Fire Engines Photos

would appear that this ' combi ' lasted much longer than certain other combis!!! . she still looks good despite her age.

Added by Stevie Murray on 08 January 2009.

Stevie, there were a lot of critics about when this design rolled off the line. I forget how many were produced but then as now, the idea was unpopular and didn't catch on. Some of us saw it as a waste of a good Dennis!

Added by John Stott on 09 January 2009.

I am curious - what was the story, on these Simon Snorkels (HPs), on your side of the Atlantic ?

Obviously, with no built-in ladder - any kind of power or hydraulic failure, would mean that the Bucket Crew either had to rappel down, or hoist their lunch up with the rope.

And, you need a good-sized truck, which, with the overhang would mean problems on tight, narrow roads.....

This side; Rural or Small-Town Fire Depts, that have only Ground Ladders - have been known, at major fires, "to borrow" the local Electricity Power or Telephone Utility boom-trucks, and get hoses going up in their buckets, for Elevated Master Streams, otherwise unobtainable.....

Mind you, today, with NFPA Standards, Protocols, etc... the Health & Safety Committees/"Ambulance-Chaser" Lawyers would be having kittens/ rubbing their hands in glee.....now, have to hope for a Mutual Aid neighbor that's got an Aerial Truck.

USA-wise, Chicago, Illinois, Fire Dept put the Snorkel (aka Pitman's Giraffe) in service 14 Oct 1958, in time for the awful 01 December 1958 Our Lady of the Angels School Fire.

Some 1200 kids in the old building and a bunch of factors - out-dated "fire-trap", no SCBA's, etc - 92 kids and 3 nuns didn't make it out. But the CFD Snorkel No 1 [HP] did a great job on scene, and you can see it operating in the images "Battling the Blaze" at:

www.olafire.com/GalleryCat.asp

The aftermath was considerable.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B


Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 31 January 2009.

Research into these type of apppliances is on going at this present time to try
and find out exactly how many there were.Many will know that they were not just
on Dennis body/chassis, but also ERF, AEC, Ford, Bedford and Dodge appliances.
At this time, 40 have been found that operated with 33 brigades in the UK.
I will send picture in of another in presevation with a breakdown of brigades
that have been found at this time to have operated them in due course.

Added by Pete Matten on 01 February 2009.

Pat R_B, I've been lost for hours at that site you quoted above regards the shocking school fire of '58 in Chicago, every fire fighters nightmare, , , ,

Added by Pav on 03 February 2009.

Sligo had the first one on the run in Eire. LEI 999 a Dennis F48/Dennis/Simon SS50 went on the run I think in 1973. Saw her in 2003 at the side of Sligo station awaiting restoration. Another two Dennis F48/Dennis versions are at Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrin KIT 549 and at Cavan Town EIS 950.

Added by Andy Middleton on 19 November 2009.

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