Saint Augustine, Florida, is the nation’s oldest and longest inhabited city. “The city is notorious for its tight streets, and navigating fire apparatus throughout the city is an inherent problem and a challenge,” according to Chief Carlos Aviles.
The area of downtown is 15 square miles, with a population of 15,000 full-time residents and a tourist concern of approximately 6.8 million people any given year. “Our truck committee started work on the specs about two years ago,” says Aviles. “Our vehicles are on an apparatus replacement schedule of about seven to eight years frontline service and then serve in a reserve capacity for several more years. We had two older E-ONE pumpers and wanted to standardize our apparatus fleet, and our crews loved the layout of these prior vehicles.” Aviles says that by standardizing, the department can also cut down on training time for its firefighters since they are all familiar with the operation of E-ONE apparatus. “We were able to purchase this new ladder from E-ONE since we could piggyback the order on a statewide purchasing consortium,” he says.
1 St. Augustine’s 100-foot Metro Quint. (Photos courtesy of E-ONE).
2 Ground ladder storage at the rear of the quint.
3 The driver’s side pump panel, saws, fans, portable generator, electrical reels, engine company fittings, and tarps.
The vehicle it replaced is a 2011 Ferrara 77-foot quint that was getting older. The department needed more reach and decided to go with a 100-foot aerial for its next purchase. “This new E-ONE gave us a great deal more compartment space; an 11-foot 6-inch outrigger spread, which was a plus; quick setup; a heavier tip load; and a better tail swing, which made it more maneuverable around the city streets,” says Aviles. “Visits to the factory went great. Not only was it only a few hours away, which made it more convenient for us, but it gave our committee a great opportunity to see the vehicle being built at different stages. The local dealer, Hallmark, was also great to deal with, answering all of our questions and concerns during and after the build. There were virtually no problems with the build as it took place.”
Aviles says the new apparatus has an aluminum aerial ladder, which the department feels will offer longevity and performance. “The underslung jacks are a great asset and an E-ONE specialty, and the torque box is strong as well,” he says. “The extra compartment space afforded us the opportunity to increase the number of saws we carry, battery-powered fans, hand tools, and extrication tools. Since the truck will mostly operate as a truck company, we also carry forcible entry tools, rope rescue and technical rescue tools, as well as normal engine company fittings.”
St. Augustine (FL) Fire DepartmentThe St. Augustine Fire Department’s firefighting division has three crew captains, six lieutenants, nine engineers, and 21 firefighters who are assigned to three 24-hour shifts. Station 40 houses an engine company and a ladder company. Those apparatus are staffed by the captain, a lieutenant, two engineers, and three firefighters. Station 41 on the island is staffed by a lieutenant, an engineer, and a firefighter. |
4 The officer’s side extrication tools, forcible entry tools, extinguishers, and hand tools.
The department decided to shrink the hosebed and water tank. It carries 300 gallons of water, 400 feet of 5-inch large-diameter hose, 200 feet of preconnected 21⁄2-inch line, and 200 feet of 13⁄4-inch line, also preconnected. “We feel this new quint gives us the best of both worlds, is easy to operate for our firefighters, is easy to maneuver and operate around the city, and should last us well into the future,” says Aviles.
Metro 100 Quint
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The Saint Augustine Fire Department designed a highly functional quint that will last for a long time. The added reach and easier maneuverability around the city are a plus as well as added compartment space for carrying extra truck company tools, technical rescue equipment, battery-powered fans, and extrication tools. As Aviles mentioned, the department has the best of both worlds: the capabilities of operating primarily as a truck company but also as a rescue and an engine. The truck committee planned well for this purchase and was proactive in its thinking, taking all areas of firefighting into consideration during the build. This new quint will serve the department well and should meet all of its needs.
BOB VACCARO has more than 40 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol, and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. He is a life member of the IAFC.
