This from Jeff Harkey:
Hey guys,
Thought you might want to run these pics of this Smeal/LTI/Spartan 55’ Snorkel demo. The unit appeared this week at the North Carolina Fire Chief’s Association Mid-Winter Conference in Concord, NC.
According to the Smeal dealer, this is the fourth unit produced so far, and carries #nn0004. The Frankfort unit was the first, and two additional rigs have been produced.
The dealer also mentioned that the Memphis, TN Fire Department will be receiving a future 55’ unit.
Sorry, but no info on what departments received units 002 or 003.
Take care,
Jeff
Jeff Harkey photo
Jeff Harkey photo
Jeff Harkey photo
Jeff Harkey photo
Jeff Harkey photo
Jeff Harkey photo
#1 by David on February 10, 2017 - 2:46 PM
Speaking of the old shops, is there still any chance that the CFD could take over the maintenance of it’s own apparatus fleet again? Looks like there has been a lot of problems for the last 17 years when the “fleet” was in charge of this.
#2 by Michael M on February 10, 2017 - 1:36 PM
It is certainly nice to see new snorkels coming off the production line. What’s done is done in regards to Chicago, the city will just have to make the best of it.
#3 by Fred M on February 9, 2017 - 1:35 PM
Has there been any feedback from Frankfort or others on the quality of the Smeal Snorkels??
#4 by John H on February 7, 2017 - 9:09 PM
Thanks for the response, Marty!
#5 by scott on February 7, 2017 - 4:23 PM
Bill, there was legal action regarding the contract in an attempt to cancel it, that is why the long delay in even building them. As you see, Rosenbauer won the outcome.
#6 by FFPMTom on February 7, 2017 - 2:47 PM
FUBAR
#7 by John H on February 7, 2017 - 7:53 AM
What exactly is the delay in getting the new squads up and running?
#8 by Marty Coyne on February 7, 2017 - 8:27 AM
The design had coffin compartments on top off the rig. This prevents the lower boom from moving unless it’s completely vertical, not how they often used. Rosenbauer is now making modifications to the compartments at city cost to alleviate this.
#9 by Marty Coyne on February 7, 2017 - 1:08 AM
Bill I don’t think there’s any question fleet taking over from the CFD shops has been anything but bad. It was and remains a very poor decision.
As for the Rosenbauer rigs not being in service that is due to a really bad job on the original specs. The builder doesn’t matter if the design is screwed.
#10 by Bill Post on February 7, 2017 - 12:14 AM
The problem is that when Chicago ordered the Rosenbauer imitations it was before Smeal officially acquired the rights to build the “Snorkel”. Another question is could have Chicago broken the contract with Rosenbauer once it was signed and agreed to? I doubt it. This is all water under the bridge and nothing more but speculation but I can’t help but wonder that if the fire departments apparatus and maintenance division would have remained under the control of the Fire Department instead of becoming part of the “Fleet Management Department” would have these oversights with the current Rosenbauer “platforms” have been avoided as when the fire department was exclusively in charge of it own apparatus and maintenance it was run and supervised by actual fire chiefs who were dedicated to the Chicago Fire Department as opposed to the current “Fleet Management” appointees who didn’t specialize in Fire Apparatus the way the Chicago Fire Department” shops” did?
#11 by Chuck on February 6, 2017 - 9:51 PM
What Chicago SHOULD have had instead of the white elephants yet to go in service. Nice going, guys.