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

 Well there wasn't one, but if there had been they certainly had the apparatus to put it down. A gathering of firetrucks at the Cunard Centre / Pier 23 on July 6 attracted my attention.

The first one I noticed was this Pierce with a "Chicago" style black roof:

 Nearby was this Fort Garry  on a Freightliner commercial chassis:

The next one in line for a photo was a Fort Garry / Spartan demo unit on the company's 100th anniversary tour:

To cap off the display was this impressive Sutphen centre-mount aerial:

Once rare in Canada, Sutphen, from Columbus, OH, is now exclusively represented in Canada by Fort Garry Fire Trucks from Winnipeg.

There were some other vehicles around but I didn't have time to get specs or look beyond the big stuff, except for Federal Signal's demo truck:

 

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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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More HRFE+S

 Halifax Region Fire and Emergency Service serves a population of 430,000+. Spread out over an area of 5577 square kilometers, which includes some very sparsely populated rural areas and a fairly densely populated urban centre, the HRFE+S has 51 fire stations with about 1,000 personnel, of which 489 are career firefighters and more than 600 are volunteers.

There are nineteen stations in the urban core and three on the old Halifax peninsula (where I live). Station 2, University Ave, Station 3, West Street and Station 4 Duffus Street. [There is no longer a  Station 1]

The rigs seen exercising yesterday are based on the peninsula, and Platform 3, the 2020 Pierce Arrow, 20-618P is brand new to the West Street station. [The "20" on the apparatus number represents the year the unit was ordered]. The previous Aerial 3 was active earlier in September, but has since been removed from service and is currently unassigned:

A 2009 E-One Cyclone II it had 1750 gpm pump, 250 gallon tank and 114 ft Bronto aerial platform. It carried the number 09-498P.

On September 7, when it was exercising, it had a companion pumper, Engine 3 (which is still in service):

A 2017 Spartan ERV with 1250 GPM pump and 625 gallon tank, it is number 17-585E. It looks very much like most of the current engines in Halifax which have Spartan cab/chassis but came from Carl Thibault in various years including 2011, 2012 and 2020. 

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White firetrucks

Although I have been known to complain about the recent tendency of trucking companies to leave their trucks in factory white (thus surrendering their distinctive company identities) I am a fan of fire trucks painted white.
There are still a few spotted around the country - Quebec City being one- and many in the southern US  including Washington, DC.

Today I spotted retired rigs from two Nova Scotia departments that are also noted for their white painted apparatus.

Early in 2014 Truro, NS received their new number 4,  a Pierce Arrow XT 95 ft aerial platform and retired the old number 4. Built in 1987 by Pierre Thibault on an International CO1950 chassis, it carried a 1050 gpm pump and 30m aerial ladder.

Down the road the Parrsboro Department can't give up on their veteran Ford pumper tanker. It isn't being given house room in their 3 bay fire hall anymore, but it is parked outside and re-assigned the number 4. It carries no makers plate or ULC plate, but other sources say it is a 1978 Ford, with 400 gpm PTO pump and 1200 gal tank, built by LRB Fabricators of Port Williams, NS. It is service from April to November (when there is no danger of it freezing up.)

 Southern US cities have long been known for their white painted fire trucks.

Frisco, TX hadn't taken delivery of their new truck in April 2002, so it was on display in front of the Emergency-One factory in Ocala, FL. Labelled for Engine 604 it appears to be a quint.

Out back of the Emergency-One factory in April 1999, this Duplex chassis pumper from the City of Sunrise, FL was in for repairs and reconditioning.

The City of Seminole, FL had an all white fleet, many of which were built by Gator, a short-lived local company, such as this pumper assigned to Engine 32. (1999 photo)

 This Spartan was assigned to Squad 32. (1999 photo)

 Tower 29 for Seminole ran this veteran Sutphen.(1999 photo)

In 1993 Engine 29 was running this Gator with sun-tan bronze stripes.

All the Gators, the Duplex and the Sutphen appear to be fitted with Cincinnati cabs.

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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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Waterloo Fire Rescue

Over a weekend in Waterloo, ON, I was able to see Waterloo Fire Rescue's 216 Weber Street North station in operation.

At 0700 the incoming shift does their checks on P-1, an impressive 2014 Pierce Impel PUC pumper.

Later in the morning responding to an alarm at University and King.

Responding to a MVA at University and Albert two days before, P-1 has earned its reputation as the busiest rig in Waterloo.

Also based at Weber Street:

  A-1 operates this 2003 Spartan Metro Star / General  / Rosenbauer 104 foot platform 1500/300/30F.

 The Platoon Chief is assigned this Chev Command Unit C-23.

Also responding to the University/King alarm was this (now classic) American LaFrance Eagle, dating from 2001.

The 1250/700/30A engine is now assigned to P-12 and is apparently a spare that was covering for another unit from a nearby station.

[All photos taken from my Samsung Galaxy 3 I-phone]