire or other incident, they have a loooooooong wait. Of all the things, it boggles the mind that this hasn’t been done.
#13 by danny on January 2, 2014 - 1:20 AM
heard awhile ago production hit a snag because the city decided they want 4 door cabs on the Snorkel pieces now but never hear if there was any truth to it
#14 by Bill Post on January 1, 2014 - 2:29 PM
On the subject of Squad 7 being equipped with a Snorkel instead of a mini foam pumper like is currently has, to my understanding it was someone at Fleet management in a “so called effort” to simplify things had decided to just “add on” to the order of the “city Snorkel Squads” instead of separately specing and ordering the Squad for O”Hare as was previously done. All of the current Squads are basically the same age and were delivered in 2000 so Fleet management person or people just decided to make all of the Squads as part of the same order.
I don’t necessarily agree with that move as the “City proper located Squads” are much busier and have much more and varied fire duty then Squad 7 does.There is no question that having a mini foam pumper as a second piece was a good idea for Squad 7. I don’t have the latest running statistics for the Squads and the latest run numbers that I have are from 2010 so things could have changed a bit but the run numbers for 2010 were
Squad 5 – 2,107
Squad 2 – 1,804
Squad 1 – 1.357
Squad 7 – 1,010
As those figures are from 3 years ago they could have changed somewhat but there is no question that Squad 5 is always the busiest Squad and Squad 7 is always the slowest Squad however it sometimes varies between Squads 1 and 2 as to who may be the busiest.
Kevin I presume that your suggestion of putting the “Old Squad 7 and 7a” at Midway would be as a Reserve piece because if a new Squad were to be put in service the ideal place for it is to be located on the far south side which would mainly cover the 6th fire district which would include Battalions 23,24,22 and 21. Squad 5 has a much larger running district then the other Squads in addition to being busier then the other Squads. If you take a good look at where there has been a good share of fire duty on the south side you’ll see that Battalion 22 and 23 get a pretty good share of it and of course Battalions 17,18 and 19 which is near the current Squad 5’s location. When the current (Snorkel) Squad’s were put in service on Sept 19,1983 Squad 5 was initially located with Engine 122 and were originally numbered as Squad 6 and a little over 4 years later on December 18th 1987 they were relocated to Engine 116 where they are today.
Engine 122’s house is still a good location for a Squad company (for the far south side) as the house is located just off of the Dan Ryan Expressway which would give it quick access to the far south side (Battalions 24,22 and 21) and they are located just west of the 23 rd Battalion which also gets alot of runs. While it makes a lot of sense it probably won’t happen even though the south side is larger both in area and in fire companies then the north or west sides. Short of putting a new Squad in service on the far south side a few Truck companies can have additional “Squad type” of equipment put on them (such as airbags) and could be known as “Squad Support or Heavy Extrication” Trucks which is how some fire departments already equip and use some of their Trucks. New York City has 25 of their 143 Trucks designated as ” Special Operations support companies”. In the Los Angeles City fire department all of their Trucks or “Light Forces” as they are known are equipped with Airbags and other Squad equipment and several of them supply manpower for their Urban Search and Rescue units. So having several Trucks with more Squad type of equipment on them does make some sense.
#15 by Kevin Griffin on January 1, 2014 - 11:38 AM
Cfd should put the old squad 7 and 7a at midway
#16 by spoung45 on December 28, 2013 - 4:33 PM
What is the status on the first ones being built? How soon till they are delivered?
#17 by Dennis on October 17, 2013 - 5:13 PM
The contract was awarded on 11-20-2012 and runs till 11-19-2017. The contract amount is $4,595,607.28
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#18 by CFD 1979 on July 1, 2013 - 11:37 AM
Everything at the airports is funded by the FAA so the apparatus there gets replaced regularly.
#19 by NJ on July 1, 2013 - 8:46 AM
I would think Squad 7 would have the fewest miles and hours. Why would they get new units before 2?
Also, are they getting rid of the mini pumpers and putting in a snorkel? For the airport, the mini’s are much more important than a snorkel, I would think.
#20 by CFD 1979 on June 30, 2013 - 9:32 PM
Squad 2 doesn’t have as much hours and miles on them as Squad 1 and 5 do. It’s more than likely that the new orders will go to Squad 7, 1, and 5.
#21 by FFEMT on June 30, 2013 - 9:22 PM
Before everyone has a massive MI due to speculation, just remember that NOTHING is final until it’s actually done. So everyone take a chill pill.
#22 by Mike Mc on June 30, 2013 - 8:42 PM
if one of the three sets is going to O’Hare, does that mean someone is going out of service? The three city squads all have rigs the same age. It would makes sense to replace all three at the same time.
#23 by chris on June 30, 2013 - 6:57 PM
i heard lots of problems with the new trucks the order was for 30 but i think the city has only gotten 12 or13
#24 by Bill on June 30, 2013 - 5:21 PM
How do you know Spartan didnt put a bid in?
#25 by Josh Boyajian on June 30, 2013 - 12:41 PM
The city has had two pre-construction meetings with Rosenbauer within the last few months, as of right now there will be three sets built with one set to go to O’Hare to replace Squad 7. Also they city is out bidding for two new foam pumpers for O’Hare to replace Engine’s 9 and 10. Unknown right now who they will be built by. And lastly the first of 25 new 2013 Braun ambulances was delivered last month.
