This from the Interstate Emergency Vehicles, Inc. Facebook page:
55′ Snorkel Smeal Sirius chassis just showed up in Ephrata, PA — at Ladder Tower Co.
Interstate Emergency Vehicles, Inc. photo
And the chatter …
Smeal/Ladder Tower Co building first 55′ Snorkel
#1 by Brian on January 23, 2016 - 7:33 PM
http://www.smeal.com/DemoUnit.aspx?r=1174
specs for the Frankfort Snorkel
#2 by Fred M on January 23, 2016 - 1:59 PM
Too bad Chicago couldn’t have purchased the first…and had “Quinns Snorkel” on the end of the boom. The history part would have been nice.
#3 by ffpm571 on January 23, 2016 - 1:08 PM
Announced on Interstates facebook page… Frankfort FPD now everyone can settle down and quit making guesses…https://www.facebook.com/Interstate-Emergency-Vehicles-Inc-114321161917198/
#4 by Bill Post on December 27, 2015 - 5:43 PM
Scott as you can see the 1975 Hendrickson Pierce began as Snorkel Squad 1 or SS 1 as it was referred to in the Chicago Fire Department like John mentioned.
The Original Snorkel Squads were always 2 piece companies and most of the Heavy Rescue equipment was carried on the Snorkel rig because the Snorkel rigs that were built and ordered for the Snorkel Squads had cabinets built into their bodies to hold the Squad equipment.When the Snorkel Squads were originally put in service in 1962,63 and 65 their second piece was a Fog Pressure Unit which was a small booster pumper with 300 gallons of water and two reels of booster hose attached to High Pressure Fog nozzles which really resembled a gun as they were long narrow and had what looked like a trigger that you would pull on the handle to control the flow from the nozzle. The pumps on board were specially high pressure pumps which when combined with the special “fog gun” nozzles would produce a fine powerful “fog mist” stream that was good at quick knock of fires when they were in their early or incipient stages. They were also used for auto fires on the expressways and on prairie (grass) and large rubbish fires.
The reason why Chicago was using the Fog Pressures is because during the early to mid 1960s when the Fog Pressures were put in service, not more then a dozen of Chicago’s Engine companies were equipped with booster tanks. So the Fog Pressures were able to apply “instant” water when arriving on the scene of the fire while the Engines would usually have to first hook up to a hydrant and lead out and connect hose.
Incidently the Chicago Fire Department had a maximum of 12 Fog Pressure companies in service in addition to the 3 Snorkel Squads which all had run Fog Pressure Units as their second piece. Most of the Fog Pressures (with the exception of 2 of them) had been taken out of service by the 1970’s.
As previously mentioned Snorkel Squads 2 and 3 were taken out of service during May of 1969. Snorkel Squad 1 ran with a Fog Pressure until November of 1974 when they received a Ford/PIerce (walk around style) small box type of Squad unit. About 14 months (January 1976) later they received their last Snorkel Squad (the Hendrickson Pierce 55 foot Snorkel).
At the time the Chicago Fire Department was also running with 7 “Flying Manpower Squads” which were box style Rescue Squad type bodies that were built on Mack M/B cab/chassis. Most of the Mack MB cabs were 1972 models and one of them was a 1970 model while the bodies that were built by the Platt company were built in 1972/73. While the Flying Manpower Squads were equipped as Heavy Rescue Squads the primary reason why they were put in service (during 1969) was to respond to still alarms with Chicago’s 4 man Engine and Truck companies to back them up with extra manpower. About 3/5ths of Chicago Engine and Truck were normally assigned 4 men per shift while the other 2/5ths were 5 man companies. The 5 man companies were located downtown an in the busier areas of the city and as a rule didn’t have the Flying Manpower Squads respond with them to their still alarms. Snorkel Squad 1 was located on the near northside and responded downtown as well as the on the near north and near west sides. They did respond city wide on 2-11 alarms however and they also did have a still and box district as well.
At that time (the mid 1970s) the Chicago Fire Department also was running with 4 Snorkel companies who responded on Still and Box Alarms and when special called.
