Fire Engines Photos

In SFFD parlance T=Truck Company. Their members can still be distinguished by their rather odd Harlequin patterned red and white helmets. They famously showed up in the movie "Towering Inferno", although the appaartus used in the film included quite a few Los Angeles rigs, as I think it was filmed at least in part at the studio in LA.

Because of the earthquake-related fire risk, closely-packed wooden structures, and terrible traffic congestion, San Francisco has a very large Fire Department for a city its size. They also have a very creative four - level water sourcing arrangement for fire fighting. Added to the regular mains and hydrants are high pressure mains with purple-painted hydrants utilizing Bay water, underground sumps at intersections containing runoff rainwater and an LDH relay system to move Bay water inland from fire boats operating in the Bay.

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 April 2014.

Thanks, Rob. Very informative! Also, the SFFD still use wooden ladders rather than metal ones, for the reason that, due to frequent earthquakes, working around downed power lines is safter with wooden ladders. They still manufacture their own ladders, and their own boots as well, if I remember correctly.

Added by Tiger on 19 April 2014.

Several older US cities installed similar high pressure systems, but I believe most of these are no longer operational. Boston still has a similar high pressure system, and is also one of a handful of US cities to have British-style underground hydrants, although these are confined to a realtively small area of the city. The massive standpipes are a plumber's pride, with four 2.5 inch valved outlets!

Added by Rob Johnson on 23 May 2014.

Hi Tiger and Rob!Look at Youtube!Ther is a short film from SFFD laddershop.They both build new ladders, and rebuilt older ladders!!!

Anders F.Sweden.

Added by Anders Fallström on 05 July 2014.

Please add your comments about this picture using the form below.

Comments

Your Name

Your email address - this will be shown on the page and will allow the system to notify you of further comments added to this picture.