CFD Apparatus status discussion (Non-Radio Information)

[255-Jacobs]

Nice to see it's an identical to the last one. That means this one can be deployed quicker. Still no word on where the first one is ending up. Either a hall that has an Engine that's racked up too much km's already, or a hall that is still using a 2010 Engine, like 43. Could even be a replacement to 41 since their main is cooked right now.

On another Pierce related note: The new sticks are equipped with T3 Rear Stear, unlike Ladder 1. This means that the wheels on the back turn slightly to help these massive tandem axle machines make tight turns. Knowing downtown, this is great to have.

It also means that the new sticks are six wheelers instead of 10, since T3 eliminates the need for dualies. How about that?

 

[RP201]

2nd Leased Engine -

https://flic.kr/p/2rogwNi

Love that paint job! Come on 43!

 

[mackem87a]

So this may be out of date but over on CPTDB, someone posted that on the 30th July, they were at 37 and 3 of the stock engines were being housed there.
It's a month later so they may have been moved already but thought worth mentioning.

 

[ENGINE_4]

Rapid 1 and Rapid 2 are in service - a real shift from the MRU/purely medical response set up. Sounds like these Rapid units will be used to respond to encampment fires as well, but outside of downtown. We will see.
Rapid 1 is using BB0110 - 23's Bush Buggy, it was listed last as BB17

 

[mackem87a]

So what was the rationale for the introduction of the Rapid units? Were the MRU's crews just down too long between calls whilst Engines were running encampment/garbage fires?

I remember back in the UK about 10 years ago there was a push to introduce Targeted Response vehicles to deal with small rubbish/nuisance fires overnight during quieter times, instead of sending out a full appliance. One Engine(4 FF's) off the run overnight became 2 TRV's (2FF's per) somewhat doubling your response capabilities.
It's not quite the same as here with no engines taken offline. But is the idea generally the same? Keep Engines for actual calls and the Rapids for those 'nuisance' fires?

 

[ENGINE_4]

Rapid 1 and Rapid 2 are in service - a real shift from the MRU/purely medical response set up. Sounds like these Rapid units will be used to respond to encampment fires as well, but outside of downtown. We will see.
Rapid 1 is using BB0110 - 23's Bush Buggy, it was listed last as BB17

I wrote a reply to this, but the system merged it and it's confusing. Rapid 1 is BB0110, Rapid 2 is BB0310.

Supposedly 19 Tower has moved to 14, but Tower 19 is still on the air. So 19 Station MAY be getting renovated. That has pushed 19's BB to 26 Station, cross staffed by Rescue 26

So what was the rationale for the introduction of the Rapid units? Were the MRU's crews just down too long between calls whilst Engines were running encampment/garbage fires?

I remember back in the UK about 10 years ago there was a push to introduce Targeted Response vehicles to deal with small rubbish/nuisance fires overnight during quieter times, instead of sending out a full appliance. One Engine(4 FF's) off the run overnight became 2 TRV's (2FF's per) somewhat doubling your response capabilities.
It's not quite the same as here with no engines taken offline. But is the idea generally the same? Keep Engines for actual calls and the Rapids for those 'nuisance' fires?

Every Department is different, but kind off. Depends on how you look at it too. Some see it as a band aid solution. It's for the call volume though - the MRU's were introduced because of all the medical calls in the core only responded to medical calls, keeping Engines available for alarms and fire calls.

There has always been a lot of rubbish and encampment fire calls in and around the core. My theories are the Chief's likely felt there were way too many of those small fire calls where an Engine was being deployed to and bringing in other Engines from outside of the core to respond to other calls, or there was a Bush Buggy being brought in to much to respond to hard to reach fire calls and took up to much time and resources.

A lot of other cities have moved to a similar set-up, 2 ff's in a Bush Buggy type unit responding to medical and small fire related calls in a heavy urban area. I'm quite happy CFD is doing this. Maybe it's a pilot project? We will see. Sad to see 15 year old BB's doing this job but maybe we will see smaller F-150 type units in the future?!

