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48 Comments (and one trackback)

• #1 by Anthony Jackson on September 7, 2016 - 12:02 AM

  

  Not surprised to see this , this is why i freaking love the CFD simply because they buy beautiful ass trucks like this and out fit them with perfection wish we were buying some trucks like this in Indianapolis but whatever it’s indy even though we do have the nice pierce trucks. Big ups to the windy city.

• #2 by jeremy meares on October 15, 2015 - 8:14 PM

  

  What happened with the Squad and Snorkel Order?

• Pingback: New tower ladders for Chicago | chicagoareafire.com

• #3 by tom sullivan on May 10, 2015 - 12:33 PM

  

  “J”

  I can only say thank you ,,and I am humbled by your comment !!!!

  as we were told may times,,,, “try to leave the job a little better than you found it.”
  I have the privilege to be associated with another small department here in mo. they have shown me again how the fire service is a job / calling like no other, besides our military, where values: tradition, honor, respect, pride, doing the right thing when nobody is watching, etc. still run deep.
  I know that the vast majority of the men & women of the CFD are trying to do that every day.

• #4 by danny on May 9, 2015 - 5:48 PM

  

  2 things guys

  1. the time table given places delivery at march or april of next year as 300 days from today is march 4th 2016.

  2. ive been very welcome in firehouses over the years. visit less frequently then i did before, but still visit if i can. i hear stories with every excuse under the sun from friends who try to go photograph apparatus. someone from tower 14 told my buddy that the city said they cant pull trucks out for photos cause it wastes fuel. i was once told someone at truck 19 i needed a waiver from the city to take any photographs. i know not everyone is as gung ho as we are about the job but its just as easy to say sorry we cant today try back instead of spewing BS lol

• #5 by Joel on May 8, 2015 - 10:58 PM

  

  300-330 days is average for a builder that is busy. They want a backlog, but usually strive to keep delivery times under a year. Builders that commonly can deliver in very short times are usually in trouble and not busy at all, and need the orders.

• #6 by Fred M on May 8, 2015 - 7:32 PM

  

  Is 300-330 day delivery a normal delivery time frame?

• #7 by J on May 8, 2015 - 3:24 PM

  

  Guys TJ (Tom Sullivan) was one of the best bosses on the job. If we were not getting fires he made sure we were better than prepared….A Friend and awesome leader who would never turn away those who respected our profession. He was and still is what a Firefighter should be unlike the Chgo guy who if he is on the job is probably that load who has to go from house to house because the real Firefighters of the department get tired of carrying his pansy ASS..In closing if that is you TJ God Bless ( The West Side Rat Pack still lives on)

• #8 by Gnarldtoad on May 8, 2015 - 3:18 PM

  

  I wonder if this might open the door for a E-one CR-137 for AT1??????

• #9 by Joel on May 8, 2015 - 12:22 AM

  

  If you read into the spec deeper, delivery time is 300-330 days, so they’re not pre built.

  You can read it all here:

  http://ecm.cityofchicago.org/eSMARTContracts/service/dpsweb/ViewDPSWeb.zul

• #10 by tom sullivan on May 7, 2015 - 9:44 PM

  

  steve and j said it well. a great fireman once told me “all the horses don’t pull the same way” .
  with now over 40 years in the fire service,,, truer words were never spoken !

• #11 by spoung45 on May 7, 2015 - 5:05 PM

  

  Thanks Steve and J(chief since you say your high ranking i can assume you are some sort of chief) now my question is, that this “firefighter” came on here to comment. Why would he even check this site out if he has that kind of view of fans? Hopefully I don’t become as jaded and this guy (provided i get in, passed the written test. and got my number it is highish, but i can only hope) once I get on the job.

• #12 by Crabby Milton on May 6, 2015 - 5:58 AM

  

  Many of us have read Walter M.P. McCall’s book from the mid 1970’s. Excellent book that got yours truly really interested in fire apparatus after buying it in the early 1980’s. As far as I can tell, Mr. McCall was never a firefighter so you may call him a wanabee. Some of us went in other directions as far as occupational paths are concerned. Walter McCall knows a great deal about fire apparatus and he never served as a firefighter so for some, that would mean childish name calling directed toward him and others like him would make the name callers day complete.
  I personally have never been to the South Pole. So by that standard, I can never comment about how cold it is down there.
  If some people want to call names, then go ahead I can take it and it’s up to the webmaster. But a good number of us will fight back since there is no law against having a great interest in something.
  By the way, I wrote to Walter McCall shortly after I bought that book because I got such a kick out of it and had some followup questions and he wrote back and was/is a gracious and humble gentleman.

