Apparatus updates by Jack Lerch

Re-printed from Fire Apparatus Journal November-December 2000


DELIVERY HAS STARTED ON TWO ORDERS of Seagrave pumpers. The first group of five are 2000 gpm capacity. They will be assigned to Engine Companies 72, 159, 207, 284 and 324. These are replacing 1987, 1988, and 1989 Mack/Ward 79 2000 gpm pumpers. All five of these were identical, with another 1989 model formerly assigned to Engine 9 wrecked several years ago and replaced with a 1994 Seagrave 2000 gpm pumper. The new 2000 gpm pumpers are equipped with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines and 500-gallon booster tanks. Unlike other FDNY Seagrave pumpers, these are equipped with Hale Q-Max pumps, instead of Waterous and also have a new foam injection system. They have seven discharge outlets, plus a direct feed connection to the deckpipe. There are two outlets each on both the left and right sides, two front discharge outlets, a recessed 4-1/2 in the left side of the front bumper and a 2-1/2-inch outlet above the right side of the front bumper. There is a 4-1/2-inch rear discharge outlet, equipped with a 2-1/2-inch reducer. They also differ from the 1000 gpm models in having three hard suctions over the compartments on the left side of the vehicle, instead of two as on the 1000 gpm models.

The first of the 1000 gpm models tested, also on August 29th, is assigned to Engine 321. The remaining seven of this type are currently slated for assignment to Engine Companies 28, 50, 154, 161, 202, 261, and 293. All are replacing 1989 Mack/Ward 79 1000 gpm pumpers currently in service with those units. These eight pumpers have Detroit Diesel Series 50 engines and 1000 gpm Waterous pumps, as well as 500-gallon booster tanks. In addition to the direct feed from the pump to the deck pipe, they have six discharge outlets; two on each side, plus one each at the front and rear. They are not equipped with the foam injection system that is installed on the 2000 gpm models. The delivery of these two orders of pumpers will leave only three of the 1989 Mack/Ward 79 1000 gpm pumpers still in first line service at Engine Companies 15, 164, and 297. Both the 2000 gpm and 1000 gpm pumpers have air-conditioned cabs.

The Fleet Services Division is currently starting to retrofit at least eight of the 1987 Mack/Ward 79 1000 gpm pumpers currently in the spare fleet. These retrofits will include the removal of the hose body and 500-gallon booster tanks and replacing these with new 1000-gallon tanks to carry liquid foam concentrate. These tanks fit perfectly into the former area of the old booster tank and hose body.

These apparatus will also carry a limited amount of large diameter hose in a rack being constructed to fit atop the new tank. These retrofitted units will also be repainted and striped in the current FDNY graphics. When completed, they will be assigned as Foam Units 95, 96,152, 154, 167, 206, 260 and 32 1. They will replace the current converted 1978 Mack 1000 gpm pumpers assigned to 96, 154, 167, 206, 260 and 321. Foam 95 and 152 do not have an assigned foam carrier at present as their similar 1979 Mack converted pumpers have been disposed of. It is also a possibility that two additional Foam Units may be organized, also using two more retrofitted 1987 Mack/Ward 79 1000 gpm pumpers. The Foam Units, which are numbered to correspond with the engine companies where quartered, are cross-staffed by the personnel of those engines, when responding

During October, long term repairs were completed on the FDR Drive in Manhattan, allowing most full size apparatus access to that highway again. This negated the need to operate the two special FDR Response Units and they were taken out of service. These two units were basically mini-pumpers, equipped with Saulsbury tank and pump modules mounted on short, 1995 Ford flat bed truck chassis. The future use of these two vehicles was undetermined at the time of this writing.

On August 28, the New York City Fire Museum received and placed on exhibit a fully restored 1921 American LaFrance Type 75 pumper which once served as Engine 246. This historic pumper was discovered over thirty years ago rusting away on a farm by several individuals who purchased and fully restored it.


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