Rescue51

Here's the new Heartland Fire & Rescue Brush 8 (assigned to El Cajon FD station's 8) in the livery. https://www.flickr.com/photos/southerncalifornian/16398759482/

Thanks again LKSENG3, great info and insights! Yes, I was not including former E19 run-volume in that San Miguel group. I am old school, I still remember 18's/19's as East County Fire under Chief Jobes (spelling?), and before that wasn't it something like Crest-Bostonia Fire Protection? Yes, E19 is a busy pumper. Thanks for the correction on HME and Cal Fire for Type-I rigs. I must be thinking the OES rigs (lime) like Lakeside got not too long ago (at 26's). When I think of "66" I usually think Jamul, not San Miguel's E16. The East County Fire guys still must think the Ferrara rescue (R7685) got stolen out from under them. Of course had it not been for SMG absorbing East County Fire, those paychecks would not be there. It made more sense to me to see East County go with Lakeside or even Alpine. Speaking Lakeside, is the telesquirt (E26S) still out at 26's or did they sell that off? And does Lakeside plan on getting another quint? Take care!

lkseng3, thanks, good information and I appreciate you using both the new SMG's & Cal Fire numbering system, in conjunction with old numbers (wish they had left it alone). The swap between former E19's and E18's made good sense. I'm guessing the busiest firehouse for SM Fire is 16's followed by 22's? Wonder if SM Fire goes Smeal, if they do the urban interface rig like Lakeside's E2, E3. I was thinking if SMG does new Type-1 rigs, if they'd get onto a bigger purchase order with HME, which seems to be where Cal Fire is sourcing all their Type-1's. Is SMG still running the former E-One rescue out of station 23's as a L&A?

I've been wondering too. I drive by there every so often, maybe a month ago and still no sign. Just for what's worth for us East County people, I noticed what looked like a brand new Ferrara on the SR125 near Spring Street the other day, and could not see numbers but it did have a Cal Fire logo and another agency. I was not sure if San Miguel is gonna get any new type 1's since they just got the two type-3 rigs. I tend to think San Miguel's Pierce pumpers are holding up well, and maybe only a couple getting in range of age/miles of leaving the front-line.

Nice looking rig for the new E17. Wow, black top (like Bonita). Alpine has two pumpers that are KME's (E17 and E217 [reserve] ). Who remembers in I believe 1989 when Alpine took delivery of the two E-One Hurricanes? One was slated for a new station (24) that never got funded. http://fire.kovatch.com/gso/9625

Yes, I recall Campo got one of the E-One Hurricanes from Alpine FD. I think the concept was ahead of its time, I believe at least 17's was a light rescue-pumper. They had the roll-up doors, but a problem when they first took delivery, was they had some issues if the rig was parked on a slope, with certain roll-ups jamming and not going up. They got those teething pains taken care of in time. The rigs had one of the most advanced emergency lighting systems from I believe Whelen. All strobes. The engineers said it was a real distraction when in fog and night, and sometimes they'd just turn the code lights off. FF's in the back said the ride was loud, and not real comfortable. Then Chief Downing was fairly progressive (I think he came from the East Coast), he got E24 in advance of the station getting funded. I believe everyone thought the new station would get the money needed, but I heard rumors there was bad blood between the chief and some fire board members. One of the Hurricanes served as a reserve engine for Lakeside Station 26 for a while.

Is there any reason many departments are gong black over red? I like the scheme but in Southern California with hot summer temps, I would think white tops would be best.

Another good pic from Pierce: https://www.flickr.com/photos/piercemfg/16343262235/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/piercemfg/16155903300/

Thanks, I saw that in the Facebook feed the other day but did not catch that was going to San Diego. Nice rig (and most unique). And ladder trucks out there that can do that?

I had heard this rumor, but until now had not seen anything in writing on it. San Miguel in mid-1990's to about 2008, was a very progressive agency that was well known good to work for as a FF. The previous board, in my opinion, screwed much up, then the Great Recession did not help. It will be interesting to see where this all goes. ~Rescue51 http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/new-san-miguel-fire-board-consider-returning-district-local-control

http://fire-equipment.fireapparatusmagazine.com/Delivery.aspx?r=1137

Meant San Miguel which is now part of Cal Fire (for better or for worse!).

Besides the proposal to close two stations, they also won't de-link from the existing regional ambulance service (known as Area 17). The proposal was from Bob Bonde who was proposing the cost savings aspects of such actions. You can see his actual proposal in this .pdf document, I found it after digging around: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwNUuyQVVz1mdDVyQVdQOW83R1U/edit I do believe agencies and their employees should continue to work on better methods for serving the public while optimizing the costs associated with what is a growing response frequency by firefighters to medical emergencies, non-emergencies, and psych calls. In many stations, the use of an expensive truck/ladder for all the medical aid runs, is not an efficient nor effective way of delivering that response. -Rescue51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/piercemfg/15613435533/

Saw the new E4 (Pierce), rolling code today at Magnoilia and Mast, and noticed what I thought was a simply steady white flood light on top of the light bar was in a wig-way (left to right) mode. I am not familiar with that product. I believe it might have been LED lights. It really is effective at getting your attention. Any more details? Could have been E5 but out of their response area and think 4's was taking that call. Thanks.

I believe the floodlight is likely Whelen too, I noticed in their website there is a traffic alert feature of alternating the floodlight in a flash mode. Take care.

Thanks, but the new Engine 4 does have what appears to be the forward facing flood light just ahead of the lightbar.

Stop being critical, it's better than nothing! )

Last week near San Miguel 15's I happened to see what was Light & Air 23 (late 1990's E-One Hurricane or Cyclone chassis, I believe, walk-around box). It had both the San Miguel and Cal Fire logos. I could not see for certain the new Cal Fire numbering system or if it had 23's on it. The rig use to be at 22's as Rescue 22, and then prior to that first went into service I believe as Rescue 15. Someone had told me San Miguel had sold that rig off, but it looks like she is still rolling, and it always had the designation of "Rescue 23" but then saw lettering on it "light & air" last week. Any word on this rig?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/piercemfg/15690776278/

Thanks 'Seagrave 7'. Also heard from a Federal Firefighter for Miramar, that they are getting a new water tender too, and possibly another brush rig.

Nice rig! That is what Santee FD needs to do and replace their aging tiller (with no tank/pump/ladder plumbing) and go with a quint like this. It would give Station 4's much more capacity in a city that has grown much but with not much addition to engine/pumpers (for a long time).

Thanks "lkseng3"! The new Ferrara Type-III going to Heartland Station 8's (El Cajon) is a nice looking rig. My guess is the S.D. County purchased it or kicked in money for the rig, then Heartland pays for staffing/maintaining? It's nice to see the S.D. County Fire Authority doing something like this. I'm a bit surprised it went to 8's and not 7's. I guess Cal Fire buys many of those HME Type-III's to they must get a good bulk purchase value price.

Thanks for the call. I got so excited, I only saw "San Diego" and assumed those were for SDFD. What is San Diego Fire Authority going to do with those rigs, are they "patrol" type?