New engine for Downers Grove (more)

This from Josh Boyajian:

Downers Grove Squad Co. 101 – 2017 Ferrara Igniter 1500/500 H6042

Downers Grove Squad Co. 101 – 2017 Ferrara Igniter 1500/500 H6042. Josh Boyajian photo

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Downers Grove FD orders new Ferrara engine, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Josh Boyajian, new engine for Downers Grove

This entry was posted on June 17, 2017, 3:30 PM and is filed under Fire Department News, Fire Truck photos, New Delivery. 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 June 20, 2017 - 5:53 PM

Very sharp looking rig! About how much more storage space is on a Rescue/Pumper compared to a standard engine?
#2 by LT501 on June 18, 2017 - 6:46 PM

In answer to the first question, an engine has to have a pump, hose and water tank… whereas a squad can be most any type of vehicle. Originally, squads entered the fire service as manpower transport units, and were on the “box cards” of many large cities. Rescues entered as specialty units, primarily for extrication, and had to be “specially called”. Eventually, they became combined in many communities. The addition of a pump/hose/watertank, has given these vehicles sufficient capability (particularly at auto crashes) to eliminate the need for a separate engine company. It should be noted, however, that in many towns, squads can simply be SUVs or utility trucks (Squad-51) that carry medical equipment. In fact, ambulances in Ohio are often referred to as “life squads”. In summary, engines need to meet certain criteria, whereas squads can be any vehicle so designated by the Chief.
#3 by Daniel Hynd on June 18, 2017 - 10:42 AM

Hazmat 5 is going to be a support unit for the squad when they go out on hazmat calls, TRT calls, dive calls, etc.
#4 by MABAS 21 on June 18, 2017 - 9:52 AM

If look closely at the pic, you can see Hazmat 5 in the 1st bay. Hopefully this rig will survive all the wear and tear chasing ambo runs and AFA’s with most of the equipment on it from the previous squad.
#5 by Crabby Milton on June 18, 2017 - 7:41 AM

Very sharp. Interesting how certain color combinations seem to take hold and then change over time.
#6 by FFPMTom on June 17, 2017 - 10:23 PM

That’s a good question Tom. Generally a squad is a specialized rescue vehicle that carries special equipment for all types of rescues. Trench collapse, rope rescue, vehicle extrication…etc
They carry all sorts of tools, lumber, dive equipment, haz-mat, scba refill (cascade), you name it. An engine is used for basically fighting a fire. Some departments combine the vehicles, my guess would be purely for monetary and manpower reasons. Schaumburg for instance has squad 55 which is heavy rescue but also has a pump and small tank on it so it can serve as a fifth engine covering the southeast part of town. If there is a fire in their district they can get started before one of the engines arrives. With departments doing more and more with less and less these days it kind of makes sense.
#7 by Tom Foley on June 17, 2017 - 8:11 PM

Rookie question… What’s the difference between a squad and an engine? I would typically think of a squad without a pumper, but with specialized rescue equipment.

I would guess there isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule. It’s up to the department.