All About ... Charlotte's Engines and Ladders
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- This All About video is all about the engines and ladders used by the Charlotte NC Fire Department. This video looks at the basic Spartan/Smeal engines and ladders the department has been purchasing over the last 20+ years. As of the making of this video, all of Charlotte’s engines are Spartan/Smeal (2000/500/30) pumpers and 13 of their ladders are Spartan/Smeal (2000/370/30) 105’ rear-mount aerials, plus the four new mid-mount platforms. The video also looks at the apparatus on order for the department (Spoiler Alert - its big news). Sources of photos and information for this video included the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Fire Department, including their 2000 Millennium History Book, Legeros Fire Blog, Charlotte F.D. Trucks, the #1 source for Charlotte Fire Department apparatus as well as the REV Group and Pierce websites, Atlantic Emergency Solutions and Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks.
As a past volunteer and part time firefighter, I’ve run into many brands of engines and ladder/platform trucks. I I will full admit, I am biased for Pierce brand, after working with e-one, kme, spartan, and so many others I can’t even remember, Pierce always came out on top for us. Maintenance, support from the company, and ease of operation, always had good luck with Pierce. E-one would be a distant second, not close because the truck is good for about a year, then the E-one curse hits, and stuff starts not working right. A southern fire truck manufacturer that in New England, especially New Hampshire, with the temperature ranges, from -30 degrees to over a hundred degrees, e one didn’t perform well, long term. Plus, most of our major fires, happened during the coldest day nature could find, mill fires, industrial, farm houses in the middle of nowhere with minimal or no water supply. It was interesting.
I totally get the personal preferences. I am old enough that I prefer Mack C and CF apparatus. But as a photographer, today my preferences are all about looks, which has nothing to do with functionality. My concern is more about the lack of options today with all the manufacturers being bought up. We are getting to point where we have just a few large manufacturers. When any business grows and starts to 'lock up' the market, they run the risk of losing focus, quality and good customer service. I think that's one of the reasons we are seeing cities like Charlotte and Raleigh diversifying their fleets, its sends a message that the manufacturers still need to 'work' to get (and keep) their business.
I love the information you share! Are you planing a video talking about the tankers and specialty units they have. Like the Vent, deluge and foams.
I did one on Charlotte's Tankers a few months ago (ua-cam.com/video/96f1-UT8NsE/v-deo.html). The other specialty rigs are on the list, but that ist is getting really long, so I don't know exactly when that will happen.
@@wgkpublicsafetyimages9153 Thank you! Sorry I Thought you did one but I couldn't find it when I looked.
Thank you so much for this upload. As you know, I have been waiting on this.🚒👨🚒⭐️🇺🇸🎉 keep up the great work and this also goes without saying, but you are one of my favorite UA-cam channels😊
What is the minimum staffing for engines and ladders. And ladders with pumps and hose are usually called quints. Because they are called ladders which means rescue and ventilation, why spend the money for pumps and hose? Do the ladders go on rescue assignments like mvc's with entrapment (I assume a heavy rescue and engine company also responds).
All Charlotte companies (Engines, Ladders and Rescues) have a minimum staffing of 4. Charlotte has set up their engines and ladders so they can operating almost interchangeably. In two company stations (an engine and a ladder), calls that only require a single company are assigned on an alternating basis, so ladders need to be able to extinguish fires (such as car or dumpster fire). Many of Charlotte's two company stations became two company stations because of call volume. For example, one reason Ladder 20 will go in service sometime this year, is that E20 has been running 4000+ calls a year. FYI, the rescue companies do not alternate calls, although they do pick up assignments if the engine is busy. MVCs without entrapment is a single company response, so it can be either an engine or ladder. Entrapment protocol adds a ladder and a Rescue. Assignments become a little more "traditional" on structures, although it is not unusual to hear engine companies assigned to vent or ladders on fire attack. As I pointed out in the video, some of this may change in the coming years as the department has started diversifying their fleet, although I saw that the TDAs on order will still have a pump and water, which is kind of unique for tillers. I hope that helps.
I do have two questions as well. One may seem a little naïve. That being said I know Charlotte fire has 43 stations and operates two engine companies out of station 42 does engine 65 not count as a second engine for statistical purposes. I’m only asking because I honestly don’t know. I’m not trying to correct the information you provided in the video at all. Also, do you still plan on doing a video about Charlotte fire alarm? I know when we spoke before you were tentatively trying to put a video together if you could find some good sources of information. Also do you have anyone Charlotte station videos planned? As always I greatly appreciate the work and effort you put into your channel and content! Please keep the awesome content coming! Enjoy your week!⭐️🇺🇸🚒👨🚒
Engine 65 is counted as an engine company. Just like a normal two piece house (engine/ ladder), they rotate calls.
If there is a box in their first due, they both will go and whoever gets there first (tends to be whoever pulls out of the bays first), usually is the first arriving Engine on scene and they’ll be command until they pass it off to the Battalion Chief.
If Station 42 is the 3rd due engine on a box, it’ll be either 42 or 65 depending who ran the last call (if 42 was assigned on the previous call, 65 would be added to the house fire box). If Station 42 is the 2nd due station, then more than likely both 42 and 65 will get assigned. Charlotte flip flops calls to reduce wear and tear on their apparatus.
@@charlottefirebuffing6723 that makes since thanks for letting me know I love your channel as well!🚒👨🚒⭐️
Can you tell us what each engine carries in the hose bed? I would like to know the length and size of each hose carried, ladder complement and what is carried in the upper compartments that are attached to the hose bed cover. Thank you very much.
I don't know off the top of my head, but I will see if I can get that info. Maybe even as another video.
From front to back the engines have
100' 1 3/4 bumper line w/ fog nozzle
1200' of 5"
600' dead loded 2 1/2 with either a gated wye or reducer
200' 1 3/4 preconnect w/ fog nozzle
200' 2 1/2 preconnect w/ smooth bore nozzle
and some companies have either another 200' 1 3/4 preconnect, 250' 1 3/4 preconnect or a 300' 1 3/4 preconnect w/ fog nozzle
100' 1 3/4 apartment bundle w/ fog nozzle
They also carry 200' of 2 1/2 in high rise packs in a side compartment w/ a smooth bore nozzle.
Generally in the compartments above the hose bed is a:
10' Attic ladder, pike poles, backboard, a water key, squeegees,and a broom.
The ladder complement is:
1 40' foot extension ladder
2 16' roof ladders
1 28' extension ladder
Small edit currently Engines 1, 4, and 5 have a small complement of 3" high pressure hose.
Thanks a bunch for the info.