Investigators track down broken fire trucks across Metro Detroit

[@Stargazzer811]

A'ight so, I'm gonna weigh in on some stuff here based on my knowledge. Squad 3 is currently using a Pierce made reserve, not the HME its supposed to have. This is because their HME Rescue truck is out of service for repairs. The reserve is an engine, not a heavy rescue or rescue engine, so yes it doesn't have the required space for all the gear. The department is well aware and adapts accordingly. Also, there is no such thing as a "bucket truck" in the fire service. What they are referring to is a Tower Ladder/Platform truck, and no it is not required for high rise rescues. In fact, most departments will tell you they prefer not to have one for such a task. Normal conventional ladder trucks are preferred for such actions as they are far easier to use. Tower Ladders by contrast are better for fire suppression, aka when a building can't be saved. Ladder 17 is housed with Engine 40 at 13939 Dexter Ave, which is 3.65 miles from Engine 17/Ladder 7's quarters. About 1 mile away from Engine 17/Ladder 7 is the house of Ladder 20/Squad 2 at 477 West Alexandrine St. Depending on traffic, at any given time of day, either of those truck companies could be at Wayne State Uni in less than 5 minutes without even breaking the speed limit. So I find the fact that such a big stink is being made about this to be entirely ridiculous. Detroit Fire knows what it's doing, let them do their job and stop armchair quarterbacking them.

[@malcolmcossar6447]

Duuhh I think the Chief explained it. Even Newer rigs have Breakdowns😒 And NOT all Aerials have buckets. Ahh Yes Our Wonderful local media on the job🙄

[@MrAnimefox]

I agree with you. I work in the autobody industry, and we run into this all of the time. I worked on an alfa romeo, and it was a simple bumper job, but it needed extra special parts that kept the car at the shop for over a week. Another example is that we had a hail storm last summer, and we have two new gm trucks that are still waiting for roof panels because they are on backorder.

[@saltyhumansWX]

Our older rigs spend less time OOS these days compared to the 3 year old trucks that constantly go down.

[@boatbound3300]

Im 97% sure the union called 1st🤔

[@smorris281]

I’m 97% sure, the union doesn’t give a s&%t.

[@NguageTrains]

@@smorris281unions are useless

[@1andonlybigmike60]

If the Union made the call first, they would’ve borrowed the tower ladder (bucket) from another firehouse months ago. No reason it should’ve been left this way since October.

[@CharlesSalvi]

She is fixed on the bucket. There are Tillers, rear mounted ladders, mid mounted buckets. Speciality trucks like for heavy rescue will hold all their equipment, so do tiller ladders. There fleet service and budgets need review and need to look at E1, Pierce, Seagraves for who will service them. The trucks look pretty old.

[@riaanlouw1874]

Fixed, or Fixated ?

[@stephenhanneken3041]

There is only one "s" in Seagrave

[@5thdegreekempo]

you do not need a bucket to rescue people. the aerial ladder works fine. Look at New York or Boston,

[@343photography4]

Agreed but bucket Trucks Are easier to use for Rescue

[@williamheber2118]

They don't need a bucket to rescue people from a high rise. Poor investigative reporting.

[@EricWW2000]

To put in perspective, LA Fire doesn’t even own a single platform (bucket truck). They’re really not needed. That straight stick ladder can get the job done.

[@smorris281]

To put into perspective, FDNY has 44 tower platforms!

[@ZipperHead76]

Ok. I wish they would do research before do these reports. A bucket cannot just be taken off and put on any truck. She may have seen a “bucket” on the ground that does mean it can just be mounted on any truck. I was on a ladder truck and we did rescues without a bucket. Stop making it sound like people are going to die without a platform on the truck.

[@joshuaknight311]

Do lafd have ladders on the truck not ground ladders

[@Stargazzer811]

Tower Ladders, as they are actually referred to in the fire service (bucket trucks are civilian work vehicles) are needed, because they are actually better at fighting fire thanks to having 2 master stream nozzles instead of the usual 1 found on most ladders. The ladders make rescues from buildings and climbing to roofs easier. Both are needed. As SMorris said, FDNY has 44 Tower Ladders, Chicago Fire has a great mix of both, as do many other major and minor US cities. Both are needed because both are effective, but for different reasons.

