Ride Along - 2nd Busiest Firehouse in the U.S.A.
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- Опубликовано: 20 июн 2023
- According to Firehouse Magazine's National Run Survey, Wichita Kansas Firehouse 1 is the second busiest firehouse in the U.S.A. with 5 units responding to a combined total of 28,755 incidents in 2021. A Battalion Chief, Engine, Truck, Squad, Mobile Air Unit and Fire Investigation Unit are housed here.
I spent the day riding with Truck 1 to numerous calls across the Downtown portion of Wichita. Lt. Griffin and his crew were phenomenal!
I’m in Chicago and I would not of thought of Wichita being a badass department. Very aggressive with a lot of old school vibes. I love it.
Keep in mind, Wichita is the aircraft manufacturing capital of the world. Bombardier/Learjet, Textron's Cessna and Beechcraft divisions, and Spirit AeroSystems are all headquartered in Wichita; Kamen and Collins have major operations there; and numerous smaller outfits, suppliers and skilled technicians of every collar color also call it home. Furthermore, energy extraction still has a significant local footprint, as well as renewable manufacturing and, of course, agriculture. But I get what you're saying--advanced technology is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Kansas (neither does Alabama and the space program, but Huntsville and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in fact exist there nonetheless) or a fire department equipped to handle all the curveballs such a diverse manufacturing environment can throw at it. Fact is, however, anyone who visits Wichita will have a Dorothy moment: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
@@franklewis6943 thanks for that, I learned something new about Wichita. I was more leaning on, I’ve been in the fire service for most of my life. Born and raised Chicago and worked fire out in the Phoenix area in Arizona. And I never thought of this department being so aggressive like Detroit and just a badass group of people that treat every alarm like a fire. With what the LT said, Fire Alarms are there to detect fire, I’ve never thought of it that way. 99% are just false alarms and sometimes you get surprised. That mind set needs to be taught more in the fire service and every alarm even false could be a great “dry run” to practice apparatus placement and hose deployment. From what the first video showed is that this department finds fire a lot. Just great to see this department in action and can’t wait for more.
@@Jamesott86 Oh, I hear you. WFD reached out many years ago with a job offer and my first thought was, "Kansas? No thanks. I need action in my life." Since then, with the benefit of having spent some time with guys in the department, learning their mindset and watching how they treat every call as a training opportunity, I know better now. Wichita has a top-notch department, and the variety of jobs they work belies what one would assume from a city its size. The rescue and hazmat companies alone would put to shame those of many larger departments. Spot on about using every call as a training opportunity, too. It may be a medical today, but tomorrow might be a worker. The best time to develop a game plan for the latter is before you need one, taking a few minutes when you have them to figure out what you need to do when there aren't seconds to spare. There's always something to learn on this call that will help on the next, and line officers should never pass on the opportunity. Eric rode with Truck 1 in this video, so it can be something as simple as a first-due engine figuring out where to spot his rig so it doesn't interfere with a truck's ability to fly its stick. It's having a handle on the small things that makes the big ones easier to manage, and that's a matter of training.
As for WFD finding fire, however, not so much: I dug into the Firehouse 2021 National Run Survey numbers and the department responded to 1861 actual fire calls out of 54,375 total calls; or, roughly 3.5%; or, just over 5 fires per day, spread over 166mi^2 covered by 22 stations. I can't put a number on how many of them Station 1 handled but any number definitely pales in comparison to Chicago's 226,465. And, yes, I know, CFD reports it as a fire if they so much as deploy a water can to snuff out a smoldering piece of toast while other departments don't unless they charge a hose but, still . . . 226,465?! That's over 30k more than the next four departments--LA City and County, Houston, and Philly--in the top-5 combined.
