BY BILL ADAMS
Quint debates can be partial, biased, and downright emotional. Traditionalists cannot accept the idea that the traditional pumpless ladder truck, equipped with large amounts of ancillary equipment, an aerial device, and numerous ground ladders, may be a thing of the past. They cannot understand why today’s firefighters and administrators believe that multitasking apparatus with fewer personnel is the cure-all on the fireground. This article does not discredit the quint or pit the old against the new. Instead, it objectively illustrates the diminishing capabilities of the traditional ladder company and limitations that purchasing a quintand, in particular, a small oneimposes on fireground operations. The quintuple apparatus may not be the cure-all for budget cuts, consolidation, downsizing, and inadequate staffing.
A big quint has an aerial device, fire pump, booster tank, hose, and ground ladders mounted on a tandem rear axle. A small quint has similar features mounted on a single rear axle. Big quints carry large amounts of equipment and are usually Insurance Services Office (ISO)-rated ladder trucks. Quints may have rear-mounted or mid-mounted aerial devices. Although each has similar limitations, this discussion concerns only the rear-mount quint with a single rear axle.
Many departments use this small quint with a 75-foot ladder as a first-out engine with ladder truck capabilities. But it may unintentionally reduce fireground efficiency, jeopardize firefighters assigned to it, and convey a false sense of security. Although it carries and does a little of everything, can it carry enough of any one thing to safely and proficiently accomplish the tasks assigned to it? The discussion below considers a typical Smalltown USA fire department, without an ISO-rated ladder truck, opting to run a small quint first due from a single company station with a couple of engines responding from different locations. It also reflects one that may combine engine and ladder company capabilities into a small quint.
POPULARITY
In a questionnaire, all the aerial manufacturers responding were favorable to the small quint, noting widespread acceptance and increasing sales. One commented that the small quint was its most popular aerial (Ferrara Fire); another noted that, in some cases, the 75-foot quint was actually replacing pumpers (Rosenbauer America); yet another said that sales of the small quint increased dramatically with the availability of an aluminum ladder (Pierce/Oshkosh Truck). Manufacturers opined that the small quint is popular because of its compact design and short wheelbase (KME); one cited increased maneuverability and versatility among the reasons for the steady increase in its 75-foot quint sales (Smeal). Crimson observed that although the 75-foot, single-axle quint was still popular, there was a trend toward tandem-axle versions.
SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITATIONS
Small quints may not have the room or axle ratings to carry all ISO-required ground ladders and ladder company equipment, in addition to a full complement of engine company equipment. The manufacturers reported the overall length of the 75-foot quint ranges from 34 to 38 feet with wheelbases between 200 and 230 inches. Rear-mount apparatus travel heights are usually higher than mid-mounts because the aerial device nests above the cab.
Small quints are usually limited to 31,000-pound rear axle and 21,000- to 23,000-pound front axle ratings. Weight distribution is crucial to ensure axles are not overloaded. In-service weights may be very close to the quint’s maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Limited space and axle ratings usually determine what options are available and the amount of equipment carried. Departments should be objective with equipment wish lists. The question no longer is “What else can we put on our new truck?” but rather “What else do we have to leave off?” Less equipment means fewer tools with which to work.
TANK SIZE
Pumper booster tank capacities average between 750 and 1,000 gallons. The smallest size that the ISO and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) acknowledge is 300 gallons, which is common on big quints. The manufacturers stated small quints feature tanks in the 400- to 500-gallon range. If you have a 750-gallon tank on your first-due engine and reduce this to a 500-gallon tank on a quint, you are responding with one-third less water. If you use a 400-gallon tank to make room for additional hose capacity, ground ladders, or compartmentation, you respond with 46 percent less water. Less water means less extinguishing capability, a consideration when the first-due apparatus arrives with fire showing and must decide to establish a water supply. Rosenbauer America said half its quint purchasers specify Class A or compressed air foam systems, noting that a larger tank is not a necessity, and they are “using the quint for typical pumper type attack vehicles.” Jim Salmi, chief operating officer of Crimson Fire, says, “Since these trucks are often operating as pumpers, the increased use of foam follows the industry trend.”