[@Lolitzi13]

@@smorris281 Thats great and all, but each department can have their trucks made to be however they want. A bucket des not compromise the quality of the rescue in any way.

[@dr7coo_]

god I hate how stupid news reporters are. Bucket trucks (towers) are not needed for rescues, alot of the time they are used more for streams then rescues. Straight sticks are a great option and a cheaper option than towers. ALSO buckets can't just stick to any truck like legos. News reporters need to do research about what they are reporting on and at the bare minimum the person who writes the script.

[@BW12149]

It doesn’t have a bucket so it can’t rescue people…. The media is stocked with ignorance. I’m a retired firefighter and we pulled folks down ladders and aerial ladders. I hope this reporter reads the comments here and adjusts her reporting.. and it’s not a a” bucket”, it’s called a platform!!!!

[@smorris281]

Do you know how to tell when a city official is lying? When they issue a statement or open their mouth! It’s a no-brainer.

[@Thightanium19]

Thats what happens when the city is ran by blue tards.

[@KenScofield]

Our nation is still suffering from parts shortages, and manufacturers are not prioritizing making parts for emergency vehicles first, so they sit. Moving Ladder 17 to Ladder 7 just robs 17’s area of a rig they’re familiar with. Problem with the one that was at the shop is it was donated years ago but it’s too big to fit in most firehouses. Don’t make DFD look bad just because you want a sensational headline.

[@theogrant528]

"In a city like Detroit you would assume we have the necessary..." we do not.

[@ml9867]

I wish this productive reporter was in my area because the village that controls my fire department has replaced a large rescue-pumper and a squad-brush fire truck with a single tiny vehicle that's frequently broken down and can't carry all the equipment needed for car crashes or enough water for fires.

[@TomManning-cs4el]

Yeah but I live in a town were all the firefighter went to Indiana were they don't pay firefighter and the fire truck Are somehow they make it to the store on My dime 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@samward7633]

Off topic, but I would just love to say, it's hilarious that a reporter named Karen has the classic "Karen" haircut. I haven't watched the video yet, let's see how much of a Karen she actually acts like. Edit: She appears to be severely misinformed about the versatility and function of the bucket. It is absolutely not "required" as she states, for rescue. You can absolutely rescue both a conscious and unconscious victim with a "stick" or a ladder without a bucket. For the uninformed, there are 5-6 types of "Aerials", depending on how you look at it. There is a rear mount ladder, which may or may not have a bucket. There's a "Tiller" aka a Tractor Drawn aerial, which may or may not have a bucket, and there is a mid-mount which can either be telescopic (multiple sections unfold) or a straight stick. The telescopic will always have a bucket as far as I'm aware, the straight stick may or may not have a bucket. There's also a bonus "Water Tower" which will usually have an extension ladder attached, but is primarily for getting water up high. It's fairly uncommon to see these outside of industrial or specialized applications. TLDR: You can absolutely rescue a victim without a bucket, and there's a lot of different kinds of Aerials, with or without buckets (or even without ladders)

[@mtl6562]

All big cities are like this USA and CANADA.

[@trainz832]

y’all don’t know much about firefighting huh? let alone a mechanic stand point. my town has trucks out of service for months on end due to them finding different problems aside the main one. better to have the truck get fixed right then and there, rather than sending back a broken truck…

[@fyrman9092]

So even after coming out insolvency back in 2010's, Detroit is still a hot mess. Pouring huge suns of money into social programs with limited tax base just hurts basic services.

[@thefourhorsemen91]

Detroit being Detroit.

[@timmuller1567]

So now the station they took it from has no bucket truck?

[@rrogeliocruz]

No if you listen they said they took that ladder from the Westside and moved the one at the repair shop that was in working order but not being used because it didn't fit in the first building to the Westside

[@rodneygriffith3961]

Stupidest news report. Now the west side going to complain that the reserve bucket truck is too long for that district and want there 17 truck back.

[@americanoutdoorsman_1133]

GOD please help Detroit!!!

[@robnewman6101]

21st Century American Firefighting.

[@mattt2862]

Fire trucks. Aren't they great? They breakdown often which is borderline expected with the amount of time they spend on emergency scenes, pumping, drafting etc. I understand the concern, but the city made sure to have a ladder truck at the station at least. Though it doesn't have a platform bucket it can still help greatly and assist with high rise rescues. It's not as safe, but it's better than the truck just being out of service as a whole. I don't know, just feels like the news network is reaching a little bit with this one. The real issue is who designed the truck for the stations without verifying lengths, and station assignments for the trucks.

