Several manufacturers put on extra shifts to speed delivery of existing orders made prior to 9/11. To replace hose, firefighting hand tools, extrication equipment, air bags, power saws, rope, SCBA and cylinders, $8 million was spent. That day, $30 million in apparatus was ordered. The Mayor's Office and the city comptroller declared an emergency, allowing Assistant Commissioner Thomas McDonald to order apparatus needed to put the fleet back to full strength. A total of 48 Chevrolet Yukons, Ford Excursions, Chevrolet Suburbans, Jeep Grand Cherokees and Ford Crown Victorias were either purchased or donated. To supply vehicles to battalions, divisions, EMS supervisors and other top officials, it was decided to acquire readily available vehicles. One different piece of apparatus would help in the short-term, but would create long-term problems, such as training, parts and service. Although extremely grateful, the FDNY decided to hold off and not accept apparatus that differed from FDNY specifications and requirements. The FDNY received hundreds of offers from fire departments and manufacturers to supply replacement apparatus. Engines, transmissions, axles and brakes all contributed to getting the fleet in service in record time. Windshields and cab and compartment doors are identical. Standardization played a key role in getting the fleet back in service so quickly. Future plans call for a potential reserve ladder fleet consisting of 10 apparatus, including rear-mount aerials and tower ladders. The age and preventative maintenance of the spare fleet allowed better reliability than in the past. All the apparatus from the Bureau of Training were taken to complement the spare fleet. Those engines were placed in service after the recall. The FDNY maintains a reserve fleet of 22 engines. Local manufacturers' representatives, mechanics and dealers, retired members and mechanics from neighboring fire departments assisted in the herculean effort to restore the fleet. Many staffers refused to go home and slept in the shops so they could return to work and finish their assigned tasks. The Shops staff worked 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every unit was back in service except first-due Engine 10 and Ladder 10. The apparatus were loaded with hose, ladders and fire tools. This ranged from windshields, warning lights and lenses to engines, pump overhaul and aerial ladder replacement. The shop personnel repaired 130 rigs during the first week following the terrorist attack. Those rigs that could be fixed quickly were brought into the huge FDNY repair shops. A supervisor and two mechanics followed a checklist to determine if repairs could be made immediately. The total apparatus destroyed included: 18 engines, seven rear-mounted aerial ladders, four tillered aerial ladders, four tower ladders, two rescues, two high-rise units, a tactical-support unit, three hazardous materials tenders, the technical response vehicle, a satellite hose wagon, a field communications van, a mask service truck, six ambulances, 16 Suburbans, 23 sedans and a Shops repair truck.Īfter an evaluation, rigs were decontaminated and cleaned inside and out. It took one week to remove all the rigs from the site. Apparatus damaged beyond repair were removed to the Staten Island Landfill. Many of the rigs were missing windshields, but still could be driven away. Two additional heavy wreckers from the Department of Environmental Protection were needed to help tow the large number of rigs. Approval to move the rigs was made after concerns about the crime scene were discussed. If only minor repairs were needed, they were made. They determined if the rig was able to proceed or needed to be towed. Initially, three teams consisting of a supervisor and two mechanics first located, then triaged the rigs. Personnel from Fleet and Technical Services responded to the scene with supervisors, roadside mechanics, tow truck operators and fuel trucks. At least four rigs and a sedan were found several levels below the street when ground zero was being excavated. Some of the damage was so bad that a few of the rigs were nearly unrecognizable. Some rigs were turned onto their sides or flipped upside down. The rigs were damaged by structural steel and debris. The replacement cost was estimated to be $21 million. After the collapse of the World Trade Center, the FDNY lost 91 pieces of apparatus and millions of dollars in equipment.
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