Who did the welding on that fire truck!! The roll cage looked shocking!! Like a melted red crayon. 😬
Oh just to add, fire truck great let’s fit a fidget spinner on the front but block the view of the top lights with bull horns 😆
@@bigcahoonaburger8550 ruclips.net/video/B34DmsMxUlA/видео.html
A fireman’s fire department! Love the combat ready mentality and using each call as a training moment. Look at the hose on the rig and how it is packed and you can tell what kind of department it is!
It’s called the Denver load.
When I was a fireman, that LT's thoughts were the same as mine. A fire alarm system is there to detect the presence of fire or an emergency condition.
Stating the obvious
@@Misdirecting It was astounding the number of neighboring departments that wouldn't wear a stitch of gear to alarms. One department generally didn't respond unless someone on scene could confirm an emergency.
@@chrisnorden8043 MY old department has turned into this. Wait for PD to verify. It's a shame because we were fairly aggressive when I was in and would treat them as working fires, stretching lines and all. It was good practice. Now it's a non emergent response if they even leave the bay at all. Our chiefs philosophy was it's better to have and not need than need and not have but once statistics came out about apparatus crashes and LODDs related to it he seemed to have changed.
@@chrisnorden8043it’s the same for me. I work F&ES on a military base and no shit one of my captains responded to a supervisory alarm on an electric scooter because the barracks were right behind the fire station
yea but the problem is the city leaders and the budget gurus... they look at those "alarm sounding" calls and see, for example, that 98% of those calls are activated due to a system malfunction and not a fire... right away they're thinking why we are always sending a full 1st alarm assignment to these calls that almost always end up as a system malfunction call... the same issue happens with those ADT type burglar alarms... more system malfunctions... in some cities the cops are automatically dispatched to those automatic alarm calls along with that firms private security officers... in my home city of milwaukee several years ago the police chief announced that the milwaukee police dept would no longer be sending officers to those automatic alarms until the private security officers can verify that there is an actual situation to respond to... i guess it was getting so bad with the cops chasing ghost alarm calls and it was taking the resources away from REAL calls
Honestly impressed. Had no idea that Wichita had a badass FD. Love the fact that these guys are still running around as Blue collar firemen.
Everyone is tough, spare me. City work is 1% the workload of wildland firefighters.
@@maxsmith695I have nothing but respect for wildland firefighters…but that’s one hell of an ignorant comment.
@@michaelcannon3978 Thanks.
Great to see such a well trained and professional fire department. Judging by this and the Rescue 1 video, it's unfortunate that the City of Wichita has let their fire stations deteriorate. Firefighters everywhere deserve better living conditions.
Absolutely agree. And combined bunks with at least no partitions is kind of unacceptable
Actually, more than half of Wichita's 23 firehouses are younger than 30 years old (and one of them is a tent, so it doesn't count). That said, Station 4 (home of Rescue 1) is one of them, built in 2003--along with 7, 10, 13 and 19--so you sort of have a point. Not that Wichita has let their stations deteriorate but that they weren't designed with appropriate firefighter accommodations to begin with.
@@franklewis6943 Definitely poorly designed, but I saw a few things that could be upgraded. Good info from you so thank you.
Nope. They live at home and work at the station
@@pendoreille9185 Nope. They work a standard 24 on/48 off schedule. Or perhaps you mean something different by the "live" vs. "work" distinction?
Love seeing Griff, he's a great guy. He was one of the WFD guys that came down to assist my fd when Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in 2021. I'll have to make a trip to visit them soon.
What a small world. Griff is awesome, wish I could work with him more often.
As a junior firefighter in high school and volunteer firefighter I love the passion shown from their love of their station and what they do.
Love that your starting off young, keep at it
I started as a Junior 40 years ago this year. You already have the love in your heart, just keep everything in perspective and willingly learn everything you can from anyone willing to teach you and worth learning from.
Love the way this department thinks. Treat it as if it's real from the start. If it's not, or if it's minor, use it for a training op. -- ALWAYS better to be over ready, than under ready !!
that was incredible how she dispatched all those units with out catching a breath around 16:11
A good dispatcher is worth their weight in gold. A lot of people discredit them, but having one that's good at their job makes ours easier.
