10-26: The 2004 JPFD Fire Wire Archive           
March 1, 2004: After close to a year of being out of their home, the members of Station 13 (and the firehouses where Station 13 members stayed during the renovations) are happy to have things return to normal. In the near future; however, change is still evident.  Apparatus rotation, new personnel, and improved facilities await the department in the months and years to come.  Stay tuned for the latest developments on this and other news within the department.
May 26, 2004: Around 12am firefighters from station 11,12,19, and 140 (A) responded to a reported house fire at the corner of Scott and Lurline Dr.  Firemen arrived to find light smoke coming from a one story wood frame (right).  During extinguishment, firefighters discovered that the house was a crime scene.  In the days to come, the home owner's son would be arrested for beating his father to death, and setting his house on fire to cover up the murder.
June 1, 2004: Around 4:15pm E198, L117, and S169 (B) responded to a six car accident w/ reports of fire on the Huey P. Long Bridge. E198 arrived on the scene, determined the fire was out, and canceled the ladder truck.  Thankfully there were no serious injuries. The crew from E198 put sand on the road deck and waited for wreckers to clear the scene.
June 16, 2004: Around 2:30pm E118,E198, L117, and HM-10 were called to a reported wreck at Jefferson Highway and Clearview Pkwy.  Firefighters  found a tank truck leaking liquid sulfur.  S169, DC140, Public  Information, and Safety were called to the scene. Check out the On Scene Section for the rest of the story...Updated pictures of the Public Information Officer's car and the Safety Officer's car have been added.  Click here to see them.
Back in Business
Squad Switches Stations
March 12, 2004: Rescue Squad 159 was recently switched to station 16. So far squad 169 will only roll on working structure fires and serious accidents.
Firefighter Extravaganza; Station 15; New Committees
March 30, 2004: A fireman's fair will be held at Blue Bayou in Baton Rouge,LA on April 3 and 4 from 10am-9pm. All proceeds from the event will benefit plans for a new firefighter's memorial in Baton Rouge which will honor Louisiana's fallen firemen. For more info. go to the Louisiana State Fireman's Association website, or click here.  At the March 31st Jefferson Parish Council meeting, council members will decide whether or not to accept the lowest bid of 1.3 million from J.A. Jack Julius, Jr.,Inc. for the construction of JPFD Station 15.  In other news, several committees have been formed in order to talk about the future of the department. These groups will talk about issues such as replacing the quints in the JPFD fleet and rebuilding station 12 in a new location.  It is unclear what final impact these discussions will have on the future of the department. Stay tuned for the latest news.
New Pictures
April 4, 2004: New pictures have been added of the department's new Pierce Dash pumper seen to the right (in service as Engine 178) of the water rescue course. The course will help firefighter's to be prepared when a water rescue occurs. New equipment to help firemen rescue a person in distress has been added to every truck in the department. Check out the On Scene Section to see pictures from the class.   A picture of the assistant  superintendent's new car has been added. Click here to see it. Station 17's page has also been updated to reflect the new piece of apparatus that was recently placed into service.  April 5th was a busy day for B platoon. Around 4am Stations 16 and 17 received a call about a house fire in the 4700 blck. of Harris Avenue (below).  Firefighters found a garage fire and quickly suppressed it before it could reach the attached house. Around 5:30am Stations 15 and 18 responded to a call of a hot water heater fire. Again firemen were able to stop the fire. Station 19 will soon see a ladder company in its bay doors. The truck will eventually be placed into service as ladder 197, and HM-10 will be moved to another station most likely station 14. Stay tuned for the latest iinformation about the department.
Ladder Demos;New Supt.; Station 19
June 6, 2004: In the search for a new 100 foot ladder, members of the ladder committee are giving fire apparatus companies a chance to  show off their trucks.  More companies are scheduled to demonstrate their products; however, Ferrara and E-One have already done so...The search for a new superintendent for the Jefferson Parish Fire Department should end within the next couple of weeks.  After  taking all of the applications that were submitted by the April 16th, 2004 deadline, department officials have narrowed the search down from 23 applicants to 10 to 6...There is no word on when the new squad will go into service...Station 19 may see a new home in the future. This scenario may be similar to that of  station 12; however, if station 19 is moved/rebuilt it may become a three bay station house...Both 140 and 160 have received brand new 2004 Ford Expeditions. District Chief 140's SUV has been added to the JPFD Vehicles page, (Click here to see the picture) and District Chief 160's SUV will be added soon.  DC 140's 1998 Ford has gone into the reserves and DC 160's has been sent to surplus to be sold...A page has been added to track the progress of the new station 15. Currently the land is being cleared...Pictures have been added from 814 Pasadena and from the overturned truck on Jefferson Hwy. Check out the On Scene Section to see them.
Gruesome Discovery
Six Car Accident Ties up Huey for Hours
Wreck at Foot of Huey Snarls Traffic; Pictures Added
October 4, 2004: This year's fire prevention week's theme is "Test Your Smