Frontline to spare ratio?

[Kegler]

I am looking for the exact mandate or national standard that recommends a ratio for frontline number to spare units. In other words if we have ten frontline engines how many spare engines are recommended? 10 to 5 ratio? or a 10 to 3 ratio? Please help. Thanks.

[Kegler]

WOW!! Nothing from the experts? I was hoping for something. Anyone have any idea??

[FIREMECH1]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I'll try and help, as a wrench monkey.

As far as I know, or can tell, there is no mandate for reserve rigs. Some dept's will send a rig to another dept, when it's only rig is out of service. Some are just SOL, and use aid from another to cover their butt.

For most volly dept's, they usually have one reserve pumper, or use their second due, as the primary (if not read the above).

For most larger cities that are career, the reserve to front line engines is usually about 1 for every 5 to 10. Or, they can have one reserve for each battalion, depending on the size of each battalion.

If you could give us more info on your dept., and the number of rigs (engines/pumpers-career/volly) then someone else could chime in.

FM1

[fyreline]

I don't believe there is a "standard" for a frontline-to-spare ratio (but I stand ready to be corrected if someone can cite one). Here's what we have in Syracuse:

Ten engines (all 2000gpm with 50-foot telescoping booms) with five spares, two of which are fully equipped as what we designate "recall" engines. These rigs are ready to go if additional personnel are recalled to duty in an emergency situation.

Six 95-foot 1500gpm tower ladders with three spares, one of which is a "recall" truck as outlined above.

Ten EMS squads with three spares.

[FWDbuff]

WOW!! Nothing from the experts? I was hoping for something. Anyone have any idea??

Ok, I'll play your silly game, if you need 5 spares for a 10 engine fleet, your ratio of spares to frontline apparatus should be the least of your worries. I would be more interested in overhauling my preventive maintenance standards/procedures.

[Kegler]

Ok, I'll play your silly game, if you need 5 spares for a 10 engine fleet, your ratio of spares to frontline apparatus should be the least of your worries. I would be more interested in overhauling my preventive maintenance standards/procedures.


No silly game! Looking for assistance, that's it and thanks for the advise. How's the view from the ivory tower?

To fyreline & FIREMECH1, thank you for your two cents. I do appreciate your comments.

[nameless]

Seems to me that if you can afford to keep the replaced apparatus around, estimating high would be beneficial. Better to need less then you have, then to need more than you have.

[FWDbuff]

How's the view from the ivory tower?

Hey you were the one who coined the "experts" phrase first!

[CaptOldTimer]

No silly game! Looking for assistance, that's it and thanks for the advise. How's the view from the ivory tower?

To fyreline & FIREMECH1, thank you for your two cents. I do appreciate your comments.


The word is ADVICE buckshot.

Here is our policy.


25 Engines frontline - 5 reserve

10 Trucks front line - 3 reserve

5 Battalion cars frontline - 2 reserve



One wife none in reserve!

[jpu535]

The ISO Fire Suppression Rating Schedule has a requirement in section 520 titled Number of Needed Reserve Pumpers. It says the number of needed reserve pumpers is 1 for each 8 needed engine companies or fraction thereof.

In section 550 the same applies for ladder companies.

This came out of the rating schedule that says edition 02-03 but it's already 6years old and may have changed.

[FIREMECH1]

This is our breakdown on frontline to reserve rigs:

30 Engines - 6 Reserves

10 Aerials - 4 Reserves

14 Meds - 5 Reserves

2 HazMats - 1 Reserve

2 Rescues - 1 Reserve

8 Chief buggies - 4 Reserves

All reserve rigs are empty skeletons, except for hoses and ladders. So yeah, they hate change overs.

FM1

[Kegler]

Thank you to all that submitted.