Out of the city... Busiest chicago house

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I am aware that a few people on here herald from chicago or its environs, like the great Boston Fire Dept has busy houses such as E21 and E33/L15, E37/L26, where are the busy firehouses in chicago, what houses cover the ghettos of the city?.

Thanks in advance

JT
 
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Below are some stats for Boston, JT. As for working fires (a term no longer used by the BFD), its pretty spread out across the city. Companies in Beantown see work, but nothing like 30-40 years ago.

Ladder's 3 and 10, the BFD's two tower ladders (or Tower Companies as they are referred to by the BFD), respond to all confirmed fires in their respective division as the 4th due Truck Co.'s on the box, thus these companies tend to see a lot of work. Tower Ladder 3 is in Division 1, and Tower Ladder 10 is in Division 2. Generally speaking, Engine 37/Ladder 26 and Engine 33/Ladder 15 have consistently been busy houses for fire duty, as have Engine 24/Ladder 23, Engine 52/Ladder 29, Engine 53/Ladder 16, Engine 7/Ladder 17, and Engine 21.

Below are the companies, districts, and houses that usually make the top 5 for runs.

Top 5 Busiest Engines (upwards of 2,500-3,500 runs annually):

E21
E37
E33
E7
E14

Top 5 Busiest Ladders (upwards of 2,500-3,500 runs annually):

L26
L17
L16
L23
L6

Top 5 Fire Districts (For total number of incidents within each District):

D4 (Back Bay, South End)
D7 (Roxbury, Dorchester)
D9 (Roxbury, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain)
D3 (West End, North End, Charlestown)
D8 (Dorchester, Mattapan)

Top 5 Busiest Firehouses (For total number of responses per firehouse):

E37/L26 (Roxbury, Fenway)
E7/L17 (Back Bay)
E33/L15 (Back Bay)
E53/L16 (Roslindale)
E24/L23 (Roxbury, Dorchester)
 
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As for Chicago, I know Engine 19/Truck 11/Ambulance 4, Engine 83/Truck 22/Ambulance 31, Engine 95/Truck 26/Ambulance 10/Battalion 13 have consistently been busy companies/houses. All of these companies are located on Chicago's North Side, in the 1st and 2nd Districts. The companies listed above generally do over 3,000 runs a year.

I know that in 2008, Truck 22 was the second busiest Truck Co. in the country, coming in at 4,728 runs for the year.

Someone from ChiTown will have better information. I'm sure there are companies that are busier for runs/fire duty than the ones mentioned above.
 
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fdny1075k said:
Below are some stats for Boston, JT. As for working fires (a term no longer used by the BFD), its pretty spread out across the city. Companies in Beantown see work, but nothing like 30-40 years ago.

Ladder's 3 and 10, the BFD's two tower ladders (or Tower Companies as they are referred to by the BFD), respond to all confirmed fires in their respective division as the 4th due Truck Co.'s on the box, thus these companies tend to see a lot of work. Tower Ladder 3 is in Division 1, and Tower Ladder 10 is in Division 2. Generally speaking, Engine 37/Ladder 26 and Engine 33/Ladder 15 have consistently been busy houses for fire duty, as have Engine 24/Ladder 23, Engine 52/Ladder 29, Engine 53/Ladder 16, Engine 7/Ladder 17, and Engine 21.

Below are the companies, districts, and houses that usually make the top 5 for runs.

Top 5 Busiest Engines (upwards of 2,500-3,500 runs annually):

E21
E37
E33
E7
E14

Top 5 Busiest Ladders (upwards of 2,500-3,500 runs annually):

L26
L17
L16
L23
L6

Top 5 Fire Districts (For total number of incidents within each District):

D4 (Back Bay, South End)
D7 (Roxbury, Dorchester)
D9 (Roxbury, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain)
D3 (West End, North End, Charlestown)
D8 (Dorchester, Mattapan)

Top 5 Busiest Firehouses (For total number of responses per firehouse):

E37/L26 (Roxbury, Fenway)
E7/L17 (Back Bay)
E33/L15 (Back Bay)
E53/L16 (Roslindale)
E24/L23 (Roxbury, Dorchester)
many thanks, quite a few years ago now, I spent a night shift with Bostons Tower 10, i would say about 8 years ago now, we had two technical rescue runs, both miles away, one not required, the other the truck provided lighting and personel for a multi vehicle mva, we then went on two working fires, the guys worked at both, one way down south in boston the other up near E37s area, bith had a lot of flame and hard work done by the guys, plus two runs in the local area, all in all a busy night.

A great station and facilities they have at Tl10 as well, are they not due for a new truck soon or they getting a hand me down? What happened to TL 17, they now a normal ladder company or a tower that does not take in a larger response district like TL3 and TL10 does?

JT
 
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Rodent251 said:
many thanks, quite a few years ago now, I spent a night shift with Bostons Tower 10, i would say about 8 years ago now, we had two technical rescue runs, both miles away, one not required, the other the truck provided lighting and personel for a multi vehicle mva, we then went on two working fires, the guys worked at both, one way down south in boston the other up near E37s area, bith had a lot of flame and hard work done by the guys, plus two runs in the local area, all in all a busy night.