• #13 by J on May 5, 2015 - 9:34 PM

  

  As a high ranking member of the CFD I apologize for the ignorance of the few…. the doors of the CFD are always open to all….and as far as Chgo Guy grow the “F” up…your ignorance is unspeakable….probably just another paycheck collector who has no clue what it means to be a Professional. Do you even know who Mr. Redick is… probably not because you do not have a set to post your name after making such comments…stay off this site….I can find you and will find you and then we can talk man to coward about your words but I know this would never happen because your are A COWARD …Note to webmaster please keep his punk off your site you know who he is by his email he deserves no acknowledgement by posting his comments…your readers and posters don’t need to waste their time with such an ASS.

• #14 by JOHN TOBIN on May 5, 2015 - 9:07 PM

  

  It saddens me to see fire fans get ripped…..as a 36 year FF and apparatus salesman I always took the time and showed respect to the public regardless if it was a station tour or apparatus photo shoot……we need and should embrace those who are interested in what we do.

  In the question about the Aerialscopes, I brought an FDNY pumper and another driver brought a scope into the CFD shops along with the Seagrave factory sales manager, a number of years back now……while they did like the rig very much, CFD quickly said the mid mound design would be a definite deterrent, as they would quickly be crashed….and at 1.2 million a pop, pricing was just not in the same universe.

• #15 by Eric Haak on May 5, 2015 - 6:50 PM

  

  The last time I used the term “dork” to describe someone was probably about 1985 when I was a sophomore in high school. That probably says quite a lot about the character of some of our recent posters. Some people never mentally leave high school even though they graduated decades ago.

• #16 by Otis Morgan on May 5, 2015 - 5:37 PM

  

  Hello from beautiful NW Illinois.
  I thought I remembered seeing a post which included the company name that will now be building the snorkel, telesquirt, etc.
  Can anyone help me remember?
  Really enjoy this sight, brings back a lot of memories, thanks!

  • #17 by Admin on May 5, 2015 - 6:25 PM

    

    http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2014/06/smeal-buys-lti-and-snorkel/

• #18 by Crabby Milton on May 5, 2015 - 11:49 AM

  

  He’s also forgets who pays his salary though his service needs to be thanked on a regular basis. I can only imagine that any number of my fellow apparatus fans go out of their way to make pests of themselves. I only visit a station if they are having open house or some other event since I don’t want to bother people so perhaps, Chgo has had troulbe with such people. But that doesn’t mean we all act that way.
  Indeed, why does he come on here if he doesn’t like us unless he just wants to blast people who have an insterest in something he thinks we shouldn’t.

• #19 by Steve Redick on May 5, 2015 - 11:10 AM

  

  I feel the need to comment on the recent remarks from Chgo guy…I freely admit the fire fan community can be somewhat fanatical at times…and I imagine that if I were on the job I would get tired of guys coming to the house wanting to shoot the rigs all the time..We fans need to realize that the whole fire department thing is just a job to some guys…Not everyone has such an intense interest in what is going on the CFD. I think that sometimes we fans do get carried away with tiny details and analyze every little thing. I can see how a non fan member would get frustrated with this However,the guys lucky enough to be on the job need to realize that many of us are and have always been wannabes and really love taking photos and getting info on various fire departments. It’s ironic that the same guy who thinks we are a pain in the ass is turning toward a site that us fire fans built and contribute to..and provide excellent historical information. We both need to think about the issues raised here and try to appreciate where each other is coming from. We all have our opinions but at the end of the day we all share a common bond and we should acknowledge that and try to be a little more appreciative of what we have created TOGETHER.

• #20 by FARTIN' FRED on May 5, 2015 - 9:53 AM

  

  1) pardon my ignorance (I’m not expert, just a respectful fan), but why is CFD’s ordering of tower ladders such a big deal, & topic of such controversy??
  2) I would LOVE to FART on ‘Chgo guy,’ after eating a BIG plate of BEANS.

• #21 by Rj on May 5, 2015 - 9:52 AM

  

  I can’t imagine these are already built as the Chicago spec’s are vastly different from the Houston-Galveston spec bid they got into. E-One wouldn’t build a Houston-Galveston spec tower and then remove the pump, modify ladder storage etc, far too expensive. Maybe they’re just a rolling chassis with torque box and main mounted at best??

