I can't quite figure out any of these rumors so far. I went by Station 2 yesterday, and nothing was out of the ordinary. Yes, the concrete looks to be refinished, so the trucks are temporarily outside. The three primaries were side-by-side, with a rubble pile in front of E2 bay. In the back EMS are still there, along with MRU2. The parking lot was full, of normal cars. I couldn't see CFD annexing that though.
I know the HazMat one is false. 4 was assigned to 23's working basement fire yesterday, and 17 and 39 were both toned out via dispatch, using their respective call numbers. 16 has an entire space dedicated to HM support and logistics. It's not just the old shop apparatus bay area, but board rooms and testing sites built inside of 16. Why would they ever move? Not to mention there is no space at 2 for all these Auxiliary units. Playing the odds, the most likely HM/MCI event is downtown.
There is no reason to have the HM team on top of such a red zone there. Coming from 16 they still have a good shot in, but have time to prepare before getting into downtown. To have them in the Core offers no asset.
I would love to know what Ladder you guys are referencing. I was at 5 two days ago and it was sitting there in the far bay. Maybe they relocate it downtown at 2 during peak hours, and then bump it back indoors at night? Would love to figure that one out. 1 still has a Ladder, as they took command at the Inglewood job. 8 and 17 also have theirs, as I saw them both yesterday as well. We are so short on Ladders as-is, I'm positive that we can't add an extra one. (Training doesn't even have one right now)
As for the 'Centralized SOC' and Investigation units, that I can't begin to see the point on. The whole point of DC's are to be spread out across the city. Having them all together would be a disaster. Think if 43 or 44 gets a fire, your looking at 20+ minutes of response times.
Does any department in North America do this, no. I would like to think I know quite a few operations of big city FD's. Not one comes to mind for having all DC's in the same place. Investigators are similar, but not totally. Unlike the DC's they could technically run together, but why would they? Especially 39, they have a dedicated Arson Investigation bay. What Investigator would trade an office and heated bay to sit in a Sea Can downtown?
302 MRU, again can't figure this out either. Why would 2 get a second MRU? First of all, we don't have the budget yet for a 3rd, and we certainly don't need 2 MRU's out of one hall. Think about 12 and 22, they would benefit way more from an MRU then a second one at 2. Even 1 MRU is busier! 2 would be my last pick of those 4 halls. I also can't see a 300 series number go to something other then an Engine. Also, as a side note Parkade 2 is still in the hall.
Now the Aquatic Team. Turns out they are still at 6. The Boat and Tow are in the middle bay, and the AQ is facing rear into the alley. Which makes sense, since E/AQ are cross-staffed. Probably good keeping them together. The street construction only affects the left bay (for the time being). This of course, can and most likely will change, but who knows?
Now, think about 2 Station itself. Yes it's a big station, and yes it has lots of dorms. But not enough to facilitate this many firefighters. That I can't understand either. CFD hates putting trucks outside, and rightfully so. When you have summers up to 40c, an winters below 50c, how is that sustainable for fire service? Not to mention the amount of stuff that we have on the trucks.
2 is in a pretty high crime rate area, there is no way those trucks are sitting outside as a permanent measure. Even now, there must be security or a house watch position to make sure nothing is getting tampered with while their on the tarmac. 14 was in a tent for a few months, and it had iPads and MDT's stolen. Radios and flashlights stolen, hoses and tools messed with. They even found a 'houseless' person sleeping in the truck one night. That's in Haysboro, and 2 is in the Core.
Now just a few more quick points. The K9 doesn't exist anymore. Willow rides with the IV on IV1. The Mobile Command is technically cross-staffed with DC1. There is a reason it got moved from 5 Station. Decon doesn't exist. We have a Decon Pod, but that is on the Pod truck of course. Also, last three calls for the Pod truck? 16, 23 and 12. One for the Chemical Fire, one for the Bow River Hydrocarbon spill, and one for the CPS barricade incident on Memorial. Statistically speaking, 2 would be further response time.
Lastly, with AHS, I also can't figure this one out. Last I heard Alpha-202 is moving out as all peak trucks are being repositioned to superstations. The Papa and Sierra units don't even have their waypoints anywhere near 2 Station. The IRP has no intention of moving to 2, and why would they? They have their own 'Fire Station' at old 4 anyways. Full Station for all EMS stuff the IRP needs, there is zero reason to remove them from there.
Would love to hear your guys take on this info. I am by no means an expert, and I certainly don't have any colour to my helmet or bars on my shoulder, but even I can see the huge issues here. There must be more to it, but I cannot see it.
I apologize for the length in this, and I know with new 17 and 38 there will undoubtedly be shake ups. But this just seems too far out of the realm of possibility. I've been surprised by CFD moves before, and I'm sure I will be again. But this seems to have all sorts of errors in it.