[@dr7coo_]

I completely agree except that when they built the stations trucks weren't as long and tall as they are now. Same goes with New York

[@dmullen68]

That city has issues the mayor has to get on this

[@CaptainPlays]

LOL ITS A STRAIGHT STICK NOT EVEN A TOWER 😂

[@youmustbekidding7341]

My UNION says I DON'T HAVE WORK IF I WANT TO! Remember YOU ALL voted FOR THIS MESS.

[@LM-sc8lu]

I quote Chief Harris, "Blah blah blah, blah blah blah. In addition, blah blah blah, blah blah blah, Blah blah blah, blah blah blah. .

[@zacharymyers3460]

As a firefighter myself it irks me when I hear guys at the repair shop say I don’t know, I can’t discuss it with you, etc. newsflash unless you’re told directly you can’t discuss it yes you can discuss it. It’s not some big secret or some damn matter of national security.

[@kevinhartmanjr6951]

If it’s a TAXPAYER FUNDED Building, why is the TAXPAYERS being kept out?

[@KevinHartmanJr]

If the city buildings are owned by the City Residents...why is the media being kept out? Hmmmm.../

[@drumsjt]

Meanwhile they could use a closed station house, raise the door height and utilize that rig which has been part of the fleet for a few years. We also need more than one bucket in down town and midtown. Stay safe DFD

[@Stargazzer811]

What we need is Tillers, but DFD only has 1 or 2 houses than can fit them anymore because they closed all the others that could.

[@hihfty]

Cant even get basic supplies let alone have the city pay for engineers, cut the new door and buy a new garage door.

[@hbabyb]

Thank you!!! 🙏🏻

[@BradDubuque]

You don't need a bucket to make rescues

[@rrogeliocruz]

Yeah, but it makes it easier to do rescues if the ladder truck was designed to have one and ACTUALLY HAS ONE instead of having it at a shop collecting dust

[@smorris281]

True, but they’re a great complement to 100’ aerials.

[@mmal7982]

And DFD usually uses its three 'buckets' for master streams not rescues.

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

how do you transport patients on a stretcher down from an upper floor?

[@Daily_Paint]

OK. Here we go, media over sensationalizing something. As a former firefighter you do not need a bucket on a ladder to perform rescue operations on a ladder truck. I came from a fire dept with a lot of high rise buildings. We operated a stick ladder. The bucket helps in fire suppression but only helps it does not limit the trucks rescue or suppression use. Sounds like the firefighters need to learn more skills. FDNY does not use buckets in every rescue operation. Equipment on a fire truck fitting is not an issue either. Hydraulic spreaders and cutters are another tool. There are several smaller hand tools and reciprocating tool options available. The fire truck is a tool box. There are several options in a tool box, the easiest tool to use is not always the only tool. Watch extraction teams using Hydraulic tools vs teams that use hand tools. The time difference is not always faster using the easier tool. You do not like how your fire dept is equipped then get them more tax money to equip them. Dennis Leary did the documentary on your dept. It's lack of tax base. Pay more on taxes for your fire dept and other first responders and quit running stories that are grossly inaccurate.

[@dbyers3897]

Most high-rise rescues are performed internally using rope, stairs & elevators. The small HME squads are a problem. I did wonder gif they had space enough. The pump, tank & hose should be removed so they are true rescue vehicles with enough room for all desired technical rescue equipment.

[@jerryrollins512]

Beauracratic double talk from this Chief. What else would you expect. He works at the pleasure of and answers to bunch of politicians.

[@AxGerm756]

So fire trucks are unusable and hydrants are also unusable. Can't have sh*t in Detroit....

[@darrenalexander8881]

Typical mismanagement with city services and equipment. So what else is new?

[@nzfirephotography]

So sad those fire trucks are broken down🚒😢

[@hagerstownredline5274]

Happens all the time in big cities like this

[@WilleJamesHuff]

Thank your government for all the emissions equipment and the problems that come along with them

[@onthegrind7]

This is dirty politics.Very poor management from fire and city officials.