Firefighter for 18 yrs, im so impressed with this dept, treated every call as a working fire, a lot of depts don’t do that, my dept is one of those, I wish we did, and using the false alarms as training opportunity on the ladder truck, well trained dept, much respect
Alot of depts don't do it because it's completely unnecessary. No need to ladder a roof and take 300ft of high-rise pack into an obvious alarm drop. We don't even run lights and sirens to alarm drops unless we're first due.
We never turn out to false alarms. We respond to fires & sometimes we return from false alarms. Only politician & accountants see it the other way.
You don’t turn out to fire alarms?
Not very smart, I’ve seen several fire alarms turn into working fires,
Always best to be ready to go, but each dept has its own way.
I don’t agree with laying down an attack line when it’s obvious no fire but … or roofing the ladder… but I do have respect for them for doing so
I was a firefighter in Dyersburg, Tennessee and now live in Chicago. I want to wish all of the 1st responders a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless and stay safe.
Thanks for taking us along. God bless all the Firemen.
I used to work for the City of Wichita in the IT department and got to visit this fire house once to fix a network issue. Great bunch of guys, pretty cool looking firehouse!
Love your first two videos! Can't wait to see more as they come! Thanks!
Thanks for taking us along. God bless all the Firemen. . Well done! Love to see that Wichita commitment!.
That's almost 79 calls a day!! That is crazy. What a well trained group. Very impressive.
I think if you have so many calls, the fire department is too small and needs to have at least two extra trucks and engines.
@@Volleyoghurt agreed. its almost insane to have that many. youd expect New York or LA to have the busiest Fire station. but Wichita? surely its not by population size, but a lack of fire stations. nothing taken away from the work these guys do. but thats too high for a single hall from a policy standpoint
Yea in Philly we don't even write runs in the book if it's not a stricture fire and our North Philly station averages a structure with atleast 20 mins of 1 3/4 homelike to count as a job, we don't count auto's because they are used in crimes all the time. We just rolled up for man down in Park and it was double execution. INFERs are so behind because there are to many. Plus we have so many medic units and we only go if a medic unit is not within mile or so or if it's a code blue, shooting or accident do these guys are counting all thier medical runs.. you can keep that . I can walk outside the firehouse in North Philly and see 10 shoe runs on the street from the Aprin. We have a Chinese liquor store on our corner we have so many murders on our cameras outside the station that the detectives leave thier email and don't even come in anymore.
Love that Mars spinner light on Truck 1! I gave my parents a tour of that station back in the 90's, including the 8pm "alarm test". Great memories
Engine 6 in Newark FD’s 4th Battalion used to be the busiest in NJ and most of the NY/Newark metro area. It held that title for years. Hats off to you guys.🇺🇸
looking at these INFLATED COMBINED RUNS BY SIX COMPANY'S ASSIGNED HERE......READ INTO THE BS.....E 6 in Newark clearly fights more fires and more runse than this poduck kansas firehouse.
And NO EMS!! Strictly fire duty.
Man... it's amazing to see the investments that South Metro puts in to their stations compared to this and many other agencies.
Eric keep these videos coming , absolutely amazing , amazing camera work and amazing team of fire fighters
Much appreciated!
The content we all needed on RUclips please keep it up
Interesting to know!! I'm a transplant from Phoenix. My wife wanted to move back home to Wichita. I knew many firefighters in Phoenix and Mesa. My daughter interned with social services for Glendale FD. I would have never thought the station was the 2nd busiest station. Enjoyed this!
Very cool, thanks for watching!
Had the chance to stop by station 5 earlier this month and the crew were amazing. Got a call while there and got cut short but they were awesome
Great match! Great to see a couple of high ranking belts moving, transitioning, trying to secure grips & positions, really cool!!
