Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services, full scale response

 A spill at Oland's brewery in Halifax January 8 lead to a full scale response from the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services. Don't worry the spill was not beer. In fact it was not a caustic chemical as initially thought, but was steam and hot water. Nevertheless HRM F+ES took no chances and came to the site prepared for the worst.

There was a report that one person apparently sheltered on site and was extracted, but there were no reports of injuries. 

The tally of apparatus was impressive with seven units, not including at least three officers' cars.

 

Spartan  / Carl Thibault 18-588E, Engine 12

 

Pierce 07-417Q (spare)

Pierce Arrow XT 6700, 21-634P, Aerial 12

 

 

Spartan Metro Star / Carl Thibault 11-531E, Engine 8
 

Some rarely seen equipment also made the scene ready for a full scale HazMat operation.

Sterling 04-347S with 05-366TR Command Centre

GMC 5500, 07-419U / Dynamic Truck Bodies, Decon 5

Freightliner FL80 / Metalfab, 97-257R Tactical Support

With temperatures hovering around 0ºC the streets were wet with road salt, so the equipment that came from any distance took on a hazy look.

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Where's the fire (truck)

 I have not seen much in the way of fire apparatus recently, so here is what little I have been able to catch.

My recent road trip to northern mainland Nova Scotia turned up the well maintained units of the Abercrombie Volunteer Fire Department in Pictou County. (see previous post).

Engine 1 runs this 2012 International 4400 crew cab built by Metalfab of Centreville, NB. It has a 1250 gpm pump with an 860 gallon tank. The centre mounted pump panel has good all round visibility for the operator.

 Abercrombie's Rescue 1 runs a 2003 Freightliner FL70 with a walk-in body by Lantz Truck Body Ltd of Port Williams. NS.

Due to the position of the Rescue rig, I was not able to get a photo of the Department's 2018 Kenworth 1600 gallon tanker.

Speaking of rescues, I saw this Halifax unit the other day. As a spare, it does not see much service anymore, but is obviously kept in operating condition.

Built by Metalfab on a 1997 Freightliner FL80 chassis, it was assigned as a Rescue to the old Prospect Road + District VFD (the label is still visible!). It was part of the many VFDs that came under the control of the Halifax Regional Municipality Fire + Emergency Services formed as part of the municipal amalgamation of 1997. As such it was among the original apparatus of the new service and was assigned roster number 97-257R. It was then Rescue 52 and later Tactical 52 and is now designated for Tactical Support. 

Another Metalfab built rescue of similar vintage and also built on a Freightliner FL80 chassis is Tactical Support unit 97-98TS carrying the "Rescue 3" label. Built in 1997 for the Lower Sackville VFD it is also an original member of the HRMF+ES acquired in the 1997 amalgamation. It is based at Station 3, West Street, the main station on the Halifax peninsula.

(The current Halifax Regional Municipality Fire + Emergency Services was founded in 1996, but can trace its roots to the Union Fire Club of 1754* - the oldest fire service in Canada. It now has 51 fire stations and more than 120 pieces of front line apparatus. See * below)

Station 3 known as "West Street", after its location, is the main station on the Halifax peninsula and provides back-up to the three other, smaller, stations in addition to serving the central zone. It is the base for Engine 3, which runs 17-585 E, a 2017 Spartan ERV Metro Star with a 1250 gpm pump and 625 gallon water tank. 

 Aerial 3, also based at West Street, runs a 2020 Pierce Arrow PAXT 5700, with a 1750 gpm pump,  250 gallon tank and a 100 foot mid-mount platform aerial.

* A careful examination of the photos will show that two of the units display a door badge with "Est. 1754" and one with "Est 1996". 

 

A recent structure fire near my house brought out Aerial 3 and a pair of engine companies:

One Engine Company was running unit 11-529 E, a Carl Thibault pumper built on a Spartan Metro Star chassis. A spare unit, it is the former E3 and has a 1250 gpm pump with a 500 gallon tank.

 

Another engine company was running a sister unit, 11-528E, the former E-2, and now also a spare. 

Front line equipment may have responded to an earlier call in another neighbourhood, whicjh may explain the presence of these spare units. 

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Tanker drops in

The Halifax Regional Fire + Emergency Services fleet is a huge one, covering 65 stations plus training, spares and other unassigned. It is therefore tough to keep track of assignments of apparatus. One thing is sure however, that small suburban or rural tankers are seldom seem in town. Yesterday's arrival of 02-295T was therefore unusual.