Beginning on February 14th 1980 the Chicago Fire Department went out on strike for 23 days which was called by Local 2 due to poor working conditions and running shorthanded on many of the fire companies. Jane Byrne was the Mayor at the time. She had also promised the fire fighters a contract which she appeared to be renegging on. The strike officially ended on March 8th when the city agreed to negotiate a contract amongst other things. While the contract wasn’t officially agreed to until 1982 the City of Chicago immediately began hiring more fire fighters to restore the 5 th man on all of the 4 man companies which had been running with only 4 men on them since late 1967/early 1968. In April of 1980 Fire Commissioner Richard Albrecht had restructured the fire department by replacing the 7 Fire Divisions with 5 Fire Districts. Two of the seven Flying Manpower Squads were taken out of service in June of 1980. On October 3rd of 1980 Snorkel Squad 1 was taken out of service and the 5 remaining Flying Manpower Squads were relocated and converted over to “Squad companies” and each one was renumbered for the District that it was located in. As most of the Engines and Trucks were running with 5 men by then the new response procedure was that the Squads would respond on confirmed working fires in their Districts. Before that the Flying Manpower Squads and Snorkel Squad 1 would automatically respond on all still alarms within their still districts. Several months later during April and May of 1981 the 4 Snorkel companies were also relocated and renumbered according to the District it was located in.
The Hendrickson Pierce Snorkel that was assigned to Snorkel Squad 1 was put in service as the fifth Snorkel company and was assigned as Snorkel 4.
On Sept 2nd 1982 the 5 Districts were reorganized into 6 Districts (with O Hare Field as the new 7th District and a 6th separate Snorkel and Squad company were put in service. Many of the Battalion Chiefs were also renumbered and relocated so the numbers would be consecutive and also based the district they were located in. That 6th Squad and 6th Snorkel wasn’t in service more then a year when on September 19th 1983 three of the Snorkels and Squads were taken out of service and the remaining three that were located in the city proper were combined into the three 2 piece Squad/Snorkel companies. The remaining 3 Snorkels had become reserve Snorkels that were special called and taken to the scene of the fire by an Engine or Truck company that they were located with.
The first 6 Tower Ladders didn’t go into service until early 1986 so for those first few years from September 1983 until mid 1986 the 3 (at the time) reserve Snorkels were special called to extra alarm fire quite a bit.
#5 by Bill Post on December 27, 2015 - 2:46 PM
Scott after Snorkel Squad 1’s Hendrickson Pierce was taken out of service as SS 1 on October 3rd 1980. It was next assigned as the new Snorkel 4 at Engine 123’s house on April 21st 1980 then on September 2nd 1982 it was renumbered as Snorkel 5 remaining at Engine 123’s house. That was when a new 6th District was added and District 4 was changed to District 5. After September 19th 1983 when Snorkels and Squads 3, 4 and 5 were taken out of service 55 foot Hendrickson Pierce had become a reserve Snorkel and it was usually located on the south side at times it was at Engine 72’s quarters and I also believe that it may have been stationed at Engine 122’s quarters along with Squad/Snorkel 6. There were at least 3 reserve Snorkels in the field and as a rule they would usually have one on the south side , one the westside and one on the north side. they shifted (relocated) some of them several times over the years but for the first few years the Hendrickson Pierce was the south side reserve Snorkel while the 1972 , 75 foot Oshkosh Pierce was the West Side Reserve Snorkel (first at Engine 107 and then at Engine 76) and the Seagrave /Pierce 85 foot Snorkel was the north side reserve Snorkel at Engine 112’s house. The 3 ,1974 model 75 foot Oskosh/Pierces were assigned to the 3 Squad/Snorkels in the city.
While from September 19th 1983 the Hendrickson Pierce was a Reserve Snorkel ,some time around mid to late 1986 the Hendrickson Pierce was reassigned to Squad 1 which was located at Engine 5’s house. That was the last year before the first 2 Spartan E/One Snorkel/Squads were delivered in early 1987. After Squad 1 received the Spartan E/One Snorkel /Squad on April 3rd 1987, the Hendrickson PIerce was renumbered and assigned as the second piece for Squad 5 (at Engine 116’s quarters) until November of 1988 when Squad 5 received the third Spartan/E/One Snorkel Squad. Less then a year later the 1988 Spartan One was wrecked in a roll over accident and the Hendrickson Pierce was once again reassigned to Squad 5 where they were assigned from September 11th 1989 until sometime in December of 1996.
