Tower Ladder/Aerial

rdm258 · Jun 5, 2009

How do "the powers that be" decide,which truck company is assigned a Tower or a straight stick?

Yff3110 · Jun 5, 2009

I think it is determined by the area the truck companie will be serving. But I think this is only a few of the things they look at in assignind a tower ladder or straght stick to a house

Dan

turk132 · Jun 5, 2009

I believe the idea was to try to have a distribution so that an aerial and a tower ladder would be on the 1st alarm. Its not perfect ,some areas have a concentration of one type i.e L58, L31, L41, and L54 (all TL)run in 1st and 2nd due with each other while L56, L37, L38 and L27 (all RM) do the same.

rdm258 · Jun 5, 2009

Thank you! How do they decide where a 95ft tower goes?

catry · Jun 5, 2009

95 foot towers are all in areas that absolutely need them. TL161 and TL14 both had 75' for a short time and had to swap with other companies for 95' trucks.

fdny1984 · Jun 5, 2009

Does anyone know the cost difference between an aerial and tower ladder?

johnd248 · Jun 5, 2009

The same question applies to assignment of tiller trucks. Many are assigned where there are very tight streets: Brooklyn Heights(L118), Chinatown(L6,L20), Greenwich Village(L5,L20), Williamsburg (L104),etc. I was always told that Ladder 147 in Brooklyn has a tiller because of the six brick OMDs set back off the road on Ocean Parkway. I am not sure why Ladders 39, 175, 101, 106, and 40 have tiller trucks; does any know of specific things in their response area that necessitates a tiller?

catry · Jun 5, 2009

As I understand it L34 and L39 have tight roads in their response areas. L40 I've been told has a much easier time getting in and out of quarters with a tiller although a rearmount can manage it too.

efd274 · Jun 5, 2009

Does anyone know why L143 still has a tiller? I hope they keep it. I believe it's the only one left in Queens

firebuffkevin · Jun 5, 2009

Tillers are in short supply. I believe that there are only 13 tillers left. L173 in Queens was supposed to get a tiller replacement but got a rear mount. Their unit went to L5. There are 69 rear mounts and 62 Towers. as far as I know.

turk132 · Jun 6, 2009

L151 used to be a tiller

firebuffkevin · Jun 7, 2009

L143 is the only tiller in Queens and L39 the on;y one in the Bronx. There are six in Brooklyn (101,104,106,118,147, and 175). Five in Manhattan (5,6,20,34 and 40). None in SI

guitarman314 · Jun 9, 2009

efd274 said:
Does anyone know why L143 still has a tiller? I hope they keep it. I believe it's the only one left in Queens

Try getting a rearmount in and out of that firehouse in one try without hitting an el-pillar?

guitarman314 · Jun 9, 2009

catry said:
As I understand it L34 and L39 have tight roads in their response areas. L40 I've been told has a much easier time getting in and out of quarters with a tiller although a rearmount can manage it too.

L34 & L40 are located in the middle of "Double & Triple-Park City" where the superior maneuverability of a tiller is much needed.

guitarman314 · Jun 9, 2009

catry said:
95 foot towers are all in areas that absolutely need them. TL161 and TL14 both had 75' for a short time and had to swap with other companies for 95' trucks.

95Ft. Towers have to be placed in firehouses that have a wide street for easy in and out of quarters and the firehouse floor also has to be able to support the extra weight of a 95 footer.

efd274 · Jun 10, 2009

You are absolutely right on L143. Why would they consider putting a tiller back in L173 where they have a rearmount now? I know Old Howard Beach (east side of Cross Bay Blvd) has some pretty narrow streets but obviously the RM mustbe working ok!

catry · Jun 10, 2009

I believe the apparatus floor at L173 can no longer support a tiller.

FDNY150 · Jun 11, 2009

If you have ever been in and around some of the streets in 143's first due area, the need for a tiller is evident. They've got some tight spots just within a block or two of their quarters. Difficult for a rear mount, and darn near impossible for a bucket. I've heard the same thing for 173 in regards to a tiller.

dillondotcom · Jun 11, 2009

I am suprised that L38 is not a Tiller. I have been relocated up there a few times. There quarters are hard to get in and out of, and they have some really tight streets over there.

tl-ff · Jun 28, 2009

johnd248 said:
The same question applies to assignment of tiller trucks. Many are assigned where there are very tight streets: Brooklyn Heights(L118), Chinatown(L6,L20), Greenwich Village(L5,L20), Williamsburg (L104),etc. I was always told that Ladder 147 in Brooklyn has a tiller because of the six brick OMDs set back off the road on Ocean Parkway. I am not sure why Ladders 39, 175, 101, 106, and 40 have tiller trucks; does any know of specific things in their response area that necessitates a tiller?

L-106 has a tiller because of their response area. Greenpoint has more than a handful of very tight streets, especially the older section of Greenpoint.