Carl Thibault delivered four Freightliner F-116s on 17 ft chassis in the 2002 order, and they were assigned to outlying stations. Fitted with a 1500 gal tank and 450 gpm pump, they also carry a 1400 gal PortaTank and portable 550 gpm pump, and have 10" discharges left and right and 10" dump in the rear.
02-295T is now a spare, but certainly appears to be fully equipped and fitted out. 02-296T is also a spare. 02-297T is based in Herring Cove and 02-298T in Lawrencetown.

For a good indication of where the apparatus may be stationed see: http://fire.wikia.com/wiki/Halifax_Regional_Fire_and_Emergency_Service

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Major fire brings out aerials

A major fire this morning in downtown Halifax brought out a wide range of Halifax Regional Municipality Fire and Emergency Services apparatus from both sides of Halifax harbour. At the height of the fire at least four pumpers and numerous support and utility vehicles were on scene but also four aerial devices were at work.
The building, a laminated timber framed former curling rink, was jammed in on two sides by other buildings and only aerials were able to centre in on the seat of the fire.

 Three of four aerials at work on the fire (two at left, on the north side of the building and one on the right on the south side). By the time this was taken the main part of the building had burned and collapsed, and only the office structure in front was still standing.

Most of the pumpers on the job were HRM's newest Spartan Metro Star / Carl Thibaults, like 12-538E and 11-529E.

However Engine 15 responded with Pierce 10-509E. (This unit is based at Station 15, on Pleasant Street in Dartmouth.)

Tactical 8 runs this veteran Freightliner 95-95TS. 

It would not normally be seen downtown, so is likely filling in for another larger unit.

It was joined by this Sterling 04-347S with Drake trailer 04-351T, which is fitted with food and toilet facilities.

E-One Bronto aerial platform 09-489P  was set up closest to the building on its north side.

Down hill, and accessing the east side of the building was LaFrance  LTI 02-305L with its 110 foot ladder. I believe it is also based in Dartmouth.

On the south side of the building, Pierce quint 08-439Q  was wreathed in smoke.
 

A weary hoseman dismantles a hose line on the west side of the building. LaFrance quint 01-144Q has finished its work. It appears to have damaged its front bumper.  13-554U is one of  several Ford Explorers in the Utility category.

All four aerial devices are rated at 1750 gpm, and were able to bring down unstable portions of the building with their water pressure.

The building was a total loss, along with its contents, which included a corporate headquarters, a framing shop, an adult learning centre (used for police training) and a used furniture warehouse/store. No lives were lost and as far as is known there were no injuries, but many police and firemen inhaled smoke.

For more on the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services, including a complete fleet roster see:

 http://www.halifax.ca/fire/index.php

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Snow

A major blizzard hit Halifax January 3, so traveling around the streets was out of the question (for me). Even the city buses were parked. However plows were running and so were emergency vehicles.
By today the roads were miraculously clear, which made it much easier for ambulances and fire trucks.  Among them Engine 2, one of Halifax Regional Fire + Emergency Services' Spartan Metro Star/ Carl Thibault units delivered in 2011.

Earlier today I thought I heard a fire engine with tire chains, but by late morning when I saw this one it was making out just fine with conventional tires.

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HRM Fire [corrected]

An early morning fire in a convenience store in south end Halifax brought out the apparatus from the nearest station (Station 3, [2] University Avenue, also known as Morris Street by the old hands) and Engine 2 [3] from West Street.

1. Spartan Metro Star chassis and Carl Thibault pumper 11-528E  from the West Street University Ave Station serves Engine 2. It appears that it was the only one pumping.

2. Aerial 3 from West Street is this E-One/Bronto, 09-498P (P for platform). Fortunately the building was evacuated safely and the fire brought under control before it was needed.

3. 11-529E from University Ave [West Street] was also on scene. It is also a Spartan Metro Star/ Carl Thibault and operates as Engine 3.

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New apparatus for HRM Fire and Emergency Services

On March 19, staff recommended to HRM Council the acquisition of several new pieces of apparatus over the next three years. Interestingly the reports also listed the apparatus to be replaced. Some of the latter are no longer in service, but some will be working up the new deliveries.