For the first year or two after the 1988 Spartan/E One’s accident the CFD thought that they might be able to repair or rebuild the rig which was barely a year old when it was wrecked however by the late 1991 they gave up on the idea and the Hendrickson Pierce was permanently assigned to Squad 5 until Squad 1’s 1987 Spartan E/One 55 foot Snorkel was reassigned to Squad 5 after Squad 1 was reassigned the 1996 HME/Saulsbury Single Piece Heavy Rescue Squad in December of 1996.
The 1975 Hendrickson Pierce 55 foot Snorkel did indeed have 9 lives. It ran as Snorkel Squad 1 January 15th 1976 until October 3rd 1980.
Snorkel 4 April 21st 1981 until September 2nd 1982
Snorkel 5 September 2nd 1982 until September 19 1983
Reserve Snorkel September 19 1983 until late 1986
Squad 1 Late 1986 until April 3rd 1987
Squad 5 April 1987 until November 21st 1988
Reserve Snorkel November 21 1988 until September 11th 1989
Squad 5 September 12th 1989 until late December 1996.
In late 1994 through early 1995 the Hendrickson Pierce Snorkel was taken out of service for major body work and by mid 1995 was put back in service at Squad 5.
#6 by John on December 27, 2015 - 11:40 AM
From what i remember, the Hendrickson that Squad 5 was using then was the old SS-1, after SS-1 went OOS. The 75’ers that were being used was the last of the old snorkels that still ran back then, as the ones that didn’t were used for parts for the ones that did. Reserve snorkel 1 out of 35’s qtrs now is the “last snorkel standing.”
#7 by Bill Post on December 27, 2015 - 11:35 AM
I’m curious Mike what does the racing season have to do with it? If the new Snorkel goes to North Suburban Fire Department then it could probably be narrowed down to one of the fire departments that are using a black over red paint scheme. If that is the case then Morton Grove would be on that list and Morton Grove is running a Aerial Ladder Quint as Engine 4.The only thing is did Morton Grove order a new rig? Another thing is that Morton Grove just put a new Engine in service at Engine 5 during the last year. Engine 4 is just under 10 years old and most suburbs tend to replace their front line apparatus between when they are from 12 to 20 years old.
#8 by Scott on December 27, 2015 - 11:34 AM
In regards to the old snorkels, Bill mentions the 75′ being used until the delivery of the Spartan/E-Ones. What about the company’s that used the Hendrickson 55′ Snorkels as the 2nd piece (Sqd 5 at least 1988-1992). Were the Hendrickson’s originally the “SQUAD” company before they became two piece company’s?
#9 by Josh on December 27, 2015 - 11:09 AM
I heard a very strong rumor it is going to a Northern Suburb too. Good point Micheal M. Who knows tho, it’s all speculation until it really happens.
#10 by Michael M on December 27, 2015 - 10:07 AM
Could it go to Morton Grove after the 2016 Racing Season?
#11 by Martin Nowak on December 26, 2015 - 3:41 PM
It’s still a mystery.
#12 by Marty Coyne on December 24, 2015 - 11:23 AM
John. The pump on 6-6-1 is disconnected and not in service. When it is special called to a fire it is fed by an engine co just like the tower ladders. No engineer mans anything on the snorkel. E35 is only the first due to bring the snorkel. If it’s on a run is brought by another company. I believe Truck 19 brought it to the 2-11 this week.
#13 by Rusty on December 24, 2015 - 9:09 AM
See Bill thats why I enjoy reading your posts. You inform people the history of the FD’s. That is very interesting about the Snorkel History in Chicago.
#14 by Bill Post on December 24, 2015 - 6:07 AM
John as to Chicago Snorkels being delivered with pumps on them,several of Chicago’s Snorkels were delivered with pumps on them.
Chicago had received a 55 foot Snorkel(around 1970/71) built on a Pierce chassis with a Ford C model cab on it which also had a either a 1,000 or a 1,250 gpm pump on it. That apparatus was first assigned to Snorkel 3 when they were located at Engine 60’s house and in 1972 they were reassigned to Snorkel 6 when they were at Engine 110’s house.
In 1972 Chicago received an Oshkosh/Pierce 75 foot Snorkel that was originally assigned to Snorkel 3. The following year it was damaged in the Levi Division Ink (Cities Service) fire around the 4200 block of west 43rd street and it had become a reserve Snorkel until around 1979 when it was reassigned to Snorkel 6. That Snorkel was also delivered with a pump on it.