A great station and facilities they have at Tl10 as well, are they not due for a new truck soon or they getting a hand me down? What happened to TL 17, they now a normal ladder company or a tower that does not take in a larger response district like TL3 and TL10 does?

JT
E28/TL10 is also a pretty busy house. They are located in the 2nd Division, 9th District of the BFD, on Centre St. in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. The house is also the headquarters for the 2nd Division Deputy Chief.

Quartered also at the Centre St. Firehouse is Technical Support Unit (T.S.U.) 2, a smaller 2nd piece to Rescue 2, quartered a few miles away with E42 and the 9th District Chief. I believe since T.S.U. 2 is quartered on Centre St., Tower Ladder 10 responds to technical rescues with the 2nd piece, along with Rescue 2. It might be a part of the BFD's S.O.C., although someone from Boston would have to confirm that.

In 2013, Ladder 17 received a new 2013 KME 109' Rearmount Aerial. Their former 2005 Pierce 95' Tower Ladder was originally going to go to Tower Ladder 10 (would have replaced their 2001 Pierce 85' Rearmount Tower Ladder), however, now it is a Reserve Tower. TL10 still has the '01 85' Rearmount. I'm not sure what the status is on getting it replaced, or if 17's former mid-mount will replace it. Currently, Tower Ladder 3 covers Division 1 and Tower Ladder 10 covers Division 2. Ladder 17 has its own first due District, where as 3 and 10 have their first dues and their entire divisions for fires.

The Tower Companies originated out of the BFD's two Aerial Tower Companies from the '70s and '80s, which combined to form the Tower Unit, quartered Downtown. In 2002, the Tower Unit was split and became Tower Ladder 3 in Downtown and Tower Ladder 10 in Jamaica Plain. In 2007, for less than a year, Ladder 2 in East Boston became Tower Ladder 2, as the brass saw the need for a Tower Ladder in Eastie. That same year, or a year prior, Tower Ladder 17 was established out of Ladder 17 in the Back Bay. Thus, up until last year, there were three tower ladders in the BFD. Now, each Division is assigned one. Additionally, a Tower Ladder is now assigned to all "working fires" in their divisions as the 4th due Truck.
 
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Boston Aerial Towers

Ladder 3 became Aerial Tower 1 in 1970
Aerial Tower 1 disbanded in 1981

Ladder 26 became Aerial Tower 2 in 1970
Ladder 26 reorganized and Ladder 27 became Aerial Tower 2 in 1977
Aerial Tower 2 disbanded in 1982

Aerial Tower 1 reorganized as Tower Company in 1983
Tower Company redesignated as Tower Ladder 3 in 2002

Ladder 10 redesignated as Tower Ladder 10 in 2002

Ladder 2 redesignated as Tower Ladder 2 in 2006 and discontinued shortly thereafter

Ladder 17 redesignated as Tower Ladder 17 in 2006.

 

mack

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BFD trucks:

-  Engines and truck companies rotate response to EMS calls monthly
-  TL 3 or TL 10 are assigned as 4th truck when box is struck for building fires  (2 trucks respond as 1st and 2nd due ladder companies, 1 truck responds as part of an engine/truck/chief RIT team, and 4th truck is TL)
-  L 15 or L 16 respond as Hazmat team truck companies (E 22, E 33 or E 53 are Hazmat engines)
-  It was unpopular for TL 17 to be a tower ladder company.  They have a very busy response 1st/2nd due area and preferred rearmount.  TL 17 and TL 3 were also located adjacent to each other.  Made sense to convert TL 17 back to L 17 this past year.
-  All BFD trucks are rearmounts or towers.  No tillers.
-  Usual truck manning is 1 officer and 3 FFs (same as engines).
 
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mack said:
BFD trucks:

-  Engines and truck companies rotate response to EMS calls monthly
-  TL 3 or TL 10 are assigned as 4th truck when box is struck for building fires  (2 trucks respond as 1st and 2nd due ladder companies, 1 truck responds as part of an engine/truck/chief RIT team, and 4th truck is TL)
-  L 15 or L 16 respond as Hazmat team truck companies (E 22, E 33 or E 53 are Hazmat engines)
-  It was unpopular for TL 17 to be a tower ladder company.  They have a very busy response 1st/2nd due area and preferred rearmount.  TL 17 and TL 3 were also located adjacent to each other.  Made sense to convert TL 17 back to L 17 this past year.
-  All BFD trucks are rearmounts or towers.  No tillers.
-  Usual truck manning is 1 officer and 3 FFs (same as engines).
Thanks for the info, mack.
 
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JT, thought I'd post some info on Philadelphia.

Philly has always been a busy city for fire activity. Last year, Squirt 43 took in the most jobs. 43 is located in Center City (Downtown) Philadelphia. Ladder 15 was the busiest Truck Co. for fire duty. 15 is located in the Frankford area of North Philadelphia. For fire duty in general, its pretty much spread out across the city. North and Northeast Philadelphia seem to catch the most consistent work. West and South Philly are also pretty busy. For busy houses, E68/L13/M3/B7 made number one and is always busy. E50/L12/M22/B8 has always been a busy house for a long time for fire duty.