Also, this only leaves 3 BB's outside of the Core. When a major grass fire develops it will be interesting to see the response and if a rapid unit will be deployed!

 

[Calgary_Fire_Filmer]

Howdy folks! I come again with lots of news.

First off, new Station 38 should be opening this September. Next, the two rear mounts are scheduled for 1 and 6 Station, because of the rear steering. This will either bump two 2011's to the spare pool, or get rid of the two 2008 Stock ladders. Quite possibly, they bring in a new Ladder assignment, and add an extra one to the fleet.

Tower 19 is at 14, 19 is being renovated. But renos can't start until they start at 9 Station. (IV is assigned to Stn.4) Rapids are in service, and are on run cards for both BB events and MRU events. Can also be attached on all in-district structure fire calls now too. They are riding three right now, with an FRP Medic as third. This is because the FRP program is scrapped and they don't exist anymore.

The Gator from 7 is at 16 with Panel 16, and the 20 Truck/Trailer are at training. So is 1 Pierce stock Engine. The others are at 37 Station, still. Next up, BB19 is at 26 which makes 31 the only Station still crossed Ladder/Bush Buggy. 17BB to 2RRV, 23BB to 1RRV.

 

[mackem87a]

Didn't they order new trucks for the FRP's or did they get cancelled?
Was the program just not getting the usage they thought it would or budget needed to be allocated, elsewhere?

 

[ENGINE_4]

Pretty wild that the FRP program is gone. Must be tight with 3 ff's in those Bush Buggies! Great so see that the Rapids can respond on fire calls as well!! Maybe those FRP's that were ordered can be transformed into new BB's lol

 

[mackem87a]

What body was ordered on those new FRPs, anyone know?

If it's an ambulance body, I wonder if they could be converted to an A/L/Rehab unit..the current A/L is getting long in the tooth and it would give a unit in the north and south.

 

[255-Jacobs]

It was a Ford chassis on a Demers Inc ambulance body. Those are the same fellas who make AHS ambulances.

Now last year I paid a visit to fleet and per the Chief Mechanic, A/L 4 isn't getting replaced. Not by another air truck at least. CFD is done in terms of cascade units so when A/L 4 gets retired it won't be getting replaced with a new air truck. The Chief Mechanic hates it anyways. Says it's a POS now and they want to get rid of it. I'd put money down that it'll get replaced with a rehab unit of sorts. Probably another commercial chassis that carries all sorts of rehab equipment and air cylinders just no fill system.

 

[RP201]

This is great news! Rapid Response units are a brilliant idea. The concept reminds me of LAFD’s fast response units, or Vancouver using Wildland units to respond to medical calls. The cost of operating these rigs will be comparable to the MRU, in terms of maintenance and upkeep. A little more involved with the Pump and associated equipment, but it shouldn’t be too bad. This is a great use of these rigs.

I always thought the FRP program was really cool, but in all honesty, CFD members would be better served by a dedicated Rehab unit run by volunteers like TFS, Montreal, Mississauga and Waterloo region. I’m sure I left out others. Toronto has two volunteer run canteen trucks and then a mobile toilet truck, Rehab 1. It sounds funny, but probably needed at big jobs. You guys should look into it. On a side note, the Toronto union owns the rehab canteens with the support of the city. Ottawa Fire uses the Salvation Army.

Hopefully, CFD will convert all the Bush Buggies to Rapid units.
The ambulances they bought will probably be sold off. They will get snapped up.

Credit to the photographer.

 

[mackem87a]

With the end of the FRP program and a few support units nearing end of life/being slightly cumbersome (looking at you HR2) coupled with the lengthy delays and cost increases on new trucks, I'd wonder if there will ever be an increase in the POD trucks capacity/capabilities.

For the cost of 1 truck, you could probably pick up a couple of roll on/roll offs with a few pods.

Rehab (the wiki has a rehab pod at 16 but is it personel rehab, equipment rehab, anyone know?), Air Light, High Rise, Additional water tanks, General Operational Support , Tech Rescue Support, could all be streamlined into pods instead of each having a multi million dollar truck, that goes on the run a handful of times a year.

