SQUIRT

1970 MACK SQUIRT PUMPER....(there were only 2 in the FDNY originally assigned to 71 & 310 then to 43 & the other had a short Aerial placed on it & was in ENG*70 during the supposed fiscal crisis when LAD*53 was closed on City Island..
 
Last edited:
An earlier version of this squirt........
 

Attachments

  • 61274225_2473788945973874_1919974273938620416_n.jpg
    61274225_2473788945973874_1919974273938620416_n.jpg
    135.5 KB · Views: 36
I am really surprised that FDNY has not explored using more squirts due to the fact that almost every large fire they have three tower ladders in the front spraying water in. It could be beneficial and probably even faster and easier to set up when they do have an operation like this
 
jloonz said:
I am really surprised that FDNY has not explored using more squirts due to the fact that almost every large fire they have three tower ladders in the front spraying water in. It could be beneficial and probably even faster and easier to set up when they do have an operation like this
Click to expand...
Boston ran 2 Squrts in the 70's and mid 80's they were articulating units with no pump, just a wagon. Mid 80's they took a HP 1500GPM chassis and mounted a Squrt appliance on it, it ran with the Tower Unit. Of course Boston is a whole lot smaller than NY.
 

Attachments

  • Squrt unit.jpg
    Squrt unit.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 17
jloonz said:
I am really surprised that FDNY has not explored using more squirts due to the fact that almost every large fire they have three tower ladders in the front spraying water in. It could be beneficial and probably even faster and easier to set up when they do have an operation like this
Click to expand...
The elbow can become problematic on narrow streets, the boom is only like 54’ in total height, nozzle is Electric controlled (would never last in busy fire areas - most slower departments constantly have problems and down time with electric controlled aerial nozzles) you can’t see where the stream is hitting or not hitting fire and it totally changes the standard FDNY hosebed layout and configuration - there is a lot to be said for standardization of equipment and apparatus on any department. The tower ladder is a proven urban fire killer that avoids all of these issues.
 
The Squirt is and has been a great idea. Boston, L.A., San Francisco and NOFD all used them. Does anyone know if those Fire Depts still have any Squirts in regular use. Philadelphia F.D. still uses them. I buffed in Brooklyn when E-310 had a Squirt, and I saw it used a number of times. I once saw E-310 extinguish a lot of fire in the Cellar of a group of taxpayers by moving the rig down the block and snaking the Squirt down the sidewalk metal door knocking down the fire in each cellar. The problem in the F.D.N.Y. was that the 1970 Mack pumpers they were mounted on were only 1,000 GPM and once the Squirt was activated there was no water left for handlines, the Squirt used up all the pumper capacity. Perhaps with 2,000 GPM capable pumper the idea should be revisited. Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired
 
Boston has no Squrt units. This was an 1980's rebuild using a 1979 Sutphen HP chassis and the Squrt apparatus from one of the 2 units they had. Ran with the Tower unit as a 2 piece company.
 

Attachments

  • Squrt unit.jpg
    Squrt unit.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 10
The Philadelphia Squrt shown posted above by Chief JK was a retrofit onto a 1965 International / Central. It was assigned to Engine 43 in Center City. Philadelphia still has 4 Squrts and 2 Snozzles in front line engine company service. Squrts at Engines 8, 9, 35 and 70. Snozzles, called water towers in Philly, at Engines 38 and 69. Valuable tools in the tool box.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top