This from Bill Post:
The 230-foot Bronto Sky-Lift on a Mack triple-axle chassis which was delivered to the Toronto Fire Department in December 2021 was first put to use (for lighting purposed) about 5 months ago.It is a special-call rig cross manned by the crew of Tower 333 a 116-foot Bronto Sky-Lift.I don’t know if any attempts have been made to sell Bronto Sky-Lifts to Chicago. I am aware of some of their shortcomings, however I have long thought that this would be a great special-call apparatus for Chicago. A Bronto Sky-Lift is still better for rescue work than a straight 137-foot aerial ladder such as Aerial Tower 8.This is especially relevant at the moment given the 4-11 alarm at 4850 S Lake Park Avenue.This is now the tallest aerial platform in North America and seeing how it performs in Toronto would make sense in Chicago.
#1 by Jeremy B. on February 3, 2023 - 12:58 AM
This is what was presented to the Toronto City Council in the request for a non-competitive bid:
“The 70 metre Aerial Device is a unique apparatus that will allow TFS to respond to the demands of an increasingly vertical city, and address the requirements of the TFS Transformation Plan around service delivery enhancements and continuous improvement. By expanding the TFS fleet in response to the growth patterns of the city and identified challenges they pose, TFS is ensuring it is prepared with the best resources available. Major emergencies in other large cities such as the Grenfell Tower fire in London, England and the Notre Dame fire in Paris, France have shown that large urban centres have challenges to responding to emergency events in increasingly urban and vertical environments. In 2019, TFS representatives were invited to the City of New York to participate in a demonstration of the 70 metre aerial device. Senior Officers from The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) arranged a series of demonstrations at the Flat Iron Building and St. Paul’s Cathedral, both iconic historical buildings. It was immediately clear how a device of this type would enhance TFS’ ability to conduct life safety rescues while also helping preserve physical property. In the City of Toronto, this device will be a valuable asset when TFS responds to construction crane rescues, elevated highway incidents, rescues requiring horizontal reach, high rise rescues, elevated water stream applications for fire suppression, elevated viewing oversight at emergency events, and access reach over building parapets and obstacles.”
I’m curious what was “immediately” clear to them, that wasn’t to FDNY and whatever other agencies were invited. I’m going to assume that it wasn’t just Toronto, and that Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston were probably invited too, but that doesn’t mean they necessarily attended. I’m sure others will be watching Toronto now that they have it in service, particularly as it’s used in real incidents and not just a demo from a rental company that doesn’t use it for firefighting purposes.
#2 by Bill Post on February 1, 2023 - 11:31 AM
The Bronto Skylift began in Finland and has been in the elevating platfrom business since 1972. It is obviously much more popular overseas in Europe and Asia. They have various varieties and styles of elevating platforms which are built both for fire and rescue purposes and also for maintenance and construction where height is an issue.
The 230 foot FRLX model is the type that Toronto has purchased however they have been using some Bronto products since at least 1988. Besides the 230 foot Tower 1 they are also using a 116 foot model at Tower 333 and there is a 135 foot model on order.
Bronto’s models that are higher than the FRLX are the FHLA and they come in 5 models which go from a 255 to 367 feet in height. Those are all sold overseas. In the North America market the tallest one currently available the the 230 foot model and they currently are marketing a 135 foot FRLX, a 116 foot FRLP and a 92 foot FALR model.
Getting more to the point the 230 foot model is Special Purpose Unit and realistically speaking it would probably be better utilized if it were made part of a joint purchase by the MABAS system of the Northeast Illinois where it would be located in Chicago but would be available in Northeast Illinois for any emergency where it was needed. For example there have been high ride incidents over the years at Great America Amusement Park where at about 30 years ago one of Chicago’s 135 foot aerial ladder were special called. There also have been been grain elevator rescues which include one that was called for recently off of the shores of Lake Calumet and there are also construction accidents where a high level platform device can be used.
As far as Aerial Tower 8 goes it would have been wiser to purchase a 135 Bronto Sky Lift as the basket is much better suited for rescue work and stream placement than an straight aerial ladder is.
This type of apparatus can be good to have for special operations but there is no dispute that money keeping the current fleet up to date is better spent.
#3 by Dan on February 1, 2023 - 12:28 AM
Hmm. Used for lighting?
Extremely rare usage?
Sounds like a very expensive toy.
#4 by John on January 31, 2023 - 8:22 PM
I seem to recall the FDNY tested one several years ago, don’t know how high it was though. The pic I saw of it was at some church fire, and it had no rear bodywork. I assume it was rejected, because I’ve heard nothing since.
#5 by Admin on January 31, 2023 - 8:56 PM
https://www.facebook.com/StPatricksCathedralNYC/posts/the-fdny-is-testing-a-new-fire-ladder-with-a-300-ft-vertical-reach-at-st-patrick/2433682093366616/
#6 by crabbymilton on January 31, 2023 - 9:02 AM
Not very attractive and certainly is going to be a maintenace headache with those twin steerable axels.
#7 by Bill Post on January 30, 2023 - 10:38 PM
Chuck there is no doubt that there would have to be special funding arranged if the CFD were to purchased this rig. I do agree that in terms of funding the current priority needs to be making sure that the current Fleet remains up to date but as a Special Purpose apparatus this could make sense. Unlike Aerial Tower 8 this type of Unit would be special called and not utilized as an ordinary day to day Truck company and if operated like in Toronto it would be crossmanned when needed, something like the Reserve Snorkel was until it was sold not that long ago. Speaking about Aerial Tower (Truck)8 it didn’t appear to be used at that 4-11 at 4850 S Lake Park avenue.
As long as we are discussing Elevating Platforms and Apparatus Mishaps, we know by now that when Truck 24 was converted into Tower Ladder 24 that long ago. Tower Ladder 34 went back to being a Truck company. One of the reasons for that I had heard was because of several accidents that had occured over the previous few years where Tower Ladder 34s, Tower Ladder was damaged on a viaduct pillar as due as is common along South Chicago avenue. I personally think that really wasn’t a good reason to get rid of Tower Ladder 24 because Truck 34 had been a Tower Ladder for over 30 years and if the viaducts in its area were really that much of a problem then they would would have taken the Tower Ladder out of service years ago. It was more like operator error.
To play the devils advocate however, let just say that viaduct clearances are a problem in Truck 34s district. E/One makes a 95 foot mid mounted Tower Ladder which is better for lower height clearances and since Chicago already has a contract with E/One for Towers, Trucks and Engines, then why not order a Mid Mounted Tower Ladder for Truck 34. So it would be a one a kind rig if necessary. I really so no reason why the CFD has to have only 10 Tower Ladders in service and if they made Truck 34 back into a Tower Ladder they could give Tower Ladder 16s rig back to Truck 37. That 4-11 at 4850 S Lake Park on the 15th floor and above had Tower Ladder 16 respond on the box and yet they didn’t use their Tower and they ended up waiting for Tower Ladder 39 to arrive to use their Tower instead.
When the CFD did an in house study under Commissioner Louis Galante in 1986 it had found that there were some serious gaps in coverage on the far south side and it had recommended moving Truck 16 in with Engine 81. They are currently slightly over mile from Truck 30 and Trucks 37,34 and 49 are all abouy 2 miles from their quarters.
#8 by Chuck on January 30, 2023 - 5:29 PM
Bill, that’s what they bought Truck 8 for. And other that destroying the ladder right out of the box requiring thousands of dollars in repairs, so far it hasn’t justified its purchase. And with the no doubt multimillion dollar price of this rig this purchase would be a huge mistake.