This from Michael Maida:
I happened to see the new Tower 15 sitting in front of Hanover Park Station 15 on Friday.
Mike Maida
Michael Maida photo
Michael Maida photo
Michael Maida photo
From the Pierce Flickr page:
Pierce Village of Hanover Park, IL so#30809
The current truck will go into reserve and they are selling 2 reserve engines.
thanks Ron
#1 by anthony R on January 28, 2018 - 3:17 PM
pierce all day
Pingback: New tower ladder for Hanover Park « chicagoareafire.com
#2 by Jim on January 18, 2018 - 1:21 PM
Sebastian,
Elgin runs 3 people on suppression apparatus and 2 on ambulances. At station 1 and 2 they used to run 3 on the ambulances which would jump to a truck. Now the ambulances are permanently staffed and the engine personnel jump to the truck. I would agree with your comments regarding suppression equipment in the fact that many continue to buy apparatus that they can’t staff or require jump companies. Many times they jump to to staff equipment for out of town responses. Many in the suburbs would be better served to run a FDNY style squad all the time rather than jump apparatus.
#3 by Dan J on January 16, 2018 - 7:48 AM
Great looking Truck! Congrats HPFD.
#4 by Cmk420 on January 15, 2018 - 9:24 AM
Sebastian – there is a lot of cost cutting going on these days. You see a lot if it documented here. I think that is one of the biggest problems with the fire service right now. Like I said though, apparatus still have to be replaced over time.
I am also not endorsing what Hanover Park did, but I think what we all need to do is take a step back and come to the realization that we don’t know what HPFD is doing with their new tower; only they do. Maybe someone, who knows more about the inner workings of the department, will post something.
#5 by Sebastian on January 14, 2018 - 10:52 PM
If YOU WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THE TiME TO READ whatvi actually wrote!! Its nothing against the cheif or the village. My concern is how are you going to safely operate a truck or function as a truck company with 2ppl?? Its not about hanover park or the cheif or his department!! Its about how villages can justify purchasing such expensive vehicle that they cannot staff properly.!! That is all i am saying! I live in elgin where they made such cuts due to budgets!! Now their crews run with 2 on the engines and trucks and ambos. Instead of 3. They cut 2 members per shit to save money on overtime. All i am saying is there has to be another solution to the staffing issues. I am sorry if anyone gets offended. I am simply stating an opinion.
#6 by Bill on January 14, 2018 - 10:34 PM
That’s a great cheering section for the Chief, but back to the original question. I do believe that they jump the medics to the truck. So….when the ambulance is in quarters the residents will get the best service they can with the shiny new truck. Other than that, you will have the staffed tower ladders from surrounding towns there.
#7 by Cmk420 on January 14, 2018 - 10:33 PM
Look, fire vehicles have a life span. If you try to extend the life, then you run the risk of further damage & extensive repairs. When it comes time to replace them, then it happens. If they utilize Tower 15 as more than just a jump company, and staff it properly, then the cost will be more justified. The department, I assume, has a plan for it. Chief Haigh has been there for a long time. While I don’t know him, I would guess he knows what he is doing. Let’s just wait and see before “judgment is passed”.
#8 by Zach C on January 14, 2018 - 6:17 PM
Sebastian – Please stop! Chief Haigh is a class act! He represents the fire service better than most! He is incredibly wise, loves people, loves his firefighters! I am not affiliated with Hanover Park in anyway but I can assure you he knows the fire service so well that this truck was purchased with intentions of serving the residents, and businesses of Hanover Park better. I can assure you this truck was purchased with intentions of protecting and utilizing his firefighters better. I would’ve much preferred Hanover Park buy something other than Pierce but I’m confident this truck will serve the community well. If you are a resident or spend time in Hanover Park to any capacity, I can assure you, you are in the best of hands!
#9 by Sebastian on January 14, 2018 - 9:50 AM
Mark, i understand all that!! I just don’t understand the
Thought process of board of trustees or mayors or city government
Thinking that it is ok to staff a rig with two people?? how are truck companies suppose to do search and rescue and vent the roof or man the main?? Call in mutual aid to operate your rig?? While all of these managers are reaking hugh bonuses at the end of the year. That is what i don’t get. Its nothing against the cheif or the department. Just don’t get why the fire service is always the one to suffer cuts or set back first. They cry that their budgets are out of wack but they seem to find millions to purchase or lease fire equipment. Maybe i am overthinking this don’t know.