WICHITA KANSAS BADASS FIRE FIGHTERS!! HOMETOWN HERO'S. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YALL DO FOR OUR GREAT CITY!! STAY SAFE OUT THERE. 😎👍🙏🙏
Bad ass way to run a fire crew! I wish all fire company’s ran their operations like you guys do!!!
The original fire station dating back to the late 1800's was right off Main St., catty corner from the old Library. It faced the North and had (10) apparatuse stalls, beginning with horse drawing units in the early days. The original building was constructed with lime rock. Unfortunately, that part of the building is long gone...but there is the remaining building that housed the police department and first court house again, in the late 1800's to the 1920's. This was the main fire station for the downtown area of Wichita. There were smaller one and two stall fire houses built on the outskirt neighborhoods. The city was much much smaller in that era.
Wichita has a GREAT fire department museum located on Broadway St. just south of Kellogg Ave. (also known as 54 Highway) about (2) blocks on the Eastside of the street.
Nice arrangement. Thank you for your service.
Thanks for your service firefighters, great job!
Well done! Love to see that Wichita commitment!
Eric, I’m watching again for the ?? time! Awesome video of an awesome FD! Some of us really appreciate these videos, keep on putting these out!!
Thank you for showing RIDE along. ❤ How the crew puts the HOSE lengths on there backs on top of AIRPACKS, great idea for carrying 50 foot lengths 😊. Treating even fire alarm calls as possible Fire. Great idea for preventing extension of FIRE. You are saving property damage and rebuild if it was a WORKING fire. Big shout out to your Truck crew and Lt. 😊😊
Awesome video, and especially being from Kansas this was really neat to see how Wichita runs their department. My dad retired several years ago after 26 years on the Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical in Lawrence, KS. Would love to see a video filmed here from Station 5 on The University of Kansas campus. Pretty busy and really cool area. Great video again!
Not my home town but my home state... I grew up just up the road in Hutchinson. Now as a vff in a small town still here in Kansas I thank you Eric for what you do. 1 day I hope to meet you in person and shake your hand.
Worked 1992 to 2006 Fire, Rescue and EMS in South Africa and we had beautiful fire trucks and equipment from the USA. E-One Rescue pumper GMC, A Ford custom cab medium pumper also E-one. We would sit watch-room as a new recruit. Done Firefighter 1 and 2 and Hazmat. That station is as old as me... Wow brings back memories of our old station.
Great videos Eric! All your videos are well done and also extremely educational! Keep them coming!
Thank you so much!
I feel safer here in Wichita knowing these professionals are protecting us!! Amazing work! Thank you for all that you do!
This is amazing style show you put together no big sponsors to make happy just a true show a true on a show I love it
Having family in Wichita, I actually took a video of Reserve Engine 106, on July 3rd of last year, responding from a different firehouse on the west side of town if I remember correctly. I have two cousin's that are nurses there, and one of them married a WPD officer. I, when my father was still on Hays Fire, would all of the time record their responses, always looking for great catches. Another great video Eric, thanks!
Thanks Eric This video Ride along is Cool 😎👍👍 I enjoyed seeing all the aspects of this Firehouse and the calls you went out on with them 👍👍 Thanks for starting this ***
Just found your channel its awesome brilliant videos thanks for guys girls in fire stations do fantastic work 👍🇬🇧
Great video. I had the privilege to have Griff as my instructor at hutch fire science school. He is best of the best.
Great content Eric, keep them coming hopefully from different departments across the country!
I spent most of 2 decades as a news photog…dad a 2x retired PD brass, bro a former flight nurse working on NP.
We’ve all seen a lot. I’m 4 hrs away from Wichita…crazy to think 2nd most…but subbed.
That's quite a career! I can only imagine the things you've seen and experienced. Thanks for watching!
Love the channel Eric! Great work.
