We’ve made it through another year, which means it’s time to once again pick my Top 10 Seattle Fire Responses! I had some great catches this year, including my largest response (23 units!), my first look at Air 260, and 4 catches of Seattle’s heavy rescue truck. Read on for more details on each catch, plus links to the original videos.
#10 – Tiller Drift
It’s always a pleasure to catch Ladder 8 going by, and this time around I got them doing a bit of “drifting” through the intersection. This is possible because a tiller’s rear wheels are steered independently of its front wheels.
Original video: https://youtu.be/fkItyBEKZYk
#9 – Fire Marshal arriving
Although I’ve spotted the Fire Marshal before, they’re still a fairly rare unit and this was the best/closest look I’ve gotten. Also, the door decal is new – it used to be a completely unmarked unit.
Original video: https://youtu.be/T-v3i4O7Ycs
#8 – New Medic units
Seattle got new Medic units this year. The Ford F-550s made by Horton replaced the E-450 Brauns that the aid units still use. I captured the two featured in this video, plus M1, M10 and M3.1
Medic 17: https://youtu.be/_7t8L7I4GeM
Medic 18: https://youtu.be/Hztjy6t7uBg
#7 – New Medical Supervisor unit (x3)
The Medical Service Officers (Medics 44 & 45) also scored new rigs this year. These 2020 Ford F-150s replace older Chevy Suburbans that they had been using. I captured M44 responding three times:
#6 – Three Tillers in a row!
These three were part of the biggest response I’ve filmed so far. I got 23 units going to a reported train derailment with hazmat and fire. The units were initially dispatched the the south side of the ship canal – I caught them while they were relocating to the north side, which resulted in some nice convoy action. The call turned out to be a false alarm, caused by smoking brakes on the train.
Original video: https://youtu.be/lXVYxfZNTY4
#5 – Air 260 arriving
After seeing Air 240 several times last year, I caught Air 260 for the first time this year. Air 260 is one of two cascade air units operated by SFD – they carry air bottes, and are capable of refilling them in the field. Air 260 is a 2003 E-One Typhoon.
Original video: https://youtu.be/T-v3i4O7Ycs
#4 – Rescue 1 Aerial
This is only the second time I’ve caught Rescue 1 Aerial, Seattle’s only non-tiller ladder in service. R1A responds with Rescue 1 to fires, and for calls where R1 is acting as a normal truck company.
Original video: https://youtu.be/a0zhqj9RAgE
#3 – Rescue 1 responding (x4!)
Seattle’s Rescue 1 is a beautiful rig, and I managed to catch it 4 times this year – more than any year past!
#2 – Hazmat Task Force
I have the worst luck when trying to catch the Hazmat truck! Last year, it turned off it’s lights just before reaching me, and on another call I was too late so I only got it on dashcam. This year, my only viewing of it was through my car window, as I’d just parked when the convoy came blasting by. Oh well, it’s definitely better than nothing.
Original video: https://youtu.be/lXVYxfZNTY4
#1 – A very busy intersection!
My last big catch of the year was for a fire just a few blocks away from me. I got a lot of units, but the highlight was this bit where 5 SFD units and 1 SPD unit came through the same intersection in just over a minute.
Original video: https://youtu.be/L6t_FDm2Aks
That’s all for this year – a huge thanks to all of you for watching, subbing and commenting. Happy New Year, and here’s hoping 2022 is better than 2020 and 2021 were!
Clip listing:
0:00 – #10 – Tiller Drift
0:20 – #9 – Fire Marshal arriving
0:38 – #8 – New Medic units
0:58 – #7 – New Medical Supervisor unit (x3)
1:27 – #6 – Three Tillers in a row!
1:44 – #5 – Air 260 arriving
2:05 – #4 – Rescue 1 Aerial
2:19 – #3 – Rescue 1 responding (x4!)
3:08 – #2 – Hazmat Task Force
3:30 – #1 – A very busy intersection!
4:39 – My Face
7:00 – Outro
Outro music: Auld Lang Syne, by E’s Jammy Jams, via the YouTube audio library.