2-Alarm fire in Waukegan, 12-25-20 (more)

Photos by Eric Haak of the 2-Alarm fire in Waukegan, 12-25-20

Seagrave Marauder Aerialscope at work covered with ice

Eric Haak photo

Deerfield Firefighter encrusted with ice at winter fire

Eric Haak photo

Tags: 2-Alarm fire in Waukegan, building under demolition burns on Christmas morning, chicagoareafire.com, Eric Haak, fire scene photos, firefighter covered with ice, Firefighter encrusted in ice, Gurnee Fire Department, Seagrave Marauder AerialScope at fire scene, Waukegan FD Truck 1, Waukegan Fire Department

This entry was posted on December 25, 2020, 2:15 PM and is filed under Apparatus on-scene, Fire Scene photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

7 Comments

#1 by Michael m on December 28, 2020 - 9:47 PM

Love the photo of the truck covered in ice.
#2 by Mike C on December 28, 2020 - 10:35 AM

Who here has operated the Aerialscope? WOW, they are awesome but I’ll admit, if I ever had to use the escape ladder, I’d be hanging on tight!!!
#3 by Chuck on December 28, 2020 - 10:01 AM

If I remember my Fire Science apparatus class correctly, the NFPA used to differentiate between a Tower Ladder and a Ladder Tower. According to the definitions, what the FDNY runs is a tower ladder, because the primary functioning of the apparatus is the bucket – while there is a ladder across the top of the boom, it is solely for purposes of emergency escape. What Chicago has are technically Ladder Towers, because the ladder is the primary use of the apparatus and the basket is secondary to the apparatus.
#4 by Mike C on December 27, 2020 - 5:11 PM

Bill – Thank you for the information. I knew most of this information but you taught me some additional things today. Thank you!

Sebastian – The Aerialscope is a crane with a basket on it! The Aerialscope isn’t for every department but they are designed around longevity. In fact, it’s not uncommon for an Aerialscope to be refurbished after 40 years of use and installed on a new chassis.
#5 by Bill Post on December 27, 2020 - 1:06 PM

Yes Mike C, the New York City Fire Department has 61 Aerialscopes in service out of 143 ladder companies. They were New York City’s answer to the Snorkel and their first was put in service in 1964. The Aerialscope was initially manufactured by the Truco Company and mounted on a Mack chassis with the C-Model cab for New York City. The Baker Company took over the rights to the Aerialscope several years later.

New York initially planned to place 10 around the city with several in each of the five boroughs. As you know, they purchased many more. There are three Aerialscopes in service for approximately for every four straight ladders.

Originally, Aerialscopes were only built as 75-foot models however by the 1980s the FDNY started looking into purchasing some taller elevating platforms. So around 1980/81 they purchased two Sutphen 100-foot aerial towers and about year or two later they purchased two rear-mounted, LTI 100-foot tower ladders on low-profile American LaFrance chassis. They also purchased two Mack/Baker 95-foot Aerialscopes. After testing the different units they decided to stay with the tried and true Aerialscope design.

The FDNY wanted to replace their 75-foot Aerialscopes with the newer 95-foot model however many of the stations couldn’t accommodate the apparatus that was heavier and longer. So, they have 15 that are 95-foot models and the remaining 46 are the 75-foot model. They never had a Snorkel while the Chicago has never had an Aerialscope. Milwaukee had one of one each during the mid 1970s through early 80s.

Philadelphia is one of the last big city fire departments that still has an 85-foot Snorkel, however their remaining two Snorkels and two mid-mounted tower ladders are being replaced with Seagrave 75-foot Aerialscopes.

Sebastian, the Aerialscopes which the FDNY refers to as tower ladders are not true tower ladders. They are telescopic metal retractable booms while the mid-mounted tower ladders are just that, aerial ladders with a basket. While Pierce, E-One, Ferrara, Spartan, KME, LTI, Smeal, and Rosenbauer manufacture mid-mounted tower ladders, the Sutphen Corporation uses another design which also isn’t a true tower ladder. They use an open lattice design telescopic boom, some of which feature a built-in ladder on the top. Some Aerialscopes also have an escape ladder which is not the same as an aerial ladder.
#6 by Sebastian on December 27, 2020 - 10:09 AM

I’m curious.. what is the main difference between an Aerialscope and a mid mount tower ladder?
#7 by Mike C on December 27, 2020 - 7:44 AM

The Aerialscope is an amazing innovation!