It’s great to use fire alarms as training IF it doesn’t hamper response times to other emergent calls. Not sure I would stretch lines if it isn’t needed … but I can certainly see the benefits of throwing the aerial up if it’s a structure / hazard the department hasn’t had much experience with recently. But I wouldn’t lock up the only first due ladder and engines to “drill” on every call without prior scheduled coverage if that’s what you want to do.
Awesome videos so real and raw love it!
This is pretty awesome. I grew up down the street from WFD Station 5, right by Wesley Hospital. I haven’t lived in Wichita for years, being in Chicago now but this is cool to see
Seems crazy that one of the busiest fire stations is in a Wichita Kansas!
It all depends on the population and the # of stations (with other factors thrown in) served. If Station 1 has a very large, populated run area and they are running multiple companies that will increase the run volume. Especially if they don't have a lot of truck companies. This would mean that Truck 1 would run a lot of calls out of their first due. If they are like the department I retired from, then 80% of their calls are medical aid calls and this adds up fast; especially if they have a large homeless population.
Very astute observations. That’s exactly the situation at FH1
Eric I just wanna say that I love these videos keep ‘em coming and stay safe brother
Thank you so much!
I'm in Wichita all the time. Had no idea these guys go so hard.
Another awesome video! I just love it! Keep up the great videos and take care!
Keep this going Eric!!!! Loving this!!!
Thank you!
Thanks again awesome episode!
Outstanding, absolutely outstanding.
Very Cool Eric. I look forward to more of your videos along with your South Metro work. We watched your press conference on the Highlands Ranch tornado today, very good work.
Thank you so much!
I do like how investigators are on the initial run, on duty, rather than on call. Fairfax county in Northern Virginia does this.
That house is huge. Seems like a great crew I might have to do a ride along if I ever come out that way. I love visiting other departments when I travel and ever given the opportunity to ride i pack my gear with me 😂.
Another great ride along!!!
It’s amazing how people perform when a camera is recording them and there are many ways to fudge run numbers to make it appear you’re busier than you really are.
Chickens can claim they are busy all day just walking in circles.
Walk around with a piece of paper in your hand and you can look busy.
With no shitbox in their quarters too! I'm thinking if the Engine, Truck, Chief, Rescue go on the same run, they count it as 4 runs.
We love to hear your story. Thank you for video it
I know you are out of the Denver area and were probably just in the area to do these, but I would love to see others with Kansas departments like McPherson (maybe too small), Salina(again), or KCMO and KCK. its always interesting to see ride alongs professionally done like this, as you get a better idea of the station life as well, beyond just the trucks en-route to calls. Really doesn't matter where at, but I would loe to see more content like this, whether it be in Kansas, Texas, or around the Denver area.
Just tell Eric he can chase tornado’s while he’s down there too and he will go anywhere.
My man tells no lies.
Thanks for your suggestions! I'm sure I'll be back in Kansas again in the near future.
@@Adventure-us Oh hell. Did Eric just get a new nickname? "Tornado" has a ring to it, no?
@@franklewis6943I could see Eric as a tornado chaser… though that doesn’t quite add up with my math… my names Eric, there’s always at least once a year usually around August/September a tornado where ever I am or at the end of the, sometimes both. Must be the curse of our name (in a good(ish?) way)!
Thank you Eric this is a awesome video I love all of your videos eric
Great video! Nice job! Thanks for sharing.
I love seeing more of your awesome content
One thing I noticed as they were backing the truck back in was the compartment with their RIT gear was clearly marked. Very smart thing just in case things go sideways.
Can't wait for more!
Nice hustle there gentleman!
Fu*& yea Wichita! Get some! These guys are on it, reminds me of my depart in MD!
I was a big city fireman. As a probie I was always expected to show up to fire alarms in full gear with my designated tools in hand. So many times the senior guys would show up just in their bunker pants, with no tools. Then we get into the building and find smoke and they look like complete fools and have to run to the truck to get their gear.
