jrw14493 wrote:
-Truck 91 does need to be replaced and that will be accomplished with a stick tiller here come March. No platform, just a stick. Truck 91 has a neat tag axle, but when you drive your ladder trucks to aid calls, they tend to break-down often and wear out prematurely.
-Truck 93 was purchased somewhere near the death of Rusty Hauber, the firefighter that died in the Roza Irrigation siphon, I'm assuming because the truck bears his name on the front. Our Engine 11 bears the name of Jessica Johnson, a firefighter that died in the 30-mile fire back in the early 2000's. Kind of neat to do something like that.
-Yakima purchased 3 engines in the early 90's (Originally Yakima 11, Yakima 51 and Yakima 31). I think they still have all 3, but I know they have at least 2 of them for sure. They are currently being held as reserve apparatus. Their reserve apparatus that they use maybe 10 times a year is what is due to be replaced.
-Engine 95 was purchased new in 2009. It came with a 750 gallon tank and was supposed to go to Station 92 because of Yakima's semi-rural response area out here, hence the extra 250 gallons of water compared to all of the other trucks. The old HME Engine 95 became Engine 92. I would agree it is somewhere in the 1999 - 2000 range and is due for replacement, according to YFD and NFPA standards. (Keep in mind NFPA standards are not laws)
-Engine 94 was purchased new the year before Engine 95 and Engine 93 was purchased new the year before Engine 94. So in the last three years, 3 of Yakima's first-out engines were replaced, leaving 2 first-out engines (92 and 91) left to be replaced, plus the platform, plus whatever else they can come up with that needs replacing.
I understand that equipment wears out and needs to be replaced. What I don't understand is why they needed to spend $1 million dollars on that stupid tiller when a $750,000 rear-mount stick would have sufficed, just like they have now. They could have purchased a rear-mount stick and a new pumper for the price of that stupid tiller. Even at $1 million dollars, the tiller doesn't even have a bucket -- it's just a stick! I also hope that they didn't spend that kind of money and then expect this bond to pass to pay for it. I haven't heard much more about it.
Ah ok, I was assuming it was truck 93 that was getting replaced with the tiller unit.
http://www.kimatv.com/news/19687869.html I remember seeing that unit operate at the Granger mill fire in 94 or 95. It was quite a sight, Granger's water supply isn't the greatest and when they would open both monitors it would pretty much stress the city's supply. Hell, I am really showing my age here by saying that lol. I would be showing it even more by telling you that I still remember when the yfd's mechanics complex was the Fruitvale station and none of that out there was city of yakima yet.
In which a rear or even mid mount platform would have done the job. Then you wouldn't have the initial training issues with having to train a tillerman and have two drivers for the rig and you still have the flexibility of the platform for all around use including rescue.
And T-91 why it only has a single wheeled tag instead of a true tandem is beyond me. That would have made a lot more sense.
They still have all of the 3 original sister darley engines. Which are past their prime also those spartan chassis arent the best out there and it shows. I am assuming from what I am hearing that getting new engines other than E-95 would be rid of those 19-20 yr old trucks and put some 3-4 yr old trucks into reserve. Usually thats the way it works most places, but ol charlie needs to realize yakima isn't like most places.
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