First on the agenda was up to11 new rescue pumpers, to be purchased from Carl Thibault over three years. There will be three in 2013, replacing 93-81E a Ford, 92-230E a Pierce Dash and 92-228E an International. The report gives no specs on the new units, but they are expected to be similar to the recently acquired (2011 order date) Carl Thibaults built on Spartan Metro Star chassis.

Next up is a a new 100 foot rear mount platform Pierce Arrow XT to be purchased through local representative MicMac Fire and Safety Source Inc.
It will replace the veteran 89-48P, a Simon LTI Phoenix, which has already been retired. This handsome and distinctive looking truck was unique to the old Halifax Fire Department and came into the HRM at amalgamation:

Last on the list will be two 75 foot Quints, also to be Pierce Arrow XTs from MicMac. They will be delivered over a two year period. The first one will go to Station 5 Bayers Road and will replace 90-58Q the last of the Emergency-One Quints. Once the pride of the fleet, these three massive trucks were the biggest ever owned by the old HRM FD.

In the HRM staff report the last remaining unit is referred to as a  "Federal". At that time Emergency-One was owned by the Federal Signal Corp. These were also the first E-Ones owned by the Halifax and were US built, whereas most of the HFD flleet were Canadian.
The second new quint will be stationed at King Street in Dartmouth but will replace 95-248Q a Pierce, based in Waverley, so presumably something from King Street will be redeployed in 2014.

To see Staff's recommendation including prices look for Agenda items 12-115, 12-117 and 12-118 at:
http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/130319rc.html

Halifax Explosion - 95th anniversary and Memorial

When two ships collided in Halifax Harbour on December 6, 1917, one ship caught fire. Halifax firefighters responded, but before they were able to extinguish the blaze, the ship Mont Blanc and its cargo of explosives and ammunition created what has been called the greatest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. Nine firefighters died, along with  more than one thousand civilians and military personnel. The north end of the city was flattened,  leaving many thousands homeless and injured.(1)
Today, marking the 95th anniversary of that tragedy, there will be many civic ceremonies, one of which will take place at Halifax Regional Municipality Fire and Emergency Services, Station 4. In front of the station is the memorial stone which gives the names of the nine men killed in the explosion.
Just before the service this morning the Fire Department lined up some of its vehicles:

1. Station 4, with the granite memorial stone, just behind the flagpole. Unit 07-414U is a Dodge Dakota crew cab, classed as a Utility vehicle.

2. Veteran Thibault, carrying Number 1 (its official roster number is 76-11A)  was a long time front line engine. It has now been beautifully restored for ceremonial duty.

3. Roster number 34-04A is a Bickle engine, carefully preserved, and named "Queen" after its marathon duty fighting the Queen Hotel fire. (2)

4. Engine 4 is one of the latest series of rescue pumpers. 11-530E was built by Carl Thibault on a Spartan Metro Star chassis. It has a 1250 gpm pump and 500 gal tank, and is based at Station 4. 

(1) For a brief summary of the Halifax Explosion and Memorial Services, see: http://www.halifax.ca/halifaxexplosion/index.html
(2) For more on the Queen Hotel fire see: http://www.halifax.ca/archives/QueenHotelFire.html

Metro Star for Halifax Regional

Following on our M for March theme, Halifax Regional Municipality Fire & Emergency Service has received its order of new rescue pumpers and at least two are now in service in my neighbourhood. Engine 2, based at the University Avenue station is the first of the order, and is numbered 11-528E.
1. Head on view of the new Engine 2 Metro Star cab.

2. Bumper load of noise, includes Federal Signal electronic siren, Federal turbine and air horns.

3. The Metro Star has a roomy cabin, with flat floor in the crew compartment.

4. The body has hinged doors, not the roll up type usually found on new engines. Also note the tire chain system, just ahead of the rear tires.

Built by Carl Thibault on a Spartan Metro Star chassis, it carries a 1250 gpm Watrous pump and 500 gallon tank and all the other gear required for its demanding job. Station 2 is the busiest in the Halifax Regional Municipality and this engine is called out many times a day.

One notable thing about this engine (and its three sisters, numbered 11-529E, 11-530E and 11-531E) is that it is the decibel winner! Featuring a typical electronic siren, a traditional turbine type Q-siren (really loud-123 decibels at 10 ft) and air horns (super loud) it can be heard above most urban din.

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