This is amazing brother and i know its easy for me to sit behind a keyboard and ask this but it would be incredible if you could possibly travel around and ride with other departments love to see the different thought processes fireman have and dept cultures thank you again
Thank you for watching and that is exactly my plan! I've been visiting some unique places and I'll be riding long with one of the busiest in a few weeks.
dude, keep up this work, this channel is going to be fucking amazing in no time!!!!! all the best from a german EMT and firefighter
Thank you!
2nd busiest station? I assume there are not many stations in Wichita as I would think L.A., NY, Chicago, S.F. would be in that conversation. The grind continues.
Firefighter for 32 years in a fully paid department. I can see the value in larger departments with plenty of manpower showing up on a first alarm and I also understand that complacency is counterproductive but that said, throwing the stick and carrying in all that hose and gear for every automatic alarm is a bit much. I know you can always "scale back" but the majority of times the system is set off by steam from a shower, someone smoking where they shouldn't be, a minor issue with the heating system or even a spider in a smoke detector.
I worked with an inept deputy chief who suddenly, out of the blue, said when we pull up on the ladder he wants that stick up in the air ready to go. Knowing how much of a spaz this guy was whenever he saw real flame or smoke I knew he had seen it on some video and got a hard on for it. Apparently he did see FDNY doing that and thought hey, why not make my ladder crew of three get off at every call, MANUALLY set the outriggers and throw the stick and tie up the crew even when the engine crew just needs a smoke fan in a basement window for a blowback. He was so reactionary he was pathetic and he would often order a stream thrown into a window where fire was coming out...incapably unaware he had crews inside pushing the fire out. I've been retired three years now ans thinking of the idiocy of this man still makes me angry!
Again, don't get complacent BUT with years comes experience and the majority of the time a decent officer and crew can pretty much know when to turn it up and when to slow down and size up first. To me, this is wasted effort every call.
Thank you!
Eric I’m proud with this channel!
Thanks!
This channel is going to be awesome
With young crews, treating the automatic fire alarms as practice is a great way to train.
Love the longhorns on the truck.
Congrats Eric on your own RUclips Channel! I have seen you in many South Metro videos. This was a very well documented video. I served in the fire service for about 7 years as a Vol. FF. Those bull horns on the truck were something I’ve never seen haha. Pretty cool.
Looking forward to more videos.
Thank you!
Loving these vids! You should come to overland park or shawnee and do a ride along would be awesome to watch!
Sounds like a very will ran fire department. Using each call for training is awesome. Not waiting tell you need something can save property and lives.
Love your content Eric. Big hello from the Byron Fire Protection District in Byron Illinois!
Thank you!
👍... apparatus photographer 1955-2020,lived in Wheaton 1985-87,shot 90 suburban depts & highlights of shooting Byron, braidwood rigs, Fancy apparatus & friendly folks...stay safe from MN 🥶
I was in Wichita just a few months for a Journey concert (see my vid) and I stayed at that very hotel at the 1:00 mark. I had NO IDEA Wichita was so damn big and I had NO CLUE that this department was so dang busy! I walked right by that station the day before just getting a lay of the land, I honestly thought that station only had 6 or 7 calls a day if that. NOTHING HAPPENS IN KANSAS....at least that's what I thought. GREAT VIDEO BTW!!!
Excellent quality and great 's authentic and genuine! I love this 100% effective method for this game so unique and for sharing.
Wichita getting it done! Good Job fellas!
Awesome video. Thanks
Great content ... stay safe yall
Love your videos
My hometown! I’m hoping I can get my foot in the door after medic school, I work at the hospital and I love the energy and mentality of WFD!!
Great video my man!
Nice one Eric, liked and shared 🧑🏻👍🏻🚒
Great content!
Well damn. These guys are badasses!
This fire officer is a true leader. 👍👍
Another great video.
This is an outstanding video 👍🏻👍🏻
I loved the look you got from Lt Griff when you said it was a good thing you forgot how many runs you were on that day... 😂
A well oiled machine. Great to see
Strong work men. Stay safe