While crusing the FD websites, I noticed that some companies have alot of support vehicles. One department only had 2 engines but 4 support vehicles, mostly chiefs and presidents sedans.
We have the state hazmat unit, a rescue 3 engines ambulance and field piece and only one support unit, a van. Are we doing something wrong? Should we get rid of a couple of engines and get a Tahoe or two....J/K
1 engine, 1 ambo, 1 utility that handles anything and everything from medical assists to car accidents, 1 brush truck, 1 air unit and a class/officer truck that is used for members to travel to classes, officers for meetings and other business.
2 engines
1 reserve engine (due for replacement 09)
1 heavy rescue
1 decon truck
1 air support unit
Town of 900 people with 36 additional sq miles
15 miles of interstate
The department that i am on is a municipality that is volunteer/paid per call. There are only two full time paid positions and they are the Chief and the Deputy Chief/EMS Chief. We do a lot of mutual aid with the surrounding county volunteer departments. We cover 40 miles of interstate and about 30 miles of state highway for rescue. The population of our town is right around 6,000. It looks kinda bad that we have this much support equipment but we use every bit of it. If only we could staff all of this equipment!
4 Engines-3 FMC high pressure/volume w/750 gal 1-Smeal volume w/1000 gal
1 Ladder- 95' platform
2 Brush- 1F550 w/500gal 1dodge 3500 w/300 gal
1 Quick attack-F550 w/300gal
1 Rescue
Support units:
1 Equipment Van-hauls bunker gear always second unit to roll
1 Hose truck-F250 with a reel of 1500 ft of 3"
1 Command/Communication
1 Blazer- Command for grass/wildland fires
1 Tahoe- Chiefs vehicle aka The Fire SUV lol
1 Suburban- Out of town travel/Pesonnel carrier
1 F250 diesel- Deputy Chief/hauls MCI trailer
1 Polaris Ranger 6X6
1 MCI trailer
We run a Type 1 engine and a Type 3 engine, as well as a light rescue pickup, a regular pickup with shell and two command vehicles (a Yukon and an Expedition). The rescue pickup usually responds as a second piece with the engine (our full staff is 5 per shift, so usually 4 on the engine and one on the pickup). The other pickup is what I usually drive, but it's also a utility vehicle for general department use. The Asst. Chief and Chief use the two command vehicles obviously.
When the light rescue gets retired in a couple years, we're hoping to get more of a medium rescue/service truck to replace it and carry all our extrication and technical rescue gear.
Two engines, Two tankers, New heavy rescue, Brush truck, New expedition for IC, EMS runs, and whatever we need it for, and a new explorer for the chief