CUSTOMIZATION
Everything is relevant in size and space but not in weight or priority of use. A three-section, 35-foot aluminum ladder weighs 129 pounds and occupies approximately 28 cubic feet. Where do you store it on the quintin the area available for compartmentation or that of the hosebed or of the water tank? That 28 cubic feet can also accommodate 550 feet of five-inch hose weighing about 600 pounds or 200 gallons of water weighing 1,668 pounds. The same space can be filled with 129,600 or 1,668 pounds of equipment. Exercise caution in what you carry and where it is carried.
According to KME Aerial Product Manager Pete Hoherchak, “When designing 75-foot quints, everything we do is based on proper weight distribution and axle loads”; he adds that the tank size can be restricted depending on the options chosen. Salmi from Crimson elaborates, “Customization is common, but axle weight limits reduce the number of options, especially with the 500-gallon tank. Careful weight analysis of the truck is essential to stay within axle ratings and weight distribution.” He also notes that customization can increase when tank size is reduced. Salmi continues, “This particular truck configuration (from all manufacturers) is prone to problems with brake wear and life. Stopping distances increase as weight increases, so understanding this characteristic is important for drivers.”
The various materials used in apparatus construction (e.g., steel or aluminum for the aerial; aluminum, steel, polymer, or composite materials for the body and the cab) present inherent weight differences and advantages/disadvantages. The pros, cons, and selling features of each are not addressed here and are left to the salespeople. However, regardless of the materials used, exercise caution and do not overload the unit.
GROUND LADDERS
For a fire department to receive full credit for possessing a ladder truck, the ISO requires that the apparatus include 16- and 20-foot roof ladders; 14-, 28-, 35-, and 40-foot extension ladders; and a 10-foot collapsible ladder. The ISO does allow the following alternatives: a second 35-foot extension ladder instead of the 40 foot; a 24-foot extension ladder instead of the 28 foot; another 16-foot roof ladder instead of the 20 foot; and a folding or attic ladder instead of the collapsible ladder. According to NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, the ground ladder requirement for a ladder truck is two roof ladders of any size, two extension ladders of any size, and a single attic ladder; the combined length of these ladders should total at least 115 feet. The NFPA 1901 requirement is less than and does not meet the ISO’s requirement. As strange as it is, you should comply with the NFPA to be compliant, but you must comply with the ISO to get a rating.
Although the ISO has no standard for quints, the NFPA does, requiring quints to carry a minimum of 85 feet of ground ladders. Any combination, size, or quantity will suffice as long as it includes at least one roof, one extension, and one attic ladder, the combined lengths of which must total at least 85 feet.
Several manufacturers state that their 75-foot quints provide a 115-foot ground ladder complement, including a 35-foot, three-section extension; a 24-foot, two-section extension; two 16-foot roof ladders; a 14-foot combination ladder; and a 10-foot attic ladder. (A two-section, 35-foot ladder is seldom carried, since it is five feet longer than the three-section when stowed). That 115-foot ground ladder complement meets the NFPA’s ground ladder requirement for a ladder company!
But lettering your quint as a “Ladder Company” or “Truck Company” does not necessarily mean it really is one. An NFPA-compliant quint with a minimum NFPA-compliant ground ladder complement may give a false sense of security. Besides not meeting ISO requirements, a 75-foot quint that has fewer and shorter ground ladders cannot physically accomplish the same tasks as an ISO-rated ladder company. Paul Stephenson, director of aerial sales for Ferrara Fire Apparatus, notes, “The ISO is looking for a ladder to the roof of the tallest building or a 100-foot aerialwhichever is less. 75s by design may get less points.”
When writing apparatus specifications, some purchasing committees and occasionally apparatus salespeople consider only minimum NFPA requirements; ISO ratings are not always mentioned. Purchasers “very rarely” require small quints to meet the ISO’s ladder truck requirements, responds Chuck Glagola, aerial products specialist for Smeal. In taking delivery of what could be a half-million-dollar piece of equipment, you would likely feel uncomfortable explaining to City Hall about the ISO’s not giving you 100-percent credit for it.