About 2 years later in 1974/75 Chicago had 3 more 75 foot Oshkosh Pierce Snorkels delivered and originally assigned to Snorkels 3,4 and 5. All of the Oshkosh Pierce Snorkels were delivered with pumps on them.
The Chicago fire department also retrofitted a 55 foot Snorkel on one of 2 Oshkosh /FMC 1,250 gpm Engines that were built for O’Hare Field in the early 1970s. The one that was number for Engine 12 had the Snorkel retrofitted on it around 1979/80 and it was first redesignated as Snorkel 7 and then as Squad 7 and was assigned a mini pumper as it’s second piece.
The current 1982 Seagrave/ Pierce 85 foot Snorkel was originally assigned to Snorkel 1 in 1982 when they were located at Engine 18’s old house on Roosevelt road however about a year later on September 19,1983, they were taken out of service as Snorkel 1 and had become a reserve Snorkel where they were first located at Engine 112’s current quarters for several years and then were relocated to Engine 42’s quarters until they were finally relocated to their current quarters with Engine 35 and Truck 28.
Before September 19th 1983 Chicago had 6 separate Snorkel and 6 separate one piece Squad companies (not including O”Hare Field). On Sept 19th 1983 Commissioner Louis Galante had taken three of the Snorkels and three of the Squads out of service and the remaining three Snorkels and three Squads were made into 3 two piece Squad/Snorkel companies which were numbered according to the districts they were located in. That’s why to this day there are gaps in Chicago’s Squad company numbers. For about 3 and a half years Chicago’s current 3 Squads (that are located in the city proper) were running with the Oshkosh/Pierce 75 foot Snorkels as their second piece until 1987 when the Spartan/E-One 55 foot Snorkel/Squads were delivered.
The Original Snorkel Squad 1 had been taken of service in 1980 after the fire fighters strike along with the 7 Flying manpower Squads and they were replaced with 5 and then 6 one piece Squad companies which were number for the district that they were assigned to.
Even though the Original Snorkel Squad 1 was put in service the fall of 1962 Chicago had went for about 3 years with out a Snorkel/Squad company (the fall of 1980 to 1983) when Fire Commissioner Louis Galante combined 3 of the one piece Squad and Snorkel companies.
The Original Snorkel Squads 1 and 2 were both using 40 foot Snorkels that were retrofitted on 1956 International Harvest Chassis (former High Pressure wagons) with new Squad bodies built by Erlinder in 1962/63. Snorkel Squad 3 was using a 50 foot Snorkel when the went in service on May 16th 1965 because they were assigned that Original GMC/Pittman Snorkel which as originally assigned as Snorkel company 1. The Original Snorkel Squads were assigned International Harvester Fog Pressure units ( small booster tank equipped pumpers) as their second piece. Snorkel Squads 2 and 3 were both taken out of service around May of 1969 and Snorkel Squad 1 didn’t receive their first “box” rig until 1974/75 which was a Ford/Pierce Walk around Squad which also has a booster tank built in.
#15 by Bill Post on December 24, 2015 - 4:28 AM
John and Morgan I would like to present a clarification. If you read the previous comments on the new 55 foot Snorkel being built by Smeal, you will find that it was generally agreed that the new Snorkel is probably not being built for Chicago as the last that most of us have heard was that Rosenbauer was supposed to be building the new Squad apparatus which was supposed to include a second piece with a 55 foot articulated boom on it . It was supposed to be Rosenbauer’s version of a Snorkel which they are supposed to be developing (unless that was changed in the contract)? So most of the comments were speculating as to who the new Snorkel is being built for. Several of us were basically trying to guess what fire department it might be going to. As in recent years quite a few fire departments have switched their apparatus paint scheme’s to black over red (much like Chicago’s traditional paint scheme.
My line of questioning as to whether the body that is being build for the new 55 foot Snorkel would be for a Quint or just a Truck or a Squad type body was based on the assumption that the new Snorkel is Not being built for Chicago but for some other fire department and so I am well aware that in Chicago an engineer is required to operate any apparatus with a pump on it. As very few fire departments these days will purchase a 55 foot Snorkel solely to be used
for the Snorkel , I was just trying to find out what type of body configuration was being built for the rig as these days many rigs built with small (55 foot) aerial devices on them are built with pumps on them to be used as a Quint or possibly to be used as a Squad.
