02/15/12 120 W, 1 I - + 3 - 4 Burning Truck Versus ABC Store in Brunswick County
WECT posted this photo of last night's vehicle fire slash structure fire in Boiling Springs Lake in Brunswick County. An ABC store on George II Highway caught fire after a pickup truck on fire struck the building Tuesday night. The elderly driver was transported, though with no report on his condition. The building suffered significant water and smoke damage to the front. Plus fire damage. Observe the articulating platform also shown in the photo. If memory serves, someone has a Bronto Sky-Lift down that way. Is it Sunny Point FD? Not many "snorkels" still in service in our state, either vintage or being bought new.
Chris Grace/WECT photo
You are right about sunny point having one, not sure if another one is in that county but there are several nice Ariel devices there.
robert - 02/15/12 - 18:11
I recall the rarity of NC “snorkels” being a blog subject of the past. Asheboro(Randolph County) has a 1966(or thereabout) model snorkel still in service. May be one of the older “snorkels” that is still active in NC. Just a random piece of trivia…
ol' snork - 02/15/12 - 18:48
Here are some of the prior blog snorkel threads…
http://www.legeros.com/ralwake/photos/we..
http://www.legeros.com/ralwake/photos/we..
http://www.legeros.com/ralwake/photos/we..
Legeros - 02/15/12 - 19:44
The aerial device shown in the picture is not a Snorkel simply because the lower boom would be on the opposite side of the truck whereas the one in the photo is not.
RescueRanger - 02/15/12 - 23:32
Pierce Sky-Arm, perhaps?
Legeros - 02/15/12 - 23:33
The City of Washington had an ALF Snorkel until maybe five years ago when they purchased a Pierce platform. The snorkel now resides at Chocowinity VFD just on the other side of the Pamlico River. If memory serves, Washington “donated” the Snorkel to CVFD and helps out financially to perform maintenance on the piece with some sort of agreement in place that if Washington’s ladder goes down or the Snorkel is needed in town for another alarm, Choco will bring it for service.
I’ll confirm that, but that’s pretty close.
Duda (Email) - 02/16/12 - 09:21
And, obviously, all articulating platforms are not created equal. Snorkel is a bit of shorthand, but is best used to describe such aerials where the second/smaller boom is above the larger/first boom. Bronto Sky-Lifts are the reverse, with the second/smaller boom underneath, and the bucket straddling the booms midway on the apparatus. Pierce Sky-Arms are platform ladders with a second articulating section at the end, that lowers Sky-Lift style. Heck, go back in time, and there were a couple three boom brands built. The Calavar Firebird, and one made or mounted by Seagrave, come to mind.
Legeros - 02/16/12 - 09:31
Wonder what will become of the smoke coated soldiers that survived the fire? All those poor 10, 12, 15, and 20-year olds.
Chief Otis Campbell - 02/16/12 - 10:04
Rocky Mount had an ALF Snorkel, and I’m purdy sure it remained in their reserve fleet until recently when the new ladder 10 was placed in service and ladder 20 was moved to reserve. If memory serves me right it would run 55MPH, up hill, down hill, highway or driveway, put it on the floor 55 was the constant speed.
Galav,VA - 02/16/12 - 21:36
That would be Sunny Point’s.
Andrew - 02/17/12 - 17:30