Snorkel
- Thread starter jloonz
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2018
- Messages
- 3,419
What would they use that for? Didn’t Philly replace them with the tower ladders?
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2020
- Messages
- 2,057
If you can look into FDNY's official publication WNYF from the 60's or early 70's. There was a study published about the differences between the snorkel vs the tower ladder. Tower Ladder did a much better job in covering a building. The overhang of the snorkel was another problem.
I hope this is a help to you.
I hope this is a help to you.
I would just like to mention that we have a discussion on snorkels vs tower ladders going back to August, 2013.
Here is the link.
www.nycfire.net/forums/threads/snorkels-vs-tower-ladders.25231/
Here is the link.
www.nycfire.net/forums/threads/snorkels-vs-tower-ladders.25231/
Why would the FDNY get a Snorkel? The demand for Snorkels has gone down years ago and even in Chicago which is where I am from and where the first Snorkel was developed in 1958 , only uses smaller 55 foot Snorkels on our 4 Snorkel Squad companies. Chicago's last full sized Snorkel which was a 1982 Seagrave/PIerce model was sold off about a few years ago. It was being used a Reserve Snorkel since the mid 1980s. Which is when the full sized Snorkels were taken out of full service.
Chicago started using Tower Ladders in 1986 and that last Reserve full sized Snorkel was only used on a special call basis which was usually used to put water on the ruins of large extra alarm fires.
I personally would be more interested to see if New York City is ever going to get a Taller Bronto Sky Lift which is in someways similar to Snorkel but the height can be much greater. Just a few year ago the Bronto company was demonstrating a Taller Skylift in Manhattan and the Chief of the Toronto Fire Department was invited and just over a year ago the Toronto Fire Department Purchased 230 Bronto Skylift on a Mack Commericial Chassis and it is used on a Special Call basis where it is crossmanned by the crew of a smaller 116 foot Bronto Skylift which normally runs as a Truck or a Ladder company.
Chicago started using Tower Ladders in 1986 and that last Reserve full sized Snorkel was only used on a special call basis which was usually used to put water on the ruins of large extra alarm fires.
I personally would be more interested to see if New York City is ever going to get a Taller Bronto Sky Lift which is in someways similar to Snorkel but the height can be much greater. Just a few year ago the Bronto company was demonstrating a Taller Skylift in Manhattan and the Chief of the Toronto Fire Department was invited and just over a year ago the Toronto Fire Department Purchased 230 Bronto Skylift on a Mack Commericial Chassis and it is used on a Special Call basis where it is crossmanned by the crew of a smaller 116 foot Bronto Skylift which normally runs as a Truck or a Ladder company.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 492
They tested one already. Didn’t get the buy in it needed
It is ironic that when the 230 Bronto was being displayed in New York City a few years ago that it was the Toronto Fire Department that decided to buy that model.
Would you know if New York City has actually made use of their Ferrara Super Pumper as of yet?
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 492
Nope, not yet, it was bought with federal money so they’re not really losing by not using it
lt's not even is service yet, is it ?
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2014
- Messages
- 221
im curious where they would have housed it as bronto's are really heavy
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 492
Hmmm, maybe it is. They just haven’t used it yet.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 492
Who knows. I’m sure somewhere in Manhattan
That is an interesting Question as to where they would be able to locates a 230 Bronto Skylift if the FDNY ever should buy one. As there would be weight, height and size restrictions for such a large apparatus it would really put a limit as to where it could be located.
The first place to comes to mind is Engine 207 and Ladder 110s Quarters on TIllary street as the house was specifically built for the Super Pumper and the Super Tender so that station apparently was built to house very heavy apparatus. I wonder if the Height and Length Clearances are large enough for a Bronto Skylift to be Stationed in that house?
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2014
- Messages
- 221
was thinking the same thing last night actually other option would be Engine 206 or the BNY
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 3,470
This 1960 Pierce bodywork 65' Snorkel on a GMC chassis was originally built for Chicago. However the Department rejected it because of its weight and dual axles I have been told. The adjacent suburb of Bedford Park purchased it and it remained in service for 20+ years. It later sat in the town's DPW yard where is endured the wrath of Chicago winters. Supposedly there were plans to rebuild it but it was too badly rusted out.