It is even less comfortable to respond to a working fire in an occupied 2½- or three-story structure and be unable to use your new quint because of overhead obstructions or a long setback. It would be embarrassing to have only one or two small to midsized extension ladders available to accomplish roof ventilation and simultaneously attempt rescues from the top floor. Fireground operations and safety may be compromised when fire departments are forced to purchase equipment to fit an undersized rig rather than purchase the proper equipment to efficiently accomplish a mission.
SUPPLY HOSE
The NFPA requires engines to carry a minimum of 800 feet of 2½-inch or larger hose with a minimum cubic footage of space required. The ISO requires 1,200 feet of hose, at least 800 feet of which must be 2½-inch or larger. Most engines are delivered with main hosebed capacities ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 feet; larger capacities are common in suburban and rural areas. The manufacturers state that, on the 75-foot quints, a 1,000-foot main hosebed capacity is the average requested (and probably all that is offered or will fit). Caution: When replacing an engine with 1,500 feet of supply hose with a quint carrying 1,000 feet, you lose one-third of your supply hose before you leave the station. The officer should consider this when arriving first due in areas with extended hydrant spacing.
In single-engine and ladder operations, usually the engine arrives first, doing size-up and (hopefully) leaving room for the ladder company. When a quint responds first due, however, it does not have that first-arriving engine doing size-up. It must accomplish size-up, aerial placement, and initial attack in addition to possibly establishing a water supply, which may necessitate forward laying a supply line. It is not safe or practical to jockey the quint around to position the aerial device with a supply line hanging off the back. Purchasing committees should be aware of operational differences when running a small quint first due in place of an engine.
ATTACK HOSE (1½-, 1¾-, or 2-inch)
NFPA 1901 requires two storage areas of 3½ cubic feet each for preconnected attack hose and a minimum of 400 feet of hose carried. The ISO requires 400 feet of attack hose, plus 200 feet of booster hose; however, 200 feet of preconnected attack hose can be substituted for the booster. Multiple preconnects are commonplace; many suburban companies carry more than a half dozen, including multiple attack and backup lines, blitz lines with portable monitors, short supply lines for standpipes or with leader line wyes, and even long lines.
The flexibility in choosing multiple sizes, lengths, and task-oriented preconnects is not an option with the 75-foot quintsthere isn’t enough room. Discounting the safety aspect of having hoselines pulled off and hanging over the pump operator’s head, there are only so many crosslays that can physically fit over a midship pump house. Electric cord reels, generators, long-handled tool storage, the hydraulic oil tank for the aerial device, and a myriad of other stuff may also be in the way. Front bumpers can handle a couple of preconnects, provided the angle of approach and wall-to-wall turning radius are not compromised. Urban and metropolitan companies carry large amounts of nonpreconnected hose; consequently, storage for extra hose is another concern. The 75-foot quint with limited preconnects and only 1,000 feet of supply hose may not have the room. How do you extend lines or stretch two 200-foot lines of 2½-inchone around each side of a building? Do you wait for the next-due company?
Again, lettering your quint “Engine Company” does not guarantee the same level of performance traditional engines provide. As an engine company, it might be ISO and NFPA compliant, but will it really work well? The 75-foot quint, carrying less hose, offers fewer optionsfireground flexibility is lost.
COMPARTMENTATION
Small quints have large pumper bodies into which manufacturers, at the request of customers, cram in as much as possible without overloading axles. Most have 140 to 160 cubic feet of enclosed equipment compartments, far exceeding the NFPA requirement of 40 cubic feet (which also applies to engines and ladder trucks).
If planning to carry all the equipment normally carried on an engine and a ladder truck, plan well. Everything may not fit in one oversized pumper body. Granted, some equipment is duplicated and may not be required. To determine compartment acceptability, have a manufacturer back a demonstrator quint into your quarters between the pumper and ladder truck you want to replace or combine. Load the 75-foot quint with the equipment you must carry; then attempt to load what you want to carry. Then decide what equipment you may have to leave behind.
