More on the CFD Special Operations equipment and apparatus.
These images from Steve Redick.
Chicago FD Special Operations support unit 5-6-5. Steve Redick photo
Chicago FD Special Operations Collapse Rescue unit 5-2-5. Steve Redick photo
Chicago FD Special Operations mobile command post unit 2-7-9. Steve Redick photo
Chicago FD Special Operations sewer vac unit 5-2-4. Steve Redick photo
See the previous Special Operations apparatus photos posted.
#1 by Bill Post on November 27, 2013 - 7:18 PM
Tom Sullivan it is ironic that the Los Angeles City Fire Department has been using “Heavy Duty Wreckers” for years as a regularly manned and responding “Special Operations” apparatus where it was originally known as a heavy utility company or “HU” for short and in recent years it was renamed a “Heavy Rescue Company” even though it is quite different than most other fire department’s “Heavy Rescue Companies” as it only runs with 2 men and is not more then a heavy duty wrecker with a hoist and winch and some power tools on board.
Since the late 90’s and early 2000’s they have put in service 6 Urban Search and Rescue units, which in most fire departments would be a heavy rescue company as they are large box style rescue squads. The only thing is that in Los Angeles 5 of the 6 Urban Search and Rescue companies are cross manned by their Light Forces and the Urban Search and Rescue Company that does have a “dedicated crew” of only 2 men per shift still needs to be cross manned by a Light Force. A Light Force is a 2-piece truck or in reality a 2-piece quint company. Of the current 42 trucks that are run by the Los Angeles City Fire Department all but one of them run with an engine that runs as the second piece to the truck and is known as a Light Force. The Light Force engine is numbered as a 200 or 300 series engine and only runs with an engineer which enables the truck to take on engine duties if needed and that’s why most of their trucks are in effect 2-piece quints. If they run with a fully-manned engine (in addition to the truck’s chase engine then it is known as a Task Force. Either way most of the heavy rescue duty is actually done by the Light Force crews as their Urban Search and Rescue companies are cross manned.
#2 by Drew G. on November 27, 2013 - 6:30 PM
31st and Sacramento, now a fleet shop for Streets and San or CDOT
#3 by Tom on November 27, 2013 - 4:02 PM
Speaking of shops, where was the shop scene filmed at in Backdraft?
#4 by tom sullivan on November 27, 2013 - 9:06 AM
over the years when the cfd had it’s own shops, there were many different tow trucks of various sizes, along with many other shop vehicles. mechanics / electricians vans, there were fuel trucks, supply delivery, ladder delivery, even an “iron lung” delivery vehicle back in the 1950s. the Chicago civil defense corps also operated a heavy duty ex military boom truck. as the need arose cfd would also make use of the cta heavy tow vehicles or idot units on the expressways.
#5 by David on November 27, 2013 - 3:41 AM
@Steve: The CFD don’t operate their own wreckers for about 13 years now since the Dept. of Fleet Management took over the old shops around 2000 or 2001.
As to the 7-5-4 Autocar/Challenger, I don’t really think this rig was the CFD’s first heavy wrecker. They had a 1984 IHC Paystar/Challenger 20 ton wrecker (7-5-9) and before that a 1973 Mack MB/Holmes.
When speaking about the older wreckers anybody knows if the CFD operated any small tow trucks back in the 70s?!
#6 by steve on November 26, 2013 - 10:21 PM
Does cfd have a heavy wrecker?
#7 by Chuck on November 26, 2013 - 8:54 PM
CFD’s first heavy wrecker was a Streets and San or O’Hare castoff. Was painted a dark maroon color.
#8 by Danny on November 27, 2013 - 12:27 AM
7-5-4 I believe
#9 by Steve on November 26, 2013 - 12:58 PM
Most suburban departments/MABAS teams/CART teams have some agreement with their Public Works Department to supply a Vac truck when necessary. Its not cost effective for Technical Rescue Teams in the suburbs to own and maintain their own Vac truck, but it’s a great tool when needed.
#10 by NJ on November 26, 2013 - 8:28 AM
Old streets and san truck. Passed from one dept to another. A cheap cost effective way to obtain a valuable asset that when needed will save lives. If it’s used once a decade, it’s still worth it as it cost little more than a paint job with some lighting.
#11 by Scott on November 25, 2013 - 7:19 PM
The Vac truck has its place and value in a trench collapse and other Technical Rescue incidents. It has been used across the U.S. by TRT/USAR teams with success. Like any piece of equipment it has it’s place.
#12 by chris on November 25, 2013 - 7:15 PM
that truck looks to be a 90’s truck that as from water management the fd had repainted and customized
#13 by chris r on November 25, 2013 - 1:33 PM
If 5-2-4 saves one life because it was available , then it was worth it .
#14 by David on November 25, 2013 - 11:19 AM
@Scott Fischer: Well I guess that’s exactly the reason why the CFD decided to purchase their own rig, from what I’ve heard they used to wait for Streets & sanitation for hours so they bought this truck to speed it up a bit. Sure an irreplaceable tool in certain situations still it’ll be interesting to know how many runs did they have, say, for the last year.
#15 by Scott Fischer on November 25, 2013 - 10:45 AM
In New York City, Consolidated Edison (ConEd), the primary electric and steam utility, has a large fleet of these vacuum trucks. When FDNY needs one at a trench rescue or other type of job, they request one from ConEd who then responds with a police or fire escort to the scene.
#16 by Brian on November 23, 2013 - 7:44 PM
5-2-4 is a new addition and not going anywhere anytime soon.
#17 by george on November 23, 2013 - 6:03 PM
I worked whit this same type vac truck at public works at streamwood il it would suck rocks and mud quick I used it many times at 30 feet deep it 5-2-4 is great for Chicago.
#18 by 0.02 on November 23, 2013 - 4:52 PM
The vac truck is supposed to be for trench collapse and other incidents that would require rescuers to vacuum material away from a victim. It’s a great concept that works.
#19 by Dan on November 23, 2013 - 4:20 PM
What do the support units carry?
#20 by Davis on November 23, 2013 - 2:37 PM
Does the special operations unit still have the old ford box truck in service?
#21 by David on November 23, 2013 - 1:51 PM
Love the 5-2-4 vac truck, just wondering if the CFD plans to keep this type of rig in the future or it was just an experimental affair. Never saw this “vacuum cleaner” type of rig in any other fire department.