Outside of the Chicago Fire Department and the Memphis Tennessee fire department I am not aware of any large fire departments that actually use Snorkel Squads. I am not including Evergreen Park and a suburb of Memphis that use Snorkel Squads as they are small fire departments in the Chicago and Memphis Metro Areas.
#16 by John on December 23, 2015 - 8:45 PM
The Snorkel Squads, 1 out of Orleans St, 2 out of 55th & University, & 3 at Eng. 105 on erie St had the 55′ booms; the conventional Snorkels, 1 thru 7 all were 85′-ers I believe, and for front-of-the-building use only. But I think we are a bit more in tune with common-logic safety today vs. 40-50 yrs ago in placing any aerial apparatus in alleys due to the obvious, power lines & transformers, let alone what would be a violation now of the collapse zone protocol G.O. Even an Engine Co working a 2-1/2″ line in the back door of a 1 or 2-story commercial building is passe’. set up a multi-versal, aim it upwards in the doorway and G-T-F out of there in case that goes wall.
#17 by Morgan on December 23, 2015 - 5:36 PM
From what I remember as a “youngin” Chicago Snorkels were purposly built 55ft to operate in alleys and other tight areas that todays tower ladders would be and are hard pressed to operate in. The snorkel vehicle was a rolling tool box supplementing the rescue box. To make the snorkel componant a “quint” would take up rescue space. I hate the idea of waiting to see the rosenbaurers fail, but that might be the only way to get back to the “original” (now Smeal). Be safe.
#18 by Bill Post on December 23, 2015 - 2:51 PM
I have a question regarding this new cab and chassis that is being readied for the 55 foot Snorkel. What type of apparatus or body configuration (beside’s the Snorkel) is being built for this new apparatus. For example is the body being built as an Engine or a Quint with a pump and hose bed on it, or is it being built strictly to be used as a Squad or a Snorkel Squad. Will it have ground ladders or ground ladder compartments so it can be used as a Truck?
It is very rare that a Snorkel is built solely for the use of the “Snorkel” the way Chicago used to order it’s Snorkels years ago. This new apparatus will most likely be built as Quint/Engine as building it strictly for the use of the Snorkel would be a severe waste of money and time and for the apparatus to be cost effective it would have to built as another type of an apparatus that can be used for it’s Snorkel in the event that one might be needed. Most cities that had run Snorkels had the rigs officially designated as Truck or Ladder companies. One of the main reasons Chicago’s old Snorkel companies were either taken out of service or made part of the Squad companies is because as the extra alarm fire rate had gone down the Snorkels were being used less and less. Chicago’s old Snorkel companies had become “one trick pony’s”.
#19 by John on December 23, 2015 - 8:56 PM
Also, in regards to quints, you are never going to see them in Chicago, as anything with a pump on it has to be driven/operated by an Engineer, which the city ain’t gonna do. The old snorkels and snorkel squad rigs did not have pumps. the only full size snorkel Chicago has, Reserve Snorkel 1 which was old Snorkel 3 years ago has pumps, and when requested, is driven there and manned by Engine 35 from it’s quarters. Engine 35 does not supply water to it, because 35’s engineer mans the pumps on the snorkel, which is fed by another engine. When some of the Truck companies came out with booster lines on them in the early 70’s, Local 597 Operating engineers squawked to the city about it, and the city had to put engineers on them. I remember Frank Barbaro was detailed to Truck 3 then.
#20 by Chuck on December 24, 2015 - 3:29 PM
The pumps are NOT operating when the Reserve Snorkel goes to work. One of the on scene engines will pump directly into the rear Siamese and be responsible for providing adequate streams
#21 by Orion on December 22, 2015 - 12:48 AM
Hoffman estates or Newport I could see having this
#22 by ffpm571 on December 21, 2015 - 11:01 PM
Rusty, Downers has no reason to buy a snorkle , The Smeal tower they have is barely 5 years old . There is nothing in this last year or the next years budget for a replacement . try again
#23 by Rusty on December 21, 2015 - 9:19 PM
My bet Downer’s Grove! It is the same paint scheme as the Downer’s Grove Tower in the Westmont Fire pics. It has Mars Light, Gold Leaf Paint Break Stripe, and same paint break.
#24 by cmk420 on December 21, 2015 - 9:28 AM
I don’t know about Carol Stream. Just because Kolomay and Hoff are there, as Chief and DC respectively, that doesn’t mean anything.
