One major complaint we have been hearing about the Quints are their size. The Quints in many districts are too long to make turns down the narrow city streets. Richmond Fire has know this since the first ones were purchased, but the newly ordered Quints are the same size. Some of these issues have been addressed by updating the computer aided dispatch to inform companies of "Quint restricted addresses", many of which are in the Windsor Farms area. But doesn't that change the total quint concept? Are some citizens getting a different level of service? The fire chief has refused to listen to us on this issue, so people here is your chance. Tell us what streets in your district your Quint can't assess.
We need to start a list on this page of streets we can't make it on to.
ReplyDeleteRandolph: Winder St to Eggleston or Meade. Kemper St, Blair St, Greenville, Jacquelin, Wallace to Temple, Southampton, onto Lombrdy from Main, onto Meadow from Main, Park Ave.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Richmond Virginia streets were not designed for on street parking. If you look at any map or spend any time driving around the city, you will notice alley ways filled with carriage houses. This allowed for streets to remain clear for traffic. As time went on and vehicles became more prevelant the laws changed and curbside parking became the norm. Now due to the size of vehicles and a larger population, parking can be found on almost every street from corner to corner. This is why it is very difficult to manuever these extremely large vehicles through Richmonds streets. It may also explain why our accident rate is so high.....
All of Oregon Hill
ReplyDeleteIf you live off of Brookland Park Blvd we drive 3 blocks out of the way in some cases to get to your street because our truck will not make the turn. It was enough of a concern that we were given a special engine due to size limitations but continue to run a quint.
ReplyDeleteHarrison st onto West Ave, can be very tight at times with one way traffic and parking on both sides right up to the corner of Harrison St. Depending on the time of day and week, that can be an extremely hard turn, IF you can make it!
ReplyDeleteThe infamous triangle in Church Hill in the area of 21st and Jefferson, Cedar St, and such. Also 35th between Canepa and Briel St.
ReplyDeleteNorth side streets are tight on a motorcycle! They ran those streets with E14 and Ladder 6 for how many years?? I don't know let's say 100. Now with Quints there are addresses that the rigs are not getting to....especially on Sundays. But no worries.....the midi pumper is here to save the day! Another one of Creecys experiments. This special unit is all of TWO inches narrower and just as long as the FRV that it replaced. It is also equipped with two Jr. seats in the rear (anyone over 6ft and 200 lbs can't sit in the seat with full gear and seatbelt) and............you guessed it, a Little Giant!! No need for actual fire service ladders, that would only make the midi pumper a NFPA certified class A pumper. Another Creecy decision.....replace the non class A FRV with another non class A pumper. This guy is a freakin genius!!
ReplyDeleteCars were requested over the radio to be removed from the corner of Harrison and West ave yesterday because fire trucks were unable to make the turn onto this street. This is unfortunately not a no parking zone which is very common throughout the city. However due to the size of the trucks as well as the fact that for the first time in 150 years the current fleet left out tractor drawn aerials. These trucks were specifically designed to operate within an urban environment with tight turns. Take a look at Baltimore, Washington, etc. They operate TDA's to help prevent increased response times as well as decrease accident rates. Richmond also operated TDA's until 1998 when the quints were purchased. Somehow without a change in street size and an increase in on street parking this suddenly was no longer a nescesity. When a truck is involved in an accident it is removed from the initial emergency call and replaced by a unit located further away. When a truck cannot make a turn the firefighters on board remove their seatbelts, exit and run to the rear of the truck to provide a spotter for the driver as he or she backs up several times and then return to the truck prior to continuing on the call. Please keep in mind a fire doubles in size every 30 seconds.....
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