Boston TL-17

The ladder remains unstaffed and personnel from the clostest bfd ladder  are transported over a bridge in a mini bus. The bridge is old and can sustain and larger apparatus than the 2 rigs assigned at the island. Well thats what i heard when up in boston last year.
 
I realize this house is off the deep end, but to have jakes respond in a mini bus. It is 4,175' from Quincy to Moon Island, and 3'100 from Moon to Long Island. Last info I have is 16 FF's assigned to the Brigade. BFD runs 4 groups so 16 by 4 is 4 per shift. You are not putting 4 on the engine. Back in the 80's this was a political house, need to know someone to get out here. BFD does NOT acknowledge their run totals. And I would rather go to E-51 in Oak Sq D-11, or E 49 D12 than drive all the way out to LI, both slow activity houses, but.......... And the bridge CANNOT sustain anything but the 2 rigs. Butt end of nowhere.
 
May be changing the topic, but how do the Boston Jakes like the new KME ladders with the H style outriggers?  I thought they were very happy with the E-One ladders with the low, underslung outriggers. These outriggers allowed them to set up on narrow streets and in tight places.  Will the KME's change how they are able to do business as far as aerial placement?
 
I would imagine that the KME's with the pre-piped waterways were part of former chief Abraira's attempts to 'modernize' the BFD.  It also seemed that under his tenure it became more common for the department to utilize defensive tactics where pre-piped ladders would allow for quicker set-up and added flexibility in the positioning or aim of the stream.  I've heard a decent amount of skepticism on the KME's ability to set up in the same spaces that they were able to get the E-One's and the Pierces into.  I've also heard a few concerns on the durability of the pipe itself and the mechanisms controlling its function.  If tactically the BFD is moving in a direction where they would utilize aerial streams more frequently than I suppose it's a good idea but for only a few instances per year they could turn into a massive, costly headache. 
 
Tower Ladder 10 just got a 2015 KME Predator 95' RMA Tower and Ladder 16 is a 2014 model KME RMA, WITHOUT, REPEAT WITHOUT, a prepiped master stream and the ones on Ladder 17, 18, and 29 are to be removed as well per the lastest issue of FAJ.


 
I visited 7&17 a few months ago and the waterway had been ripped off of 17. A few members have said they and the department had been looking to go back to E-Ones, they have the metro stick, they had a demo in houses a few times.
 
Isn't the Metro Stick the 100' the single actually made by E-One?  If so I'm surprised the big city going for it.  Historically single axle aerials have more suspension and durability issues in the long run and like most big cities they see an awful lot of youth in Boston.  The only advantages I think they have a smaller footprint for the jacks.

I also don't understand tearing off ladder pipes.  You've already paid for them and they don't get in the way of normal operations and and rare occasions they might come in handy.
 
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