Also, do any of you guys have any info why Crimson/Spartan ERV hasn’t been building anything as in trucks or engines for the city in the past year? Thanks in advance.
#26 by Bob on June 3, 2013 - 1:13 PM
Is there an update on the status of the new Squads? Have they started to be built? Any photos or projected completion date?
#27 by David on February 3, 2013 - 6:38 AM
Boston has the first organized paid fire department in the World. I’ve seen the opinion that Vienna (Austria) had the very 1st paid fire service but the truth is that Boston was officially established in 1678 (!!!!!!!), Vienna few years later in 1686. On the other hand the CFD still is one of the oldest paid departments in the World.
#28 by Dennis on February 2, 2013 - 5:14 PM
In 1736 Benjamin Franklin established the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia.
#29 by DMc77 on February 2, 2013 - 2:06 PM
Cincinnati first fully paid professional FD in 1853…..
#30 by Chuck on February 2, 2013 - 12:58 PM
AN, You’re referring to UNIONIZED fire departments, I’m referring to the origin of the department. Boston had the first organized fire department in the nation.
#31 by AN25 on February 2, 2013 - 9:57 AM
Not sure why boston would have something to say…oldest “organized” dept would be Pittsburgh IAFF local 1
#32 by Chuck on February 2, 2013 - 2:22 AM
And where did they get that line about this being the “oldest organized fire department in the nation” business? The City of Boston might have something to say about that.
#33 by Brian on February 1, 2013 - 10:38 PM
Big difference with a new product in the rosenbauer “snorkel” and KME producing pumpers
#34 by Mark on February 1, 2013 - 6:12 PM
I’m sure they are only getting to a front in order to prove the design works. It’s completely new and never has been manufactured before. They are being smart, unlike FDNY just ordered 91 new KME engines that I have no experience with.
#35 by mike on January 31, 2013 - 8:43 PM
i’m going to go out on a limb and say the fourth squad is going to be a dedicated and probably stocked spare. that way if there is a deployment of some type or the 3 city units need to go into the spare the down time is reduced significantly.
#36 by Scott on January 31, 2013 - 1:10 PM
They may be doing two complete (4 units total) for the first order for 1) Budgetary reason 2) Since its the first snorkel of this design that Rosenbauer is building, find out what “bugs” and problems there may be and to refine those further for the next two. And the response area for Sqd 7 will probably remain the same regardless of it being a snorkel/squad or just the squad/mini-pumper they have now. Best would be to just wait and see. But I guess the speculation makes for good chatter the last 3 months on the blog!
#37 by Tony on January 31, 2013 - 5:48 AM
Makes you wonder if they are going to give Squad 7 a bigger response area since they will now be identical to the rest to take some of the wear off the other three companies
#38 by David on January 31, 2013 - 2:27 AM
@Keith: Definitely and I think the original version with the short cab looked way better than this.
Another thing – when all the CFD squads are some 12 years on the streets and need to be replaced asap, anybody knows why are they waiting with the full order and decided to purchase just 2 pairs of the rigs now?? It starts to look a bit like it was easier to get a man to the Moon back in the 60s than to get a replacement for the squads.
#39 by John C on January 31, 2013 - 1:29 AM
Which is exactly why I asked my question….
#40 by Brian on January 30, 2013 - 10:41 PM
Five year contract….a set of two on the first part of the order and probably will follow up later with two more sets.
#41 by John C on January 30, 2013 - 7:47 PM
Uhm…NO they’re not. It SPECIFICALLY says: “The initial order consists of TWO Rosenbauer 55? Articulating Cobra Platforms (ACP-55) and TWO Rosenbauer Walk-In Rescues”
#42 by Keith Grzadziel on January 30, 2013 - 6:32 PM
Between the current and previous draft prints, it appears that the specs have slightly changed. The snorkel apparatus cab is longer and the squad apparatus cab and body appear to be taller along with it’s cabinets.
#43 by TerryH on January 30, 2013 - 6:03 PM
John C. they are doing all 4 it’s a 2 piece squad company. from what i’ve heard and read they’re doing companies for squad 1,2,5 and one for o’hare. and since the last crimson engine they got for o’hare was painted yellow i’m assuming that the new squad company will be too
#44 by Tony on January 30, 2013 - 5:51 PM
Know what would be really cool? Seeing a set of these squads delivered in yellow for 7!
#45 by Turk-WLF on January 30, 2013 - 5:00 PM
I can’t want to see them & I hope we can see both Snorkel(s) & the ACP-55(s) together.
#46 by John on January 30, 2013 - 2:47 PM
Will this be replacing squad 7 at the airport?
#47 by rich on January 30, 2013 - 2:45 PM
can’t wait to see them.Hope they hold up.Its the first time that I know the city getting Rosenbauer.
#48 by John C on January 30, 2013 - 2:27 PM
Wonder why they’re only doing two…so they don’t get stuck with 4 full companies if they aren’t up to par? (not bashing Rosenbauer, heard great things about them, just curious)
#49 by Martin Nowak on January 30, 2013 - 2:02 PM
Cannot wait to see them.