The oldest of the front-line rigs is 2006 (Squad 27). Tower 28 and Engine 29 are 2011. Anything’s possible, right?
#25 by Bill Post on December 21, 2015 - 1:21 AM
Wow finally a new Snorkel is going to be built. There is no question that the cab most definitely has a “Chicago look ” to it especially since it has what looks to me like one of Chicago’s famous “888” white lights on the front of it. Mike I know that you are probably right that it could be now built for anyone of seemingly dozens of fire departments that now use Chicago’s black over red paint scheme. That’s a good fantasy about Evanston using a 55 foot Snorkel. They currently are using a Pierce Engine with a telesquirt as a reserve “spare rig” after it had served as Engine 23 on the north end of town near Evanston Hospital and Northwestern University.Currently Evanston’s Engine’s are still relatively new and I don’t see any of them being replaced as of now.
Memphis Tennessee actually runs with 2 single piece 55 foot Snorkel Squads however the last I had seen they were still using a red over red paint scheme with a white stripe.
I thought that Chicago was contractually committed to purchase 4 new 55 foot “new versions” of the Snorkel from Rosenbauer. It would be nice if Chicago would be able to purchase their new 55 foot Snorkels from Smeal as they have the blue prints and specs from the official “Snorkel” name brand.
There is no question that the last owners of the former ALF (American La France company) really screwed things up by not manufacturing or marketing the Snorkel the last decade before their company finally went “belly up”.
I agree with you Mike that it would be nice if Chicago could get their new 55 foot Snorkels from Smeal instead of waiting for Rosenbauer to reinvent “the wheel” (Snorkel).
I’m sure that you remember when Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco (Senior) almost did away with the Snorkel Squads when in 1996 his administration had replaced Squad/Snorkel 1 with the HME/Saulsbury single piece Heavy Rescue at Squad 1. About a year or 2 later the HME /Saulsbury was damaged in an accident and was sent back to HME for almost a year to have a new cab built while the next Fire Commissioner (Altman) stepped in and had the CFD order the 3 current 2 piece Snorkel/Squads that the CFD is still using.
While it is true that the Snorkel is not used nearly as much as it was used in the 1960’s and 70’s there are still a few major Fire Departments that still use the Snorkel or devices that are related to the Snorkel such as the Bronto Skylift is an articulating boom and Platform much like the original Snorkel.
The Philadelphia Fire Department is still using 2 full sized (85 foot) Snorkels which are assigned as Truck companies 2 and 28 which had been remounted onto KME chassis in the late 1990’s. Baltimore also has a reserve Ladder which is a Snorkel mounted on a Seagrave chassis which gets special called to extra alarm fires very much the way Chicago’s reserve Snorkel gets special
called. Currently Philadelphia is looking to find replacements for their 2 Snorkels. They also run with 2 mid mounted Tower Ladders.
Memphis had replaced it’s last full sized Snorkel with a 100 foot Bronto Skylift several years ago. So even though New York City never ran with an articulated Snorkel, Philadelphia has been running with them since the mid 1960’s.
It would make sense for Chicago to eventually purchase one or two 134 foot Bronto Sky LIfts to replace Aerial Tower 1 and possibly Truck 3 which at during the mid 80s to the mid 90’s had run with 135 Aerial Ladders.
#26 by mike mc on December 20, 2015 - 6:32 PM
Black over red apparatus is no longer unique. The department that ordered it could be from anywhere. Doubtful if Evergreen Park, Orland Park or another suburban department would order a new snorkel to replace what is basically an auxillary/spare appratus.
A small snorkel would be useful for some suburban departments though, especially older suburbs such as Evanston, Oak Park, and Cicero that have alleys and older construction. They sure could have used one in the alley of the Oak Park 4-11 a couple of months ago.
Let’s not forget that Richard Kolomay is the chief of Carol Stream and Bob Hoff is a deputy.
Merry Christmas to all! (Can we still say that?)
