1 Weird Looking Ladder

Stockholm Fire Brigade's self-propelled escape ladder. They call it "AlleyCat".

Copenhagen, Denmark have them too. Invented and build in Denmark in the beginning of the 90s as a cooperation between Copenhagen Fire Department and the Danish Bobcat loader agent.
A Bobcat 753 loader was equipped with a third axle, a build down drivers cab and 4 outrigger jacks. The ladder is 3 sections of a Metz DL24 ladder. The ladder can be extended 18,6 meters. The Bobcats engine powers the hydraulic for the ladder and the outriggers.
The ladder can't turn. All of the Bobcat will turn, but it is extremely manoeuvrable. The vehicle is all wheel drive (6x6). Left-side wheels work independent of the right-side wheels allowing the Bobcat to turn very tight.
The driver is assisted by cameras front and back. The drivers cab has a mount for breathing apparatus.

Copenhagen has 3 Bobcats. 1 of them is a spare.
I took some pictures of one of them at the annual muster in 2008.

Best regards
Kristensen

 
Anesti; The Bobcat will enable occupants to escape when ordinary exits are cut off.
It's used in narrow alleys and through gateways where the turntable ladders can't reach.



The ladder truck had never been able to get into this yard.
 
We could use something like that in Chinatown or Greenwich Village, wow, L5 & L6 can be double-companies again. ;)
 
Thanks Kristensen.  Very interesting and very clever.  How long does it take to unload, move and raise?
 
Buildings being build today must be constructed so there is room for the Fire Department to operate near the building. Older buildings don?t have those restrictions and the narrow streets, alleys and gateways in some areas makes it impossible for the ladder trucks to operate. Weight is also an issue. Some areas will not carry the weight of a traditional turntable ladder truck.
  When responding to fires in buildings the Fire Department will always respond with 1 engine, 1 turntable ladder and 1 Bobcat-unit - as well as the rebreather unit, the rescue unit and the incident commander.
  The Bobcat is much slower than a turntable ladder. It is transported to the fire scene on a truck with tilt deck and unloaded as close to the fire as possible.
  It takes just under 2 minutes from the Bobcat-unit arrives at the scene until the Bobcat is unstrapped, the deck tilted and the Bobcat stands on the ground. The Bobcat drives on and off the deck on it's own power and is not winched. The Bobcat drives with just under 10 km/t (around 6,25 miles/hrs) and will when it arrives to the fire, again use around 2 minutes to move into position, lower the outriggers and raise the ladder.
  The Bobcat can drive with the ladder raised 50 degrees. Making it higher, but shorter and giving it the ability to maneuver in confined spaces.


 
Kristensen - Thanks for all the great info - I also enjoy the verbiage you use (e.g. turntable ladder - very European) -my parents were born in Ireland so I enjoy your terminology.

Do you have any idea how much these ingenious units costs (either $'s or Euros)?

G'man - you are absolutely right about Chinatown and the Village

 
efd274 said:
Kristensen - Thanks for all the great info - I also enjoy the verbiage you use (e.g. turntable ladder - very European) -my parents were born in Ireland so I enjoy your terminology.

Do you have any idea how much these ingenious units costs (either $'s or Euros)?

G'man - you are absolutely right about Chinatown and the Village
Click to expand...
  Thanks, another area that can use this is East Williamsburg/Bushwick where there are a few "rear" tenements. I remember reading an article in a 1950's WNYF about 'rear tenements' and their special hazards.
 
Thanks a lot for the response. Nice to be able to contribute to the forum.
The price (without tilt deck truck) was around 180.000 USD in 1993.  

Take care
 
No,thank you kristensen. The more brothers on this site the more info can get passed around. Welcome aboard!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top