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.

.

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. 

.

.

In for service

When I take my car to the Ford dealer for service I often see Ford trucks there too. In the last short while I seem to be seeing red.

The Municipality of the District of West Hants is served by the Uniacke + District VFD. This 2012 Ford F550 crew cab runs as Pumper Rescue 305, and was built as a mini-pumper/tanker/rescue by Metalfab.

Part of a 2011 order Halifax Fire + Emergency Services has three of these small rescue units in service. Built on a Ford F350 chassis it carries a Reading body with dual rears and a towing hitch. Numbered 11-517R,   it runs as Rescue 36 assigned to the Meagher's Grant station, a good 45 miles from the this Ford dealer, but still within Halifax.

Halifax also runs numerous utitlities, among them this 2002 GMC Sierra 4x4, numbered 02-280U. It is fitted with a communication and light package, but aside from the cap is pretty much an off the shelf pickup. It is assigned to general duties.

.

Road Trip Report 4 - no fire here

There was a public event underway in the Pictou fire hall on June 20 so the apparatus had been wheeled out onto to the apron. Despite long shadows from the late evening sun, the unique "biscuit" over over red colour scheme was still vidible.

Unit No.1 is this good looking Ford F-350 light rescue.

 Big Sterling Acterra from Metalfab is Truck 7....

Its ULC plate indicates an October 12, 2007 certification at 1050 igpm.

Classy American LaFrance Eagle is called "Number 6"....

Its plate is dated June 8, 2000 and it also rates at 1050 igpm.


I have featured some of the previous apparatus from the Pictou VFD here before:

http://truckfax.blogspot.ca/2011/10/dodges-and-fargos-long-gone-from-big.html
http://truckfax.blogspot.ca/2014/03/american-lafrance-down-for-third-time.html

Dartmouth Fire Department

Pre-amalgamation in 1996, the City of Dartmouth, NS, maintained its own independence on the east side of Halifax harbour. Dartmouth was founded in 1750 (one year after Halifax) and still maintains its identity, as a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), but all services, including fire fighting, are carried out by the HRM.
When it was still an independent city it had a sizable fire department. Here is an album of some of its apparatus from the old shoebox (headings indicate the year the picture was taken)

1978

1. 1977 Ford-Thibault 1050 gpm pumper operated from Station 4 in lower Burnside.

2. This little 1950s International tanker was not typical of Dartmouth's roster. It was probably used as a brush truck.

3. 1976 Ford-Thibualt, rear-mount 100 ft aerial also ran from Station 4.

1979

4. Tower 2 ran this Mack CF, with Baker Aerialscope 100 foot mid-mount platform.It was built by Thibault in 1976

1982

5. No.14 Pumper operated this 1970 Thibault 1250 gpm from the Station 1 on King Street. The ubiquitous Cincinnati Cab was Thibault's custom cab.

6. No.18 Pumper ran a similar 1973 Thibualt 1250 gpm custom cab. Even though it was the first day of spring, both units were fitted with tire chains.

1982

7. Classic 1965 American LaFrance 1250 gpm No.11 seen at Station 2 in Woodside. Tire chains were standard in January.

1987

8. Checking out Number 4 aerial at station 4 - see also 1978 above.

1989

 

9. Dartmouth ran this Dodge rescue for many years. It carried number 24.

1989

  

10. 1981 Ford L9000 Pierreville 840 gpm pumper/ 1000 gal tanker/ 40lb foam carried several numbers, including 3 and 12 during its career. 

11. (undated possibly 1986)

1990

 

12. Thibault built this aerial on a Ford C chassis, and it was assigned to Station 4, replacing another 1976 Thibualt aerial on a Ford C chassis -see photoS above.

1991

13. Late model Ford C-Thibault (ca. 1987)was 1050/600 pumper number 1. Note the handrail around the back of the cab.

1994

14. Tibotrac built this emergency response unit on a Ford Cargo chassis.

15. Chev StepVan served as a mobile command unit.

1995

 

16. Another view of the newer number 4 aerial, see also 1990 above.

17. Metalfab built this pumper No.1 on a Ford Cargo chassis. The crew box has a side door.

BONUS

18. In 1982 this Plymouth Fury station wagon saw duty in a variety of roles. 

19. A sunny day view of No.11 LaFrance, in April 1979, with the chains off.

.

Elmsdale Fire and Emergency Services - REVISED

Just outside the Halifax Regional Municipality is the village of Elmsdale, which operates its own four apparatus fire department. Today I managed to catch two of their pieces rolled out for work in the fire hall.
Located adjacent to a major highway they are often called out for MVAs, but Elmsdale is also a growing bedroom community with light industrial and rural zones.

Pumper/tanker 211 is a Spartan Metro Star with Metalfab body and equipped with a 1050 gpm pump and 1250 gal booster tank. Certification date is April 11, 2012.

Light Rescue Medical 232 is this GMC 3500 Z21 crew cab.
For more on Elmsdale F+ES, see their web site: http://www.elmsdalefire.ca/

ADDITION From the Shoebox:

I dug out this 1986 photo of Elmsdales Rescue Unit No.2. A Ford F-700 with Wilson's body. (Wilson's of Truro, NS was a truck body builder, now out of business.)