Day 3 - 2/18/11
The final day of our inspection allowed us to finish the aerial inspection with a walk through of the short jacking ability of the ladder. With it's computer controlled hydraulic system, the Tower is capable of operating from only one side if necessary, utilizing only one stabilizer jack. The programming allows you to work at full extension from one side of the vehicle for a total span of 200 degrees. While the aerial was put through the rest of it's paces, some final measurements for equipment mounting and lettering were taken. After leaving the E-One plant for the last time, we were all very excited. Not just because inspection went exceedingly well, but because we can't wait for everyone else to see it too.
Day 2 - 2/17/11
You would have thought that we would have had all of the "admiring" of the Tower out of the way yesterday, but boy was I was wrong. Once the work assignments for the actual inspection had been assigned and we began our work, it didn't take long for the line between work and play blurred. To be honest, E-One's high standards regarding quality and workmanship made it VERY easy to go over. Energized by the Florida sun we quickly moved the truck outside to put the aerial through it's paces and took a few laps around the E-One plant.
Day 1 - 2/16/11
After years of planning, countless meetings, extensive research and a whole lot of patience, the members of the Apparatus Committee from Berwyn finally got to see the fruits of their labor. After an exhausting day of travel by plane and car, we finally pulled into the E-One plant in Ocala, Florida around 2 p.m. Once inside, we were led into the Customer Inspection area where a beautiful, brand new white & yellow E-One Mid-mount Tower Ladder sat waiting.
The new 'Tower 2' is almost ready to come home to Berwyn.
Members of the Apparatus Committee arrive for Final Inspection of Tower 2 in Ocala, Florida.
(L-R) Chief Matthew Norris, Treasurer Ethan Norris, Deputy Chief Engineer David Warlick, Deputy Chief Wayne Riddle, Assistant Chief Brendan Brazunas and Chief Engineer Dan Dougherty
Assistant Chief Brazunas and Chief Norris checking out the bucket controls and layout of storage for equipment.
This is a view of the ground ladder storage tunnel at the back of the truck.
Front view of the Tower bucket that contains a powerful master stream device that is capable of delivering 1250 gallons of water per minute to fight a fire.
The safety striping on the rear of the Tower provides extra warning to motorists when the apparatus is on the roadways. This type of safety device is one of many requirements that are mandated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The Bostrom SCBA seat with bottle release in the seat
Severe duty doors with stainless steel cover and safety stripes
EMS compartment on driver side
Dog house view from crew cab
Ladder and jack controls
Hydraulic fluid resevoir
Chief Engineer Dougherty checking out the turntable controls
12 ft roof ladder attached behind the sign board
16ft roof ladder mounted behind the driver side sign board.
Aerial and monitor controls in bucket
The new Tower 2 got a test run by the BFC Apparatus Committee today in Ocala, Florida.
Chief Norris demonstrating the capacity of one of the rear compartments.
Short jacked, no stabilizer down
Assistant Chief Brazunas demonstrating the amount of room in what's now being called the "Lithuanian Bear Cage"
