This from John Keller:
This is one of the two new flatbed lumber units. The other rig is sitting in the shops lot unlettered, also I don’t believe that these will be replacing 5-2-2 as the first one is currently stationed at Special Operations. I also have no info on the rig but the Shop No. is G-664
John Keller photo
#1 by Dan on September 7, 2024 - 11:02 PM
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Does the forklift have a light bar and siren?
#2 by Harry on September 7, 2024 - 10:52 PM
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Heck NYC has 1 of these for cement barriers
#3 by Anonymous on September 7, 2024 - 10:22 PM
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Spot on, Rich S. It’s stupid to argue over an apparatus, much less its purpose and manufacturer. Why can’t anyone be happy if a department gets a new rig from any brand or anything it needs to serve other purposes? The point is, be happy for a department that gets something it needs.
#4 by Rich S. on September 7, 2024 - 8:22 PM
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Okay everyone chill. These rigs were purchased by the FFIB(2%) fund. Not by the city. 5-6-7 and the pods will get an overhaul and they were never on the collapse response, they are for disaster situations. The rigs the shops chopped up and made into special ops rigs were never the best idea. We are the 3rd largest fire department in the country, we need and deserve reliable apparatus all around. These were needed and they are a practical idea. Actually well thought out by fd members who use them. They are self sufficient and can load and unload the lumber and materials on site.
#5 by MABAS 21 on September 7, 2024 - 6:37 PM
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So is Special Ops keeping 5-6-7 and the numerous pods? I thought that was for all the lumber…
#6 by Martin on September 7, 2024 - 4:14 PM
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You guys will argue about anything to be honest. This will probably be around for 20-30 years and be well worth it.
#7 by Chuck on September 7, 2024 - 10:33 AM
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Harry, the hazmats are a different story entirely. Where the City screwed up on the hazmats was firstly location. 5-1-2 being put at O’Hare was a ploy to placate the FAA. That added a crapload of miles to an already overloaded rig. They should have found a house somewhere on the North Side, (preferably with expressway access,) that could accomodate them, although there really aren’t any and other companies (most likely an ambulance at the minimum,) would have to be moved if they did find a suitable place. 5-1-1 is about as well placed as it could possibly be – reasonably central location and expressway adjacent.
And lumber trucks on all Maydays? Never heard that one.
#8 by The DH on September 7, 2024 - 9:00 AM
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Harry, the hazmats role on every level 1, years ago the city has one hazmat. Then they added a second. There’s obviously justification for having two. However, how many dedicated lumber hauling trucks do you need?
Chuck is right, the rigs at 39th Street collect dust.
Let’s not forget, the collapse rigs are automatic on a mayday, so how many of those 28 responses were maydays that were held up before they even hit the street?
But sure buy a lumber truck when you have 30 year old spares running everyday….
#9 by Harry on September 7, 2024 - 12:08 AM
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This seems like a great idea considering 521 and 522 are quite old
#10 by Harry on September 7, 2024 - 12:07 AM
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Chuck what about the hazmats that’s a waste because while 511 and 512 are 2003 but the one at O’Hare I have only ever seen it 2 times in 21 years ohare guys told me it rarely goes anywhere but training
#11 by Chuck on September 6, 2024 - 11:39 PM
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CFP, don’t know how good you math skills are, but 28 runs equates to roughly 2 runs a month. Is that enough to justify spending probably every bit of $250,000 plus on these apparatus? I’d be interested to see what they spent on them. And you know what the next hurdle is going to be in the coming years? Replacing firehouses. You can only keep bandaid patching these 90 and 100 year old houses so many time.
#12 by Craig mack on September 6, 2024 - 6:47 PM
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I think we can all agree it was way cooler. (And probably more cost effective) when the shops would chop up old rigs and repurpose them to fill roles like what this does.
#13 by Chicagoland fire photos on September 6, 2024 - 6:35 PM
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Well chuck 5-2-1 and 5-2-2 responded to 28 collapse incidents last year alone and even if they didn’t go to any equipment like this needs to be kept by a dept especially one with Chicago’s size.
#14 by Chuck on September 6, 2024 - 1:22 PM
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This is the kind of stupid stuff the City is spending vital apparatus budget dollars on. More rigs sitting on 39th Street getting flat spots on the tires. I’d love to challenge the City on how many actual collapse responses the current rigs have done in the last 5 years. An absolute waste.