Skid Steer Loader,Case Skid Steer Loader,Skid loader,Skid Steer Loader Auger Attachment SUZHOU WENPENG MACHINE TECHNICAL CO.,LTD. , https://www.wpblocs.comInsights from Bill Post on Recent Comments Regarding CFD Spare Apparatus for Tower Ladder 10 and Squad 1
One of the advantages of Tower Ladder 10’s location is that it’s just a mile and a half away from Fleet Management (the shops), which makes it easy for them to get repairs or maintenance done whenever needed. However, the oldest front-line tower ladders in the department are three 1996 HME/LTI models stationed at Tower Ladders 21, 37, and 39 — all now 16 years old. The CFD has generally aimed to replace its rigs within 10 to 15 years of frontline service. That said, Tower Ladder 21's unit still looks in decent condition and has been responding to more emergency calls lately.
Tower ladders are listed on the city of Chicago’s official 2012 procurement plan issued by the Department of Procurement Services, which means they’re planning to solicit bids for new units. This is good news, but there are still some concerns about the availability of spare equipment, especially when it comes to the Snorkel apparatus used by Squad 1.
The main issue is the remaining spare 55-foot Snorkel that’s currently operating as Squad 1. It’s the only one left in the fleet, and I understand that its twin was retired a few years ago. Most people who follow this site probably already know that the CFD has been looking to replace its three Snorkel squads for quite some time, and this has even been included in the city’s official purchasing plan.
The problem is that American LaFrance (ALF) holds the manufacturing rights to the Snorkel brand after acquiring it from the original company that went out of business over a decade ago. ALF refuses to build any new Snorkels, which creates a major challenge for departments that rely on this type of apparatus.
The alternative is to rehab and remount an older Snorkel onto a newer chassis and body, something several fire departments have already done. But as the number of available Snorkels decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult to find units that can be upgraded. This scarcity drives up costs and limits options.
I’ve also heard that other manufacturers might be willing to design an aerial ladder system similar to a Snorkel, but such alternatives would likely be extremely expensive. It would make more sense if American LaFrance simply sold the rights to the Snorkel or agreed to rebuild them. Even though they’re less common now, there are still several major and smaller fire departments across the country that use Snorkels.
For example, the Memphis Fire Department has operated with two single-piece Snorkel squads, using remounted units on newer chassis. Similarly, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been using two full-size Snorkels that were rebuilt and reconfigured. Both cities, like Chicago, rely heavily on smaller Snorkel units for their operations.
Given this situation, it seems reasonable for Chicago and other departments that still use Snorkels to consider a class-action lawsuit against American LaFrance. The goal would be to either get them to manufacture the Snorkel again or to release the specifications so another company can produce them.
It’s also interesting to note that the original idea for the Snorkel came from the Chicago Fire Department and its old repair shops. In fact, those same shops were responsible for outfitting the first Snorkel for fire service use. Today, American LaFrance owns the original Snorkel — which served as Snorkel 1 and Squad 3 — as part of their historic collection. However, they never actually built or modified the rig themselves; the boom and platform were constructed by the Pitman Corporation.
This situation feels like a real hold-up for the fire service, especially for the Chicago Fire Department. It's ironic that the very place where the Snorkel concept began is now being held hostage by the company that now controls the brand. It's time for a change — not just for Chicago, but for all departments that depend on this unique and effective piece of equipment.