• #22 by Westside on May 4, 2015 - 10:28 PM

  

  i believe these 3 Towers are already built, just need to be modified. so its not a year out like normal. as for the Squads. they desperately need new ones. now the Snorkels are being built again, IMO is the reason the city canceled the order from rosenbauer.

• #23 by Eric on May 4, 2015 - 9:40 PM

  

  @Fleet guy – any idea whatever happened to E-249 and E-253?

  • #24 by Fleet guy on May 5, 2015 - 4:22 AM

    

    253 was used as parts for the others, not sure about 249.

• #25 by Tom Foley on May 4, 2015 - 6:36 PM

  

  Unless you’re in the know, it’s a pure speculation question…

  Do you think this order was pushed though because the Snorkel/squad deal died out? Or, do you think this was already in the works AND expected to occur at this time? I’m suggesting maybe since they had money set aside for the squads that they pushed this up quicker… but who knows.

  Had the Snorkel/squad deal officially went through AND now this… I think a few blog readers would have wet themselves.

• #26 by DMc77 on May 4, 2015 - 5:52 PM

  

  When we were speccing our truck 18-ish months ago, we asked Seagrave about an Aerialscope and were told the 95′ started at $1,250,000. I could see that being $1.3 million now, and the ground ladder and tool setup for FDNY is very different than CFD. Although it would be great to have a Chicago area Aerialscope.

• #27 by JSvens on May 4, 2015 - 5:02 PM

  

  Wouldn’t it actually be a punishment to force TL34 to take another E-One? 😉

• #28 by David on May 4, 2015 - 3:57 PM

  

  @mike mc: I think it’s pretty much the same case like FDNY which never tested any Snorkel. I also thought that they may have been curious to see how it’s gonna work compared to their TLs but they never purchased a single piece.

• #29 by Fleet guy on May 4, 2015 - 3:56 PM

  

  Fleet usually replaces apparatus based on age, mileage wear and tear. Don’t be surprised if Tower 34 becomes a Truck. You might see Tower 27 again or Tower Ladder 40. The plan is to replace 39, 37 & 21. Tower 34 getting a hand me down or as stated moving the tower 27 or 40. There is a real push to get rid of the E-ONE open cab spares. E-248, E250, E251 & E 252. Of course a rig swap is a possibility to as in 2002 when the piece towers were purchased tower 37 got 10’s LTI and 21 got 14’s.

• #30 by Josh on May 4, 2015 - 3:34 PM

  

  Price for all (3). The pumps and tanks will be removed fellas, if you take the time and read it, it say clearly what they’re going to do.

• #31 by Tom on May 4, 2015 - 2:47 PM

  

  Is that the price per unit or for all 3 Towers?

• #32 by Chgo guy on May 4, 2015 - 1:02 PM

  

  You friggin dorks and fire fans … Who cares where they go. Once they arrive, they will be put where ever the bosses want them to go. And then once that happens then all you fire fan photographer dorks can come to the firehouses and take photos… And ask us to move rigs, cause the lighting isn’t right, the sun is making a shadow, or whatever. Give me a break! Who gives two shits where they go. When they arrive and are put into service we will all know. Who cares about half the crap you guys are talking about!

  And you dorks talking about accidents and “oh its old”, and it would be best put at so and so house… Give me a break. Your say has nothing in this process. Go build your model firehouses out of legos and Lincoln logs and pretend you had our job!

  • #33 by MABAS 21 on May 5, 2015 - 8:51 AM

    

    Chgo guy,
    You’re entitled to your opinion, but if you don’t care about anything on this site why are you even on it? Does it make you feel more of a man to rip on the fans? Oh I know, you’re a big bad CITY firefighter who thinks he knows everything and rips on fans, vollies and suburban guys. If it wasn’t for them, this site wouldn’t exist! Also alot of commentors on here ARE on the job whether the CITY or burbs.

    So it kills you to move a piece of apparatus outside for a fan to take pictures of it, big deal!!! You’re probably one of those Mutts on the job who’s in a Crow house that doesn’t turn a wheel, sleeps all day, and see’s a fire once a year! Get over yourself and give them a break!

    • #34 by Robert on May 5, 2015 - 7:42 PM

      

      Do you have any other rants? Dinner at the house was over cooked? Be nice to the buffs, a good number of them become firefighters. Others might not but that’s because of challenges in their lives or maybe they found something better to do that pays them better. Not everyone is like you.

