Boston FD

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Jun 27, 2007
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;DEngine 21 was first due on an apartment fire. They requested the first due truck (traffic headaches) to bring a "Baby bangor" ladder to the rear of the building. Does this bring back any memories????. Take care my brothers, stay low and stay safe 8)
 
Bangor Ladder. Isn't that the portable extension with the tormentor poles on the side. If it is, I haven't heard that term used in a long time.
 
If I remember correctly these 'Bangor Ladders' come in several lengths.  Typical size was 50 ft. but they came in size ranging 40 - 60 ft. and after raising one of them you understood why there were called
' tormenter poles'.  The 40 and 45 ft. ladders called for a 4 man raise while the 50 ft. and above called for a 6 man raise. 
 
;DLadder 11 was doing a drill when then the chief wanted to raise the 50' ladder. You are right, 6 guys on the "tormentor polls"What an ass-kicking.
 
This video shows why we can't cut FF's off the truck. How do truck Co's ride with 2 or 3 FF's like here in the South, at least it seems the North is doing it right.
Hey Willy D, what is the staffing like in CT?
Other then FDNY does anyone know of any Dept's that run with 5-6 man Co's?
It's ridiculous that 3 FF's(includes Engineer and Officer) are a crew and the public thinks this is acceptable.
What about the 2 in/2 out, seems like not many Dept's can follow it. Firehouse's shutting down, Dept's running with Spare trucks (Detroit,Memphis,North East Dept's), Would think if Obama wants to help with jobs, HIRE so more FIREFIGHTER'S everywhere.
Fairview,TN is a PAID dept with 2 GUYS a shift that's it. They both jump on the engine for small calls, but when a house fire, pin job comes in, 1 FF Takes the Engine and the Other either the Rescue or Tanker. these pour guys get about $9 an hour, come on Fairview HIRE MORE!!( http://www.fairview-tn.org/deptserv.php#firedept ) middle of that page has the FD info.
Sorry went on a rant just getting pissed that the Fire Service is getting f%!*ed, EVERYWHERE.
 
Rob, I would say that MOST Depts in Connecticut have usually an Officer and Two Firefighters. In the larger cities like Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven I believe One and Three. But that's probadly Tops. Smaller Cities like East Hartford, Meriden, Norwich etc usually have the Three Guys.
  In addition Rob, alot of cities have had companies closed over the last few years. Bridgeport went from 14 Engines and five Trucks to 9 and 4 over the last few years. Mass had a lot of their cities loose companies and manning also. Springfield, Mass was 15 and 6 (I believe). Now its like Bridgeport with 9 and 4.
  No surprises, but the cities that did not loose companies or manning also run the ambulance or medics, medic engines etc. Providence, R.I. runs six ambulances. A few years ago it was 5 and before that it was three. In addition since I first started going there to buff in 1976, they have NOT lost One Company. And they do have money problems in the city. But no cuts to companies. Some companies run with four guys, some with three. I think thats pretty much true with all of Rhode Island.
  Newburgh, N.Y. which runs 2 and 1,  I believe has talked about going down to 1 and 1. "fdce54 and "kidfrmqus" know a little moreabout that as they are from that area.
 
My 1961 edition of the NFPA "Fire Terminology" defines Baby Bangor as "A small extension ladder without ropes or pulleys mostly used inside of buildings."

Bangor Ladder is defined as "A large extension ladder with tormentor poles for use in raising, of a type developed in Bangor, Maine, and said to have originally resembled the British wheeled escape extension ladder."

I think the large wooden bangor ladders were almost always of truss construction. According to my 1961 "Fire Chief's Handbook", they could be made to 65', but I remember 45' or 50' in common use.  I think they needed at least 6 men to raise: 2 to foot the ladder, 2 (or more) on the beams, and one for each tormentor. The tormentors were not only to help raising/lowering the ladder, they also helped support and stabilize it once in use.

I had another NFPA handbook called "Handling Hose and Ladders" that illustrated this and many other evolutions.

NFPAbabybangor.png
 
To the left of the Boston fireman assisting a civilian down is a Bangor ladder not trussed with solid beams, the tormentor is visible.  It is marked 'LAD17 40 FT"

BostonL17removalLR.png
 
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