Top 5 Busiest Engines (upwards of 2,500-3,500 runs annually):

E68
E40
SQ72
SQT43
E19

Top 5 Busiest Ladders (upwards of 1,500-2,500 runs annually):

L15
L5
LT6
L13
L24

Top 5 Medic Ambulances (upwards of 8,000-8,700 runs annually):

Medic 2
Medic 18
Medic 22
Medic 8B
Medic 3

Top 5 Battalions (upwards of 1,500-1,800 runs annually):

B11 (West Philadelphia, Mantua)
B1 (South Philadelphia)
B10 (North Philadelphia, Kensington)
B8 (North Philadelphia)
B7 (South Philadelphia)

Top 5 Busiest Firehouses (For total number of responses per firehouse, upwards of 11,000-15,000 total responses annually):

E68/L13/M3/B7 (Squirrel Hill)
E50/L12/M22/B8 (North Philadelphia)
E7/L10/M2/B10 (Juanita Park)
E51/L29/M18/B2 (Germantown)
E71/SN28/M12/B12 (Northeast Philadelphia)
 
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mack said:
BFD trucks:

-  Engines and truck companies rotate response to EMS calls monthly
-  TL 3 or TL 10 are assigned as 4th truck when box is struck for building fires  (2 trucks respond as 1st and 2nd due ladder companies, 1 truck responds as part of an engine/truck/chief RIT team, and 4th truck is TL)
-  L 15 or L 16 respond as Hazmat team truck companies (E 22, E 33 or E 53 are Hazmat engines)
-  It was unpopular for TL 17 to be a tower ladder company.  They have a very busy response 1st/2nd due area and preferred rearmount.  TL 17 and TL 3 were also located adjacent to each other.  Made sense to convert TL 17 back to L 17 this past year.
-  All BFD trucks are rearmounts or towers.  No tillers.
-  Usual truck manning is 1 officer and 3 FFs (same as engines).

That is interesting about the EMS calls. Thank you for the rest of the info as well
 
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Boston TL-2's apparatus was re-assigned to TL-3 in 2006/07. TL-3 1992 E-One 95' was involved in an accident with extensive damage and was disposed of.
 

mack

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Not sure how a medic unit can be doing over 8000 runs a year.  That means they are doing an EMS run, probably ALS if they are medic units, every hour, 24 hours a day.  If they respond, evaluate, treat and transfer to hospital, return to quarters - that's usually 2 hours a run, maybe longer.  The run numbers look way off:   

"Top 5 Medic Ambulances (upwards of 8,000-8,700 runs annually):

Medic 2
Medic 18
Medic 22
Medic 8B
Medic 3"
 
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mack said:
Not sure how a medic unit can be doing over 8000 runs a year.  That means they are doing an EMS run, probably ALS if they are medic units, every hour, 24 hours a day.  If they respond, evaluate, treat and transfer to hospital, return to quarters - that's usually 2 hours a run, maybe longer.  The run numbers look way off:
As incredible as it sounds, it is true. Several Philadelphia Medic Units (ALS and BLS) do at least one call every hour, 24/7.

In 2013 alone, Medic 2 ran 8,788 calls. I believe it is currently the busiest Medic Ambulance in the country. The PFD currently has one of, if not the busiest EMS divisions in the U.S.

Here are the run stats from the PFD for 2013: http://cdn.1starriving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/02/2013_Total_Runs.pdf

http://www.jems.com/article/news/philadelphia-fire-commissioner-hopes-inc

http://www.phillyfirenews.com/2014/02/06/philadelphia-fire-department-2013-run-totals/
 
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I understand that Boston Tower Ladder 10 is being replaced very soon with another tower ladder. When I was up there a couple of weeks ago they were talking about it. Sorry but I forget the make of what they are getting.
 
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patrickfd said:
I understand that Boston Tower Ladder 10 is being replaced very soon with another tower ladder. When I was up there a couple of weeks ago they were talking about it. Sorry but I forget the make of what they are getting.
Thanks for the info, Pat.
 
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Boston has a KME Tower on order for a June delivery. From what I remember the oldest rig has been sold, its delivery will be when the Boston TL assignments are complete. For some reason Minnesoata sticks in my mind.
 
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grumpy grizzly said:
Boston has a KME Tower on order for a June delivery. From what I remember the oldest rig has been sold, its delivery will be when the Boston TL assignments are complete. For some reason Minnesoata sticks in my mind.
Thanks Grump.

Boston also has a Rescue out to bid. Not sure whether or not it's going to 1 or 2.
 
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Rescue 1 is a 2007 Pierce, Rescue 2 is a 2009 KME. Maybe the TL and the Rescue would be a KME package order?
 
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Got an answer from someone at Northeast fire news. Appears it will be a dual-rear axle rig with a shorten cab for the driver and officer, rest of the troops ride in the box.
 
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