Fast truck

C

Charging in 113

Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Messages
182
when a Ladder company is the fast truck on a 10 75 / all hands then the  battlion call for a extra truck is that unit still the fast truck or is put to work ?
 
I've seen it done both ways. I imagine that it depends on the situation at the time. A vague answer I know, but I'm sure that one of the other members here can contribute further.
 
The FAST is supposed to remain that for FF Emergencies however even though frowned upon by HQ from time to time it has been put to work for Firefighting in an extreme situation.
 
Same thing happens down here, if the BC sees an immediate need for another ladder he will use what we call the RIT (rapid intervention team) and then request another ladder. It doesn't happen that often but I've seen it done. While I'm here I have a question about FDNY Sq companies. If a sq is anything but 1st due on a job will they replace them on the box so they can perform as a sq company? In Philly if the sq isn't 1st in the BC will usually request that they dispatch another engine so the sq can perform sq duties.
 
Ret Phila Lieut said:
Same thing happens down here, if the BC sees an immediate need for another ladder he will use what we call the RIT (rapid intervention team) and then request another ladder. It doesn't happen that often but I've seen it done. While I'm here I have a question about FDNY Sq companies. If a sq is anything but 1st due on a job will they replace them on the box so they can perform as a sq company? In Philly if the sq isn't 1st in the BC will usually request that they dispatch another engine so the sq can perform sq duties.
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As a FDNY buff, I believe, if the Squad goes in as an engine on a first alarm assignment, an additional squad will be called to the job if it's 10-75 or greater. The original squad operates as an engine company.
 
i'm surprised we don't see a second piece for some of the ladder companies for all the fast gear. i know all ladder companies can be asssigned this position but is it time for a dedicated unit. maybe two per battalion with second piece.
 
If a squad is first due engine at a job.  Another squad will be assigned and will perform squad duties.  For instance if squad 41 is first due engine squad 61 will come down and assume squad duties
 
hawaiifiveo said:
i'm surprised we don't see a second piece for some of the ladder companies for all the fast gear. i know all ladder companies can be asssigned this position but is it time for a dedicated unit. maybe two per battalion with second piece.
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I really do not think so....also it is not necesarily a LAD that might be assigned as the FAST in certain situations it could be an ENG.
 
hawaiifiveo said:
i'm surprised we don't see a second piece for some of the ladder companies for all the fast gear. i know all ladder companies can be asssigned this position but is it time for a dedicated unit. maybe two per battalion with second piece.
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Why get a second piece for a truck that already has everything that is needed on it? Back in the day the "dedicated unit" was the Rescue Company
 
On any department  document that talks about it, you'll not see the phrase FAST TRUCK, only FAST UNIT. It is our discretion as to what type unit is FAST. It's a truck by default, but we can make it an engine if the trucks are too far out or we're too thin.
 
Do engine companies carry a FAST pack?  Or would they use the one from the 1st or 2nd due truck if they were assigned as the FAST?
 
Ladder, Rescue, Squad and battalion chiefs carry the fast pak. the only engine companies that might carry one would be the haz-mat tech engines.
 
Thanks Frank "FD347" for that info. I always thought it had to be a Truck Co. Of course some policies might have changed over the years too.

Many of us might remember when it was first set up, it was an Engine Co that would respond on a Second Alarm. It was called "A FAT Engine". As you might guess, that term didn't go over very well. So if I remember correctly it then became known as "A FAST Engine".

We move on as the city is burning, and it is decided to send a "FAST Engine" on All Hands and not wait for a second alarm.

Moving forward, it is decided that a Truck Co would be better suited to do this kind of work, rather than an Engine Co. So it becomes a FAST TRUCK responding on any all hands or greater. I'm sure there are many guys on here who were on the job and remember that.

As I remember, it was the FDNY that first put into operation a designated company assigned to a fire, solely for the rescue of trapped firefighters. Before that it was when the Rescue companies were first organized. After some very serious and tragic fires, more was needed to be done. It was the FDNY that were the first to begin such a program. Later some fire service leaders tried to take credit for this by using different terminology and selling their product as a new idea. But it was the FDNY that really started what we know today as a FAST or RIT Company. 

Of course if things have changed, I bet a guy like "FD347" knows about it. That's because as a supervising FDNY Dispatcher, that's his job.

Also mentioned here was Boston. I think Boston gets one Engine Co, one Ladder Co, and a chief assigned as a FAST Company. I'm sure site member "Patrickfd" might be able to help us with that. And I think its neighbor to the south, Providence, RI, gets one Engine and one Ladder also, but no chief.

 

 
There is not the that much gear that a fast unit needs, the biggest and most important thing is having a crew ready to go that is not worn out from stretching a line etc.that at the transmission of a mayday is ready to act. The tools can be taken off any truck, fast pak, stokes, like saving rope, search rope, irons, tic & pak tracker would be the things that come to mind that would most likely be needed
 
Thanks for the info on F.A.S.T. guys. For Boston, as Bill mentioned above, a R.I.T. assignment consists of 1 Engine and 1 Ladder as well as a District Chief to serve as the "R.I.T. Chief".

A box struck for a building fire in Boston gets a response of 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, a District Chief and one of the two Rescue Companies. The fourth Engine on the box is assigned R.I.T. If it is a confirmed fire, a third Ladder Company is added to the assignment as well as a second District Chief for R.I.T. In addition, the Safety District Chief, one of the two Tower Ladder, and the Rehab. Unit are also assigned. The assignment is altered a little for high-rise, subway, an ship fires.

If anyone's interested, here's a training video from Boston centered around R.I.T.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oCvkRLtk-_w
 
BCR said:
There is not the that much gear that a fast unit needs, the biggest and most important thing is having a crew ready to go that is not worn out from stretching a line etc.that at the transmission of a mayday is ready to act. The tools can be taken off any truck, fast pak, stokes, like saving rope, search rope, irons, tic & pak tracker would be the things that come to mind that would most likely be needed
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The idea is to have a Unit trained, equipped & ready to go w/all their own equipment in proper working order not getting equipment from other Rigs.
 
So why not give the fast mission back to the rescue co or squads. If they are responding to the alarm what are they going to do that would be different from the ladder co. are rescue co or squads really needed on a 10- 75 that ladder co handle already. could somebody please explain thx
 
The FDNY Rescues & Squads are "Impact Units" that can be used for various situations ....there is use for them at most Fires rather than standing fast waiting for something that may or may not happen....since they have no specific area of operation like E&Ts that can rapidly be redeployed if needed w/out leaving a gap somewhere plus if you have a RES or SQ  standing fast at most every job they go to then expect them to jump into the basement of a burning/collapsing supermarket at 5:00 AM ?....you must "keep the sword sharp".
 
68jk09 said:
The FDNY Rescues & Squads are "Impact Units" that can be used for various situations ....there is use for them at most Fires rather than standing fast waiting for something that may or may not happen....since they have no specific area of operation like E&Ts that can rapidly be redeployed if needed w/out leaving a gap somewhere plus if you have a RES or SQ  standing fast at most every job they go to then expect them to jump into the basement of a burning/collapsing supermarket at 5:00 AM ?....you must "keep the sword sharp".
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Well said Chief!
 
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