Pierce and Ferrara state 90 percent of their quints have generators; KME confirms their popularity. Crimson, Smeal, and Rosenbauer note that PTO/hydraulic onboard generators are popular, since they are compact, lightweight, and sensible for quint applications. Some 75-foot quints are equipped with hydraulic auto extrication equipment. What necessary ladder or engine company equipment was omitted to accommodate the auto extrication equipment? How much does the equipment weigh? Does it impact axle weights? Responding with a limited amount of ancillary equipment can be equally as dangerous as running with inadequate staffing.
STAFFING
Mixing topics of staffing and quints incites biased and emotional opinions from career and volunteer personnel. Regardless of whether deployed in a career, volunteer, or combination department, quints do not extinguish fires. Nor do engines, ladders, or squads. Firefighters put out fires. If there are not enough of them responding on or with the apparatus, jobs will not get done efficientlyif at all. For simplicity, only the firefighters riding on the rigs are addressedregardless of their vocation.
With four people per apparatus, a response from a station housing an engine and a ladder company provide eight firefighters on location ready to work with all the equipment normally carried on each piece. Responding a little quint with only six seating positions, you arrive with 25 percent fewer firefighterseven when running fully staffed. Respond with five, and you have 38 percent less. Respond with just four people, and you have 50 percent less personnel. This all occurs before the alarm rings and the doors open.
Regardless of the financial benefits of combining companies, running with fewer people is inefficient and means less work can get done. The quint’s crew, responding first due, will have its hands full until help arrives. Do we ventilate? Do we limit search and rescue? Can we effectively advance the first line? Can we afford to lose someone at the hydranteven temporarily when laying in? Can we afford an aerial operator and pump operator at the same time? Running shorthanded and trying to accomplish multiple tasks can be an invitation to disaster and injury.
AWARENESS
Declining numbers of volunteers and shrinking budgets in career sectors are forcing companies to consolidate or close and fire departments to merge. Multifunction apparatus are the standard today. Automatic mutual aid is commonplace for specific apparatus and personnel as departments struggle to accomplish more with less.
Small quints will never accomplish what fully equipped ISO-rated ladder trucks accomplish with 100-percent efficiency; nor can they achieve the same results as fully equipped engines. It is not physically possible to carry enough equipment and people. Bill Peters, a known industry expert and author in fire apparatus specifications and purchasing, refers to the small quint as a good Swiss Army knife. “It does a lot of things, but none of them really well. Sometimes a 75-foot quint is perfect for an outlying area where the arrival of an [ISO-rated] aerial might be delayed.”
The small quint’s merits cannot be ignored. Shorter and, in most cases, more maneuverable than full-sized ladder trucks, it may fit into places where its larger counterparts cannot. Prior to a designated ladder company’s arrival, a first-arriving quint could make rescues from upper floors. It has an elevated waterway, and, according to Ann Stawski, Oshkosh’s vice-president of marketing communications, “[Pierce] has found departments are looking for apparatus that have front-line capabilities with the ability to have an elevated master stream with some ladder rescue capabilities.”
The 75-foot quint has those attributes. Being acceptable to many, it has rightfully earned a place in the front row. Someday, the quint may evolve into a two-piece company similar to the ladder/tender concept in the Southwest United States. A tender carrying all the stuff that can’t fit on the quint could possibly handle EMS and service calls while keeping the primary rig in service, albeit with a limited crew.
As long as the authority having jurisdiction, department officers, and the firefighters riding the load are aware of its limitations as well as its merits, the quint can be, as it has been in the past and will continue to be in the future, a good resource tool. It is no different than an ax, a nozzle, or an SCBA. If used properly within its operating parameters, the quint will continue to do good service. The solution is awareness of those parameters.
BILL ADAMS, a 40-year veteran of the fire service, is a former fire apparatus salesman. He is a past chief of the East Rochester (NY) Fire Department.