Pick up an additional couple of trucks, have a couple at 16, one in the north, one in the south, have one set up as an A/L and one as a General Ops or a hybrid of both, semi-permanently and use the other two as flex trucks when needed.
In the grass fire season, you could throw on a water tank and have an additional tanker or 2 ready to go whenever.

Or are there insurance requirements to have an actual truck ready to go at all times, for each of those niches?

 

[RP201]

PODs are fantastic, really utilized in Europe. Point of distribution, the concept I believe, is to load up a pod onto a prime mover, basically a tilt and load truck and respond to the scene, drop the pod, and then return to and get another pod.

The department has a bunch of pods with various resources loaded to support specific tasks, Hazardous Materials, Rehab, HUSAR, MCI, tons of high volume hose, decontamination, etc. The program has tons of potential, I’m just not sure it’s going to become something like European fire brigades.

Right now pods come in typically after crews on scene can identify what extra gear is needed. Most pod trucks are cross staffed or in some cases have a driver assigned. Personally, I think these programs need to be expanded and utilized on any specialized jobs. I’d like to see CFD run one in the north, maybe at the future 27 near the airport and the other at 16. Just some thoughts.

 

[255-Jacobs]

Afternoon lads, I come bearing some news from the Technical Rescue side of the CFD.

1. The rumors of TR expanding and moving around are confirmed. There will be 4 Rescues, 1 per quadrant and they will respond citywide to TR incidents and fires as well as the respective secondary unit at their hall. Still no word yet on which halls will become the Tech halls.

2. The 2 Rescues that have been ordered alongside the 20 Engines are going to be Technical Rescues. They will replace TR10 & TR11.

3. Apparently the CFD didn't order 2 but 3 Rescues! The 3rd will run as a reliable spare to keep TR floating.

4. CFD's end game is to get 5 identical Rescues total from Pierce MFG. 4 as frontlines, 1 as a spare that will be fully equipped and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Big things are coming for the CFD people. 2025 has been a year full of news and surprises and I expect 2026 will be exactly the same. Maybe even better.

That's all I got for now fellas, cheers!

 

[JABoomer]

Afternoon lads, I come bearing some news from the Technical Rescue side of the CFD.

1. The rumors of TR expanding and moving around are confirmed. There will be 4 rescues, 1 per quadrant and they will respond citywide to TR incidents and fires as well as the respective secondary unit at their hall. Still no word yet on which halls will become the Tech halls.

2. The 2 rescues that have been ordered alongside the 20 engines are going to be Technical Rescues. They will replace TR10 & TR11.

3. Apparently the CFD didn't order 2 but 3 rescues! The 3rd will run as a reliable spare to keep TR floating.

4. CFDs end game is to get 5 identical rescues total from Pierce MFG. 4 as frontlines, 1 as a spare that will be fully equipped and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Big things are coming for the CFD people. 2025 has been a year full of news and surprises and I expect 2026 will be exactly the same. Maybe even better.

That's all I got for now fellas, cheers!

That makes perfect sense, although I would station one in the core as well. Can't have everything.

 

[mackem87a]

So with the additional TR's, what's the plan for the TR Supports?
Will the current 2 remain, be added to or will the new Rescues be spec'd to be able to carry some if not all, of the Supports equipment?

 

[255-Jacobs]

The current supports are going to stay. Since they aren't governed the CFD isn't under any legal requirement to replace them so they can spend money elsewhere.

The new Rescues are being speced like the current TR10. They are going to be single axle walk around Rescues capable of holding everything needed for TR runs. The Supports will carry what the TR's can't carry plus all that wood for shoring up structures.

Last I heard 2 halls will have Supports and the other 2 won't. But as we've seen time and time again: Plans change.

 

[Calgary_Fire_Filmer]

Well 43 got some new wheels…

 

[255-Jacobs]

Well it's about time. I wonder where they got it from. Only logical explanation is that one of the stock engines are in service now and it's old main is now 43. But which Engine got replaced? I actually don't have any idea on what Engine could have been replaced.