LAFD units

[SCPD]

i was just reading an article from the lafd's site talking about some special units like an Dozer Tender, Emergency Lighting Units, what are these units and whats there purpose's. and in case its something i should know and im an idiot. im not from the la area.

 

[karldotcom]

dozer tender

http://www.mikesphotos.us/gallery2/d/40903-3/LAFD-DT1__amp__TP1-003.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg67/lafirephoto/LAFD/Apparatus/FS88/PICT0146.jpg

http://www.mikesphotos.us/gallery2/d/20342-3/EncinoFire-LAFD-DT-005.jpg

Believe it or not, but people on the Interstates would drive into a blade if there werent vehicles to warn them etc

 

[Kingscup]

A dozer tender is a support vehicle (pick up with a utility body) that is often used to transport tools, parts and diesel fuel to keep the bulldozer running in the field.

The emergency lighting units are what they sound like they would be. They provide lighting to emergency scenes and other incidents.
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/chucksfirepics2/LAFD8.html (light 83 about mid page)

 

[garys]

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/chucksfirepics2/LAFD8.html (light 83 about mid page)

Do they still mark the apparatus Los Angeles CITY Fire Department to distinguish it from the County FD? And is that a Crown piece being used for foam?

Thanks

 

[SCPD]

L.A. City and L.A. County apparatus is always marked so they can be distinguished from each other. There is a friendly rivalry and competition between the two.

Yes, that is a Crown foam carrier. The front end resembles the older school busses Crown made.

 

[Eng74]

The new units that L.A. City gets now only have Los Angeles Fire Department now. That started around 98 or 2000.

 

[SCPD]

another obvious question i guess, but what are "class 1" on some of the trucks. like on the engines and ladders

 

[Eng74]

Class 1 is an ISO rate that is for insurance. A department has to meet numbers for hydrents, engines and trucks and firefighters, response time and a few other things. A good ISO rate can make what you pay fire insurance less. There are not too many departments that have a class 1 rating. The bad thing is that once you get a rating unless you want to pay to have them come out and go through everything again you keep your rate number. I heard L.A. City got theirs back in the 60's and have never done it again from what I have heard.

 

[mdulrich]

There are more Class 1 departments than you may think. According to this map, LAFD is no longer a Class 1 department. http://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/1000/ppc1101.html Lots more information is available on the left side of this page.

Fire departments are periodically regraded. During my 27 years on a fully paid Class 3 department, I was personally involved with an ISO survey twice and our department was visited one additional time.

Mike

 

[SCPD]

ok thanks guys cant wait till im back out in the area to start listening again. i only get to the area about two or three weeks out of the year so i like to keep a book of what is what, who is who ect. i always have fun with it too.

 

[garys]

L.A. City and L.A. County apparatus is always marked so they can be distinguished from each other. There is a friendly rivalry and competition between the two.

Yes, that is a Crown foam carrier. The front end resembles the older school busses Crown made.

Thanks for the answers. I didn't know that anyone still had Crown apparatus running in service.

Gary

 

[SCPD]

The new units that L.A. City gets now only have Los Angeles Fire Department now. That started around 98 or 2000.

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for the update.

It is true that the LAFD is no longer rated a class 1 department. I've read a little bit about it and might read some more about it. LAFD was the first department to achieve a class 1 rating and did so in 1947, holding it for over 50 years. There has been some discussion about revamping how the ISO rates departments. I've heard this from a number of fireman friends of mine, but so far it appears it is just talk.

The system does appear to be a bit screwy when a volunteer department in Fallon, Nevada can get a class 1 and L.A. City does not. Then in Scottsdale, Arizona where even residences are require a sprinkler system, the fact that they had a for-profit department until 2-3 years ago seems to have influenced their rating more than the high building standards in that community.

I heard from one fire acquaintance of mine that the fire department's have to pay for the ISO rating to be done and that L.A. City did not want to pay for it to be done. That is just here-say of course.

Whatever, I still consider the LAFD and L.A County Fire to be top notch organizations.