Any More Questions About Smaller, Lighter Firetrucks?

FirefightnRick · April 6, 2014

Last night.

Driver crashes into Arlington fire truck injuring three inside, totaling engine

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2014/04/driver-crashes-into-arlington-fire-truck-injuring-three-inside-totaling-engine.html/

An Arlington fire truck was hit by a speeding SUV Saturday morning, injuring the the three people inside.
About 3 a.m., the driver of a black SUV slammed into the drivers side of Engine 11 at a high speed totaling the truck and injuring two firefighters and a lieutenant, said department spokesman Lee Tovar.
The engine was blocking the scene of a vehicle rollover in the westbound lanes of the 2600 block of East Interstate 30 while personnel from another engine cared for the person involved in the accident.
The firefighters and lieutenant were able to get out of the cab and were transported to an area hospital. One person had an open head wound, the other two had minor injuries, Tovar said. All three were treated and released.
The driver, identified as 28-year-old Hugo Humberto Veloz, was also transported to the hospital and then released into police custody. He is being held in the Arlington City Jail and faces a charge of intoxication assault with a vehicle/serious bodily injury. Bail has been set at $5,000.

Rick

Edited April 6, 2014 by FirefightnRick

TheTastyGreek · April 6, 2014

Serious question: was this a smaller truck that was hit?

oldguystudent · April 6, 2014

Dude. What does one of those things cost? Yikes!

UNTFan23 · April 6, 2014

A quick internet search shows that fire engines start at $500,000 and only go up from there. They are not cheap.

FirefightnRick · April 6, 2014

That is an Engine. Some departments use the term Pumper. They hold 750 gallons of water on board and can usually pump at a rate of 1600-1800 gallons per minute and can carry up to 6 men. Without the water, hose and 1200 feet of 4 inch supply line and tools they average around 40,000 pounds in weight.

A Ladder or Truck is the bigger truck and usually has anywhere from 300-500 gallons of water on board, a pump that rates 1800-2400 gallons per minute, a 75-135 foot ladder or tower device, outriggers, some hose and tools and carries up to 6 men and weighs in excess of 65,000 pounds.

Four years ago our Truck 17 was blocking while working a wreck southbound on I 35 south freeway around 2 am and got hit broad side by a 12,000 LB Ford F350 crew-cab dually pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact moved the 60,000 pound-plus firetruck in excess of 100 feet, saving the 4 FF's, 3 ambulance crew members and at least two cops' working the wreck in the process. The drunk driver was killed instantly when he was ejected on impact.

As 23 said the engines start at $500k and up. The Ladder Trucks start at $750k up. Not cheap at all but worth every penny.

Rick

Edited April 6, 2014 by FirefightnRick

oldguystudent · April 6, 2014

Oh, I wasn't criticizing price. I just looked at that thing and realized I'd never thought about how much they must cost.

FirefightnRick · April 6, 2014

Oh, I wasn't criticizing price. I just looked at that thing and realized I'd never thought about how much they must cost.

I hear ya. I don't know about FW but a lot if not most of your volunteer programs, which acount for MOST of your fire service in the US get federal assistance purchasing these things.

My pet peev right now is the quality of the products being produced by a few new in-the-game manufacturers. There's some real crap rolling off assembly lines these days.

Rick

forevereagle · April 7, 2014

Out of curiosity, is it possible that we can get the best of both worlds? There may be instances where a smaller vehicle could be useful and possibly a better fit for certain situations while not getting rid of the larger trucks for situations where they are a better fit. This could save some money but still allows for the larger trucks to be used where required. I just wonder if there is a middle ground instead of there only being one way to do things.