#10 by Mark on January 14, 2018 - 7:34 AM
Sebastian and Chuck- Salary, pension, benefits in suburbs(CFD actually more expensive) about $120K-140K/year PER FF/PM when at top pay! Then 3 FF per rig, well that $360K (on the low side). Are you going to staff it just one shift? No there’s 3 shifts. $360 X 3 shifts= $1,080,000.00. THAT million dollars IS AN EVERY YEAR COST! Cost new Pierce PUC TL Quint- approx. $1.3M, and you’ll get 15-20 years out of THAT $1.3 million dollars. New straight truck w/o a pump runs $750K. So, That’s where the Chief got his numbers. Either way it ALL costs a lot of money. Most (not all) bosses try to get the “best” solution to the money/ manpower/ equipment balancing act. And yes Sebastian, you can staff your older trucks and keep the manning, but when you can’t get parts, and rigs are breaking EVERY day, and break down on calls, then you have the opposite effect. Your citizens don’t get served, because that manpower doesn’t make it to THEIR emergency. Hope that sheds some light on a not always so easy balancing act.
#11 by Don Adams on January 14, 2018 - 7:14 AM
Anyone that knows Chief Haigh will tell you that his people come first! If he felt the need for this TL, I can assure you that a big part of this decision was for the safety of his firefighters. I can’t speak for the city council but I can for Chief Haigh. Keep up the good fight Chief!
#12 by Chuck on January 14, 2018 - 4:38 AM
Dan, where do you get that the yearly manpower cost for a 3 man company costs the same as this rig? You’re saying it a million dollars a year to staff one truck? Based on what, exactly?
#13 by Sebastian on January 14, 2018 - 1:10 AM
@ Cheif Drew Smith. With all do respect cheif. I understand where you are coming
From, but thinng that bothers me is when there are only
2 ff’s instead of say 3 or perhaps 4 ff’s. How is that even
Safe?? for example look at Elgin il fire department
They lost their court hearing and now need to staff 5 ffs
At two houses jumping between an engine, truck and ambo. Tell
Me how is it possibley safe let alone functional at a fire scene
To have 2 ff’s on a rig?? That is what i don’t understand. It’s nice to have a rig with all the bells and whistles but i’d rather have my older less expensive rig for which i could afford to staff than the new rig fully loaded but understaffed. Thank you.
#14 by Drew Smith on January 14, 2018 - 12:06 AM
The annual cost to staff a truck company with three full time members is equal to or greater than the purchase price of 100-foot tower ladder with pump. Using a TL as a quint for a still district (versus an engine) or as a jump company may be the best available financial solution for some communities.
#15 by Crabby Milton on January 13, 2018 - 5:32 PM
Very impressive beautiful monster.
#16 by Eric Haak on January 13, 2018 - 4:26 PM
I know it’s just aesthetics but I like the way the black aerial looks.
#17 by Rich on January 13, 2018 - 2:51 PM
What a great looking truck
#18 by Cmk420 on January 13, 2018 - 2:12 PM
So, they are selling two reserve engines and keeping the old tower?? How many do they have, and where are they? I thought they only had two reserve engines?
#19 by Michael M on January 13, 2018 - 1:58 PM
Which two engines will Hanover Park sell? I am guessing they will sell the 2000 Alexis, do they have another engine to sell? Or will they sell the E-One that is in reserve?
#20 by Bob on January 13, 2018 - 1:00 PM
The suburbs can properly put a green light on an apparatus but Chicago, not so much…
#21 by Sebastian on January 13, 2018 - 11:43 AM
All of these suburbs are buying million dollar vehicles
And can’t fully staff them.. perhaps they should put the money on the staff and not on all the bells and whistles of the trucks!! Just an opinion!!
#22 by Mike on January 13, 2018 - 11:22 AM
Is the ambulance still jumping to the tower or is the tower staffed now?