From the Rosenbauer America Facebook page:
The new Chicago squads have been rolling off the production line. Check out the new Rosenbauer ACP-55, a 55′ articulating Cobra Platform featuring our Smart Aerial Controls. The rescues were built using an 18′ walk-in rescue body. Both the ACP-55 and the rescue are built on the Rosenbauer Commander 4000 chassis and include the Rosenbauer EXT Extruded Aluminum bodies.
Rosenbauer America ACP-55, a 55′ articulating Cobra Platform for the Chicago Fire Department. Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
New CFD squad. Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
Rosenbauer America photo
thanks Dennis
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#1 by David on October 28, 2016 - 10:08 AM
Fred, not 100% sure but I think the current rigs have this bottle on the boom too, just painted white so it’s not visible like the yellow bottle on the Rosenbauers, check out some pics of the HME’s.
Hope the link will work:
https://midwestfiredepts.smugmug.com/Chicago-Fire-Department-Squads/i-2h5bnRm
#2 by Fred M on October 27, 2016 - 6:39 PM
Interesting to note – it seems that the new squad “boom rig” (can’t bring myself to call it a Snorkel!!!) includes a breathing air tank for the crew in the “bucket”. Existing rigs do not have this feature.
#3 by Rich S. on October 22, 2016 - 5:09 PM
The boundaries changing are very unlikely, the boundaries aren’t set due to the apparatus but rather to response times and distance. Squad 7 goes into the city proper as far east as Nagle ave in some areas.
#4 by gary on October 22, 2016 - 6:59 AM
With O’hare getting a two piece squad what are the chances that it will leave airport grounds to fight fires in the city? If the squad is allowed to leave airport grouds could there be a redrawing of all the squads responce areas?
#5 by Rich S. on October 21, 2016 - 7:13 PM
Bill, anytime Squad 1 is going to be unavailable for more than 1 hr Squad 2 changes qtrs. To Squad 1. If 2 is not available than the alarm office will send 5. They don’t want Downtown Chicago without a Squad . As far as an additional Squad being put in service I don’t see it happening. Most of Squad 5’s fires are with Engine 116 or Engine 54 and in 5’s still alarm response area. So no need for another Squad. Airbags are only on the 4 Squads, Paratech struts are only carried on our 4 Squads, TRT response rig 5-2-5 and the Collapse response rig 5-2-1. All CFD Trucks now have Hurst Edrolic tools.
#6 by Bill Post on October 21, 2016 - 4:02 PM
Fred that was a misunderstanding. I meant that a squad and a command van respond on working fires together. Since there are two command vans on the south side, in order to keep the south side covered then it would make sense to also have two squads as well. It would make sense if they were located together, but the point is that both companies do get dispatched on a working fire.
#7 by Fred M on October 21, 2016 - 2:49 PM
Bill….you mentioned two south side Command Vans sent to the same incident? Is this SOP and why?
#8 by Bill Post on October 21, 2016 - 11:04 AM
Richard S, yesterday morning Squad 5 was running out of Squad 1 on an administrative change of quarters which apparently the CFD has been doing for a while now when Squad 1 is not in service. I know that Squad 5 had been the busiest squad for quite a while and I know that it obviously isn’t about to happen, but in your opinion would you like to see another squad put in service on the far south side? The south side is larger than the other parts of city and Squad 5 has more runs than the other squads. One of the best cases that can be made for having a 5th squad in service is there are already two command vans in service on the south side that get dispatched to the same working fires so it just makes sense to have a 2nd squad on the south side.
On another subject, are the squads still the only companies equipped with airbags? As you know airbags are considered to be part of a basic extrication gear package like spreaders,cutters and struts. It would make sense to have them on several strategically placed truck companies mostly in the outlying areas so the first due units wouldn’t always have to wait for a squad. This would be helpful if the nearest squad is tied up on a fire or another incident.
Before all of the trucks were equipped with Hurst tools in November of 2003 the CFD had them on about 1/3 of the trucks so they wouldn’t always have to depend on a squad. For the same reason it makes sense to have at least some of the trucks equipped with air bags.
In several other cities airbags are carried on some trucks. In New York City all 143 of their truck companies have airbags in addition to the 5 rescues, 7 squads, and the HazMat.
Chicago doesn’t have the same kind of budget that New York does so having airbags on a few trucks seems reasonable.
#9 by michael m on October 21, 2016 - 1:51 AM
Will the rigs fit into the bay at Engine 42,116 and Rescue 3? Any Idea when the city started planning the rigs why did they make the boxes so top heavy? Will they store any equipment up there?
#10 by Rich S. on October 20, 2016 - 6:51 PM
John, Yes that is 5-2-6 the Tunnel Rescue rig that will probably move to Engine 76 and the Rehab rig will go back to Engine 68. Squad 2 will have to run out of the two front bays (middle and south) and Engine 91 will stay as it is but the 7th Battalion will run out threw the alley.
#11 by John on October 20, 2016 - 4:54 PM
Is that still 5-2-6?
#12 by Mike Mc on October 20, 2016 - 4:21 PM
Rob: I have been told that Squad 2 will not fit in the apparatus bay they currently use. The two rigs will each have to have their own bay and one of the special units at Engine 91’s house will have to be relocated to make room. I have been told the other three will fit in one bay, as currently used.
#13 by John on October 20, 2016 - 2:01 PM
All it needs now is a Martin horn……
#14 by Brian on October 20, 2016 - 11:04 AM
I feel like the warning lights are under done on both rigs but without seeing them lit up, that is just my uneducated assessment from a photo.
#15 by Bill Post on October 20, 2016 - 10:17 AM
Turk WLF, Squad 1 is first due to Wrigley Field. If a fire is east of Ashland then Squad 1 is dispatched and if it is west of Ashland it’s Squad 2. As you go further south, eventually Squad 1’s district moves west, but from at least Diversey going north Ashland is the boundary for the squads to the city limits at Juneway Terrace 2 blocks north of Howard. Several years ago the district boundaries were changed. Squad 2 used to respond to Sheridan Road and the Lakefront but since Squad 1 has access to LSD, they made Ashland the boundary instead. Using LSD Squad 1 can beat Squad 2.
#16 by Rich S. on October 20, 2016 - 9:56 AM
Rob, funny you ask no they will not fit these are a total of 6ft longer than the current HME rigs. And turk Wrigley is closest to squad 2 but 2 and 1 split the area.
#17 by Turk_WLF on October 20, 2016 - 9:22 AM
I have 2 questions,
on the ACP-55 Unit is the Warning Lights little under done compare to the Squad?
slightly off topic but which Current Snorkel Squad is first duty/closest to Wrigley Field?
Thanks,
#18 by Rob on October 20, 2016 - 8:54 AM
I didn’t see anyone say it. Maybe someone did. Will these new squads fit into their current assigned stations?
#19 by Bill Post on October 19, 2016 - 11:33 PM
More then just being able to carry the weight of 2 firefighters they also need to be able to handle a patient in a Stokes basket as they sometimes are used to remove victims.
#20 by 9 man squad on October 19, 2016 - 11:01 PM
I love the rust on the winch roller, ha ha lol
#21 by John on October 19, 2016 - 10:41 PM
Wow from those pictures the new Chicago squads look really cool. They look European the snorkel does look small and I hope the bucket can hold the weight of 2 firefighters and the weight of flowing water. The box rigs front bumper is way to long. I could see the drivers miss judging it and creating some issues. All in all I think that they are cool. John