Big red beauty

Mike Sciacca

It has been said that firefighters are simply “big kids” at heart, who

still get to play with their fire trucks.

Although there is some truth to that statement, the reality is that by

necessity -- and in their mission to protect life and property -- today’s

firefighters are highly trained professionals who utilize

state-of-the-art equipment to perform an incredibly wide assortment of

emergency services.

In order to be proficient in such a demanding and important vocation,

these uniformed heroes need an up-to-date arsenal of the latest and

greatest fire equipment.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department is about to unveil the newest

addition to its fleet.

By mid-July, a brand new, Emergency One platform truck, with a 95-foot

aerial ladder, will roll into service at Fire Station No. 2 -- Murdy, at

the north end of the city.

“For the most part, getting a new piece of equipment is exciting,”

Captain Rob Glenn said. “But, it is a powerful tool, and everyone needs

to become familiar with the ins and outs of the apparatus -- all of its

quirks.”

Glenn said that the entire department will begin training on the truck

in the next few weeks.

The platform truck will be manned by four people who work 24-hour

shifts on a rotating, three platoon schedule.

The cost of the truck, which is constructed of aluminum and has an

aerial ladder that extends to nearly nine stories high, is $799,600. Add

another $75,000 for the inclusion of equipment, and the total cost is

around $875,000, said Battalion Chief Jacques Pelletier.

Funding for the platform truck came from the Huntington Beach City

Council, Huntington Beach Fire Chief Mike Dolder said.

It was purchased in April and will go into service at some point in

July, he added.

“It takes a while to put all of the equipment on,” Dolder said of the

truck, which currently is in the shop, getting ready for action. “It’s an

arduous task.”

Firefighters sometimes affectionately refer to their ladder trucks as

“rolling tool boxes,” since these rigs carry a vast array of firefighting

tools and rescue equipment.

The new platform truck will be used for many tasks, among them, the

extrication of trapped persons, high angle rescue, carriage of

firefighting tools and equipment, emergency medical supplies, foam

firefighting for petroleum fires including vehicles and a 95-foot aerial

ladder for commercial/industrial fires and building roof access.

It pumps out 1,500 gallons of water per minute, and the nozzle

releases 1,000 gallons in that time.

Also on the 500 horsepower truck, which is equipped with an air supply

system, is the Jaws of Life, Dolder said.

On the driver’s side of the truck is a decal that reads: “Remember

Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY.”

The hydraulically powered “aerial” ladder is mounted on top of the

truck and is operated by a specially trained engineer who is able to

deftly position the far-reaching apparatus to building rooftops

throughout the city.

Engineer Randy Babbit will be one of the lucky ones to operate the new

truck.

“It’s a beautiful piece of equipment and is definitely needed,” said

Babbit, who added that he wanted to follow in his father’s foot steps as

a firefighter since he was a child. “The old truck was kind of hard on

the body, so I’m really looking forward to the new ride.”

An aerial truck can be expected to last on the front line for 20

years, Pelletier said. After that, it will serve five years in reserve

status.

The new truck, which replaces one that was purchased in 1984, was

manufactured in Ocala, Fla., home of Emergency One, the largest apparatus

manufacturer in the nation, said Pelletier, who was part of a fire

department committee that contributed to the truck’s design and placement

of equipment.

It took four months to build and, following an inspection by fire

department personnel who traveled to Florida, the truck was driven out to

Huntington Beach by the manufacturer.

There are eight fire stations throughout the city, two of which are

termed “truck” stations, one in the south end of the city, the other

stationed north.

By the middle of July, a new truck will be joining the ranks and

making the rounds until 2022.

“We’re looking forward to its debut,” Pelletier added. “It’s a great

time for our fire department.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at (714)

965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].