#27 by Rusty on December 20, 2015 - 11:56 AM
John, 1st of All Jim Connolly is a good man. He does not work for Pierce. He works for Global the Pierce Dealer. CFD has been buying LaVerne, Crimson, Spartan ERV since the early 90’s. CFD bought Pierces, ALF, Crimson, Spartan ERV. They have bought 20 some odd Crimson/Spartan ERV Aerials while Jim was working for Global the Pierce dealer. I almost feel as if you are insinuating the CFD buys Pierce cause of Connoly and that they bought the E-Ones because Jim retired from Pierce. If you think that I want to know what you are smoking because I want some. They bought E-Ones because E-One has a hell of a design and Fire Service Inc are good people. They bought Pierce’s in early 2000’s and Jim went to work with Global afterwards. That is quite common in the fire truck industry. The fire truck industry is loaded with ex Chief’s , firemen, etc.. because the know the product and can explain the product to customers.
#28 by John on December 20, 2015 - 6:47 PM
I’m not going to be getting into opinions on personality about Connolly, and call it an insinuation or whatever, but yeah, as soon as Connolly left us, all of a sudden Pierce’s became the new thing and Seagrave was never heard of again. That was round 3 of what i know. round 2 was when Pat Kehoe retired from the CFD as 2-1-5 and became entwined with MSA, poof!, Scott disappeared from the planet. Back to my younger days? Mars was the light of choice until RJQ retired & died, then presto !, Federal Lights & sirens appeared, i don’t recall who left the CFD & went to work for Federal though. It ain’t anything I’m smokin’, brother…it’s what it is and always has been for almost 1/2 a century that I can recall. It’s called Welcome to the Ways of Doing business with the City of Chicago. That’s why now, as of the last 6 years, when you retire, you sign a form that you will not become involved with any business that does or will be doing business with the city of Chicago et al.
#29 by John on December 20, 2015 - 11:49 AM
And as far as the 55′ snorkels that the 3 Squads have, a friend of mine who is one of the upper-mucks, but not the king of fleet, told me around Thanksgiving that the city is still not convinced about going with new snorkels that are 55′ when they have Towers that go almost 110′ with more maneuverability. They have the 3 coming soon, have now put the regular Tower Ladder 34 (E-265) with a blown engine again, in the junkpile for parts, so they are -1 now as a spare. The “Tower Ladder 34” we saw in the funeral was the other 1988 E-One enclosed cab spare E-264, but quicky-decaled Tower 34.
#30 by mike on December 20, 2015 - 2:40 PM
The snorkels have a purpose that the towers can’t do. The snorkels can be set up in an alley without much space and they are more versatile then a tower is, in some cases. It is highly unlikely that they will go away from snorkels. I still believe that they are gonna refuse the rosenbauers and that this one is being built for CFD just with some add one so it doesn’t look to obvious
#31 by John on December 20, 2015 - 11:40 AM
Rusty, Connolly’s pull wasnt for the city, it was with Pierce to sell that to the city which he did, Trucks & Towers; he was retired from the city around 2001 and went to work at Pierce as their PR/sales guy then. He since retired from there, which is why Spartan trucks started appearing a few years ago. As far as the airport stuff, they buy their own via the Fed, not the city.
#32 by Rusty on December 20, 2015 - 10:52 AM
And if Connoly had that much pull they would not have bought E-One Towers and Airport Pumpers, Rosenbauer Squads, and years of Spartan ERV.
#33 by Brian on December 20, 2015 - 10:05 AM
And if CFD wants the true Snorkel again only one manufacturer they can go to…..Smeal
#34 by Brian on December 20, 2015 - 10:04 AM
Been quite a few years since CFD bought the pierce aerials and few towers (or tower)
#35 by Rick on December 20, 2015 - 9:27 AM
I say Carol Stream
#36 by John on December 20, 2015 - 11:50 AM
I go along with Rick on Carol Stream…Bob Hoff is out there.
#37 by John on December 19, 2015 - 9:34 PM
It won’t be Chicago as Pierce has the lock on with James Conolly, an ex-CFD dept. commissioner being the sales rep for Pierce as well as being a major stockholder. Same reason Chicago went from Scott to MSA scba in the early 2000’s. Another ex-CFD dep. comm. Pat Kehoe went to work for MSA & knocked Scott out of the box.
#38 by mike on December 20, 2015 - 9:50 AM
Pierce doesn’t have a lock on Chicago, they just bought 3 e-one tower ladders, and the trucks they bought before that were all Spartan
#39 by harry on December 19, 2015 - 8:29 PM
orland park il has an older snorkel or they did a few yrs ago very similar to chicagos old spartan snorkels