Email Enquiry – Is your aerial device an asset or a status symbol?

Initial Email Enquiry –

Many Thanks for XXXXXX making this observation - it is something which has always been an option when I have been procuring Fire Trucks - however, I for one have not gone down this route to date. Is there anyone out there who has procured them? I know that RTFC in Corpus Christie Texas bought a monster 4000gpm Shwing Aerial Truck to cover their industrial risks. Can anyone give examples of where they have been used to conduct successful fire fighting operations where conventional trucks and monitors were found limited or wanting to achieve effective mitigation? What are the advantages/disadvantages? Your views much appreciated - please 'reply to all' with this one.

1st Response –

It was interesting to note that in both incidents you send out today aerial devices were used in response to both incidents. I have been confronted by my operational guys for years now to invest in an aerial device but up to now I just could not justify the economics of such a capital investment for my plant.

My philosophy always has been to firstly engineer the risks out and if that is not possible, top rotect with fixed installations. Even for tank fire purposes I rather went for high volume monitors and ensured that I can supply these monsters with water and foam concentrate than to invest in an aerial device that has limited pumping capacity for the size tanks we need to protect and also limited in their use within operating units because of the space needed for deployment within an operating unit.

Maybe this paradigm of mine is clogging my mind and somewhere someone can give me a justification that can economically shift this paradigm.

The question to pose is "Is your aerial device an asset or a status symbol?" I am of the opinion that it is a status symbol in industry with very limited application and not economically justifiable!

Any comments from our members will be appreciated.

2^nd Response –

This is a discussion that has come up alot. As for my opinion, I think that Aerials can be broken down into two basic types: Bucket Type (personell carriers) or Sticks (no personell device). If the aerial is going to be used for personall extracation form an elevated position, then obviously an Aerial may be of benefit. However, when it comes to delivering water, especially in large volumes, it is of little value in my opinion. You can get a lot more for your money with a pumper truck, it will be more manuverable, require less maintenance, less prone to operator error (tipping over), and more effective at moving water. We currently have monitors that can reach well over 200' vertically from the ground, which is usually more than enough to get water/foam onto things such as cutting decks. The only idea that comes to mind for using a stick (there may be others) is to get dry chemical and/or foam into the 6:00 o'clock position to eliminate the "stubborn" remaining fire on an involved tank after primary knockdown.

For what it is worth?

End of email correspondence on Topic to date

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