[@robmonkey]

It sounds like the union tipped off the media anout a non-story. And it worked. They wanted a platform instead of a stick, and they got it. Big whoop.

[@loganbagwell2274]

That’s not even squad 3…

[@smiley1914]

This was an issue before and this issue still exist with the Detroit fire department. It’s a shame because city leaders and council members will wait until a tragedy happen and then they will want to do something. You firefighters and the firefighter representative are doing all you can to represent the firefighters of Detroit with the fire chief. He is honored their thumb their puppet he could care less. I am pretty sure they are wasting and spending money other places instead of investing into their fire department let’s not wait until tragedy happen and then say oh wow we lost a firefighter. We lost a citizen to a fire. Get some more equipment. 😢

[@TomManning-cs4el]

Awwww you don't need all those fire department

[@rogerdehaven5603]

Corruption at it best.

[@trevethan82319841]

If it was there top priority then it shouldn't have taking the main stream media to ask questions to see results

[@Hot1765]

Could have used some of that 400 billion we have to Ukraine to help grant them new trucks but Ukraine and Israel is more important

[@ericthesoldier]

Sounds like a Spartan smh

[@cjramseyer]

He can't talk about it? He gets paid with tax dollars. His paycheck depends on the citizens. Stay on them Karen Drew. All of us in Metro Detroit appreciate your efforts

[@rp1645]

Thank you for the comments 😊 can I ask a question. Is the problem all the empty homes Detroit has ( no TAXs coming in) To pay for FD emergency services. When people compare Detroit to FDNY it looks like NY gets lots of grant money, LA & NY have a better TAX base to pay for Fire Rigs being in service. I just think Detroit has a terrible TAX rate coming in. Has not most of its factory gone are just shells of empty buildings, Just asking. In my area a big Airline manufacturer company kept a huge chunk of land next to a city boundary The county FD would respond right past a city FD to the Airlines big building, all because the company knew that the TAXs were cheaper keeping the land in the county. The company had its own Fire Department at the Airport that they owned.

[@scottayar5136]

We can’t spare tax payer money, on fire trucks and rescue equipment. Billionaires need to build there fancy stadiums, and move teams around. Fire trucks that can save lives are a back burner issue we to keep up Comerica park, and ford field two places that are empty most of the time that’s the cites backwards logic poor fire fighters so sickening.

[@ropinhorseman924]

Nothing New Unfortunately

[@mothman657]

Detroit is a broken city

[@tvscotty6287]

Good story. Your anchors have green halos around their heads. Virtual set?

[@brendaniebel1355]

313,in the D. Go figure 😢

[@andrewhb531]

Its Detroit.. Lol. "Bucket" LMAO

[@mmal7982]

this is a story run every five years or so. Nothing new here. DFD blamed issues on the older Towers (L6, L7 and L17) on the old manufacturer (Sutphen), so now what's the excuse? They run this stuff into the ground and have very poor maintenance. Not sure about the Squad 3 info - how come just that one and not the other squads? maybe run a two piece company with the old DFD delivery trucks!

[@robertbroughton1443]

This is obvious blatant mismanagement by Detroit City Leaders.

[@JohnJohnson-us3te]

Detroit Fire was once one of the premiere Fire Services in this Nation. However, just like it's city, the fire department is broken to a point of being unsafe. No way in Hell I'd work there or even live within 100 miles of that forsaken crap hole.

[@GT47179]

50 years of communism 😢

[@barroningram7286]

this statement just shows that some don't know what communism means 🙄

[@Watchout-b6y]

Just poor management by the city and fire department.

[@mmal7982]

Centrally planned from the highest levels, corruption, run down equipment, no money for necessities, everyone living in squalor, no incentive to perform well or improve, and attitude that the world is out to get you, long wait times for service. The D sounds like communism to me.@@barroningram7286

@@barroningram7286 yup, liberals like you never know what anything means

[@janehellendrung2123]

@@Watchout-b6ybbbg gvvgvyvyybyvvvyvyvyvyhhh; Hh. H h h h h h

[@AllenPortman]

Great for you exposing these kinds of shenanigans city administrators to to pull on for the most ignorant common citizens! So thank you Channel 4 for your investigative work!

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Karen Drew, wow! Ultra H_t in jeans!

[@brucearron8798]

Wellcome to detoilet baby 313