2011 Chicago FD purchasing plan

grumpy grizzly

grumpy grizzly

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
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Highlights of Chicago's purchasing plan are 8 million dollars for ambulances and 7.8 million for apparatus. It is a pretty general plan with 1 million for an O'Hare incident rig, 300,000 for a RIV, 700,000 for a O"Hare squad and 3 million for snorkels and squads. This may also include plans for engines/ladders but none were listed.
 
Who does Chicago still use for ambulances - McCoy Miller?  And it will be interesting to see if the bids for new snorkels and squads are awarded to Crimson as well.  It seems that Chicago likes their products, hence all the engines and now the new sticks they've been getting from them.
 
I just looked at the detailed purchasing plan can have a question.  What is the difference between a Snorkel Squad and a Rescue Squad with Snorkel?  They sound like the same thing.
 
For those interested in the status of Chicago's snorkel squads go to Chicagoareafire.com. There is a great article and several outstanding comments. I think we have seen the end of the Snorkel Squad concept. The Tower Ladders are a very good improvement, just need to buy some new ones.
 
grumpy grizzly said:
For those interested in the status of Chicago's snorkel squads go to Chicagoareafire.com. There is a great article and several outstanding comments. I think we have seen the end of the Snorkel Squad concept. The Tower Ladders are a very good improvement, just need to buy some new ones.
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I'm not sure about that, if you look at the purchasing plan there are two listings as follow: $1-5 million snorkel squads and $5-10 tower ladders.  Obviously a big spread between the high and low numbers that should cover the snorkels (and the other piece) adequately as well as allow for the purchase of more towers.  The entire hang up with the snorkel design and American LaFrance is certainly a deterrent to building new ones.  I wonder how precise the patent is?  Also doesn't Bronto make something about 20 metre?  That certainly be an option.

It will be interesting to see what happens.
 
Bulldog said:
grumpy grizzly said:
For those interested in the status of Chicago's snorkel squads go to Chicagoareafire.com. There is a great article and several outstanding comments. I think we have seen the end of the Snorkel Squad concept. The Tower Ladders are a very good improvement, just need to buy some new ones.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about that, if you look at the purchasing plan there are two listings as follow: $1-5 million snorkel squads and $5-10 tower ladders.  Obviously a big spread between the high and low numbers that should cover the snorkels (and the other piece) adequately as well as allow for the purchase of more towers.  The entire hang up with the snorkel design and American LaFrance is certainly a deterrent to building new ones.  I wonder how precise the patent is?  Also doesn't Bronto make something about 20 metre?  That certainly be an option.
Click to expand...


Bronto has a 100', 118', and 135' for the fire service, they're very versatile trucks, not sure how they would hold up to city service minimum 19' jack spread and everything is electronic, my dept's (Hackettstown) serves us well though.
 
ladder197 said:
Bulldog said:
grumpy grizzly said:
For those interested in the status of Chicago's snorkel squads go to Chicagoareafire.com. There is a great article and several outstanding comments. I think we have seen the end of the Snorkel Squad concept. The Tower Ladders are a very good improvement, just need to buy some new ones.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure about that, if you look at the purchasing plan there are two listings as follow: $1-5 million snorkel squads and $5-10 tower ladders.  Obviously a big spread between the high and low numbers that should cover the snorkels (and the other piece) adequately as well as allow for the purchase of more towers.  The entire hang up with the snorkel design and American LaFrance is certainly a deterrent to building new ones.  I wonder how precise the patent is?  Also doesn't Bronto make something about 20 metre?  That certainly be an option.
Click to expand...


Bronto has a 100', 118', and 135' for the fire service, they're very versatile trucks, not sure how they would hold up to city service minimum 19' jack spread and everything is electronic, my dept's (Hackettstown) serves us well though.
Click to expand...
  19' jack spread is O.K. for suburban and rural but a nightmare for congested urban application.
 
guitarman314 said:
19' jack spread is O.K. for suburban and rural but a nightmare for congested urban application.
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If you look at the link I posted earlier to the Bronto website, the 75'r has a very narrow jack spread!
 
I was under the impression the reason for the squads was the ability to put a device into a narrow area. From what I have seen from pixs that will not happen, the one great pix of all the compartments open that is a large device. Tactics have to change, remember open cabs, guys on the running boards. Originally these units were "flying manpower" squads, one in each district. Snorkel Sqiad 1 went everywhere in the 60's and 70's which was a 2 peice unit. Re-organization made several major changes, elimination of the "squads" and the addition of dedicated "snorkel" units. With all the changes in CFD eventually 3 units were left, 1, 2, and 5. I can see the heavy rescue application but not the aerial application. Just my opinion.
 
Bulldog said:
guitarman314 said:
19' jack spread is O.K. for suburban and rural but a nightmare for congested urban application.
Click to expand...
If you look at the link I posted earlier to the Bronto website, the 75'r has a very narrow jack spread!
Click to expand...

You're right Bulldog, I didn't check out the pictures, that has a shorter jack spread than the single axle "city" ladder trucks that E-one made so popular. The sales pitch always was that you get a 110' ft ladder, on a single axle, and the jacks do not come out farther than the cab doors open. If Bronto markets that "all arounder" in the US, I think they would sell.
 
grumpy grizzly said:
With all the changes in CFD eventually 3 units were left, 1, 2, and 5. I can see the heavy rescue application but not the aerial application. Just my opinion.
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Maybe the new show Chicago Fire is trying to set a trend within the CFD. LOL!
 
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