• #35 by Scott on May 4, 2015 - 12:41 PM

  

  E-one better check their bid sheet posted, if I read this right does it say a “3000” gallon tank??? I’m sure it is supposed to say 300. Also one post mentioned Chicago will be pulling the pump and tank.

• #36 by Marty Coyne on May 4, 2015 - 12:00 PM

  

  Yes TL34 will NOT be getting a new rig.

• #37 by chris on May 4, 2015 - 11:21 AM

  

  Let’s hope they’re not oos as often as the airports new eone engines are

• #38 by Joe on May 4, 2015 - 10:38 AM

  

  It would make the most sense for these to go to TL 37, 34, and 39 or 21. However, we know that the thing that makes the most sense doesn’t always happen. TL 37, 39, and 21 are all 1996 HME, 34 is a 1988 E-One. The way I see it, if you give new rigs to the companies that have 1996 HMEs, then you hand down a 1996 HME to TL 34 to replace its 1988 E-One? That doesn’t make a lot of sense. They could give the new towers to companies with the newer Pierces, but that would still leave 34, 37, 39, or 21 in a rig that’s approaching 20 years old. My guess would be that they’ll do it based on who is busiest and or who has the greatest need. Obviously the biggest need right now in terms of rig age is tower 34 as their rig is now 27 years old. I’d be interested in seeing the run statistics for each company as well.

  0.03, do you really think that the city will make their decision about where to put a new tower ladder based on the amount of crashes/accidents that companies have had in their rigs? Unless it was blatant negligence on the part of the driver, I can’t see that being a factor. Even if it was negligence on the part of the driver, the city can’t and won’t “punish” that company by vindictively not giving them a new piece of apparatus when one is available.

• #39 by Chuck on May 4, 2015 - 10:08 AM

  

  Mike, an Aerialscope, while a great rig for the FDNY, wouldn’t have flown here. Guys are too used to having a real ladder to climb up and down. And a one of a kind rig never fares well in Chicago.

• #40 by mike mc on May 4, 2015 - 10:04 AM

  

  This may finally be the end of the reserve snorkel. It would seem logical to replace it with one of the reserve tower ladders.

  Never understood why Chicago never considers an aerial-scope. You think they would have purcashed at least one over the last 30 years to see if it fits their needs.

• #41 by 0.03 on May 4, 2015 - 8:04 AM

  

  they will not give tower 34 a new tower. They destroyed their Pierce and have wrecked several other spares they have been given. Guessing they will get a new hand me down.

  • #42 by the animal on May 4, 2015 - 9:59 AM

    

    Before you rebuttal….. you talking to someone whos been assigned to eng 72 for 18yrs. Never wrecked “seven” spares. The city dont even have that many spare towers. The 2002 perice got wrecked and the officer almost got killed. Thankfully the officer at the time was a shorter man, so show some respect. Yes a spare did hit a tree branch and the basket was repaired. The currently tl34 was the second spare given to the company only because of nipfa standards and a closed cab. The first spare is still in service. So where is these other 5 spares you speak of? Or are you just listening to those 1b accidents that damn near ever company in the city has on a daily basis? Tell your mayor to get traffic yields outside of our fire houses city wide before someone gets killed ignoring the apparatus backing into quarters. If you wanna talk about something lets talk about that. Not throw shade.

    • #43 by 0.03 on May 4, 2015 - 4:51 PM

      

      I didn’t say seven I said several. I am glad that the officer was ok after the crash too.

• #44 by GA Firefighter on May 4, 2015 - 6:00 AM

  

  No read on down and you see they delete the tank and pump, also the aluminum wheels and ground ladders. Then they add back Chicago items, steel wheels, front suction, 218′ of ground ladders.

• #45 by Rich on May 4, 2015 - 4:47 AM

  

  Did i read right they have pumps?

• #46 by Westside on May 3, 2015 - 11:12 PM

  

  TL34 should get the first one being they have the 88 still. TL10 & 14 may get new ones and theirs handed down to 21, 37, or 39 is by guess. thats what happened when the Pierce’s first came to the street.

  hell maybe even TL5.

• #47 by Shaan smith on May 3, 2015 - 10:48 PM

  

  This is big news what website did you find this

• #48 by Tom Foley on May 3, 2015 - 9:18 PM

  

  Let the speculation begin…

  Will these simply replace current towers? Go into service in place of an aerial?

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