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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HRM - new Quint

Halifax Regional Fire + Emergency Services has taken delivery of a new Pierce Quint 14-558Q.
Spotted yesterday outside Station 5 on Bayers Road, the crews were just beginning to equip it, so all the compartment doors were open.

It should be in service soon, so I will hope for a better picture in the near future.

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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