Reflections from Bill Post on Recent Comments About CFD Spare Apparatus for Tower Ladder 10 and Squad 1:
One of the standout features of Tower Ladder 10's location is its proximity to Fleet Management, the city's maintenance facility, which is no more than a mile and a half away. This makes it incredibly convenient for them to have any necessary work done on their equipment whenever needed. Despite this advantage, the oldest frontline tower ladders in the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) are three 1996 HME/LTI models stationed at Tower Ladders 21, 37, and 39. These rigs are already 16 years old, and the department has traditionally aimed to replace most of its vehicles within a 10 to 15-year frontline service span. However, Tower Ladder 21’s vehicle appears to be in decent condition, and it has been responding to an increased number of calls recently.
The city of Chicago’s official 2012 procurement plan included tower ladders, indicating that bids were expected to be solicited for their construction.
My primary concern revolves around the spare Snorkel that has been serving as Squad 1. This is the last remaining 55-foot Snorkel spare unit. Many readers likely know by now that the CFD has been keen on replacing the three Snorkel Squad units for several years, and these replacements have even been mentioned in the city’s official procurement plans.
Here’s the catch: American LaFrance (ALF), which acquired the manufacturing rights to the Snorkel brand following the demise of the original Snorkel corporation over a decade ago, has refused to produce new Snorkels. As an alternative, some fire departments have opted to refurbish and remount older Snorkels onto newer chassis and bodies. While this option exists, finding suitable Snorkels for refurbishment is becoming increasingly challenging as their numbers dwindle.
I’ve heard whispers that other manufacturers might be willing to design their own aerial devices inspired by the Snorkel concept, but such a move would come with a hefty price tag. It would be far simpler if ALF would either resume production or sell the rights to another manufacturer willing to take on the task. Although their usage is declining, there are still numerous large and smaller fire departments that rely on Snorkels. Memphis (TN) Fire Department, for instance, operated with two single-piece Snorkel Squads, which were remounted onto newer chassis. Similarly, the Philadelphia Fire Department utilized two remounted full-size Snorkels. Given that both Memphis and Chicago extensively utilize smaller Snorkel Squads, it might be prudent for these departments to consider filing a class-action lawsuit against ALF. Such legal action could compel ALF to either manufacture Snorkels or at least allow another company to acquire the specifications and rights to build them.
Ironically, the genesis of the original Snorkel concept traces back to the Chicago Fire Department and our old repair shops. Our facilities even equipped the first Snorkel for fire service applications. American LaFrance now owns the original Snorkel, which once served as Snorkel 1 and Snorkel Squad 3, as part of their historical collection, despite never having built or outfitted the rig themselves. The boom and platform were crafted by the Pitman Corporation. It almost feels like they’re holding the fire service, particularly the Chicago Fire Department, hostage.
This situation underscores the urgent need for a solution. The lack of available Snorkels could severely impact firefighting capabilities, especially in urban areas like Chicago where quick response times are crucial. I urge the CFD and other departments still relying on Snorkels to explore every possible avenue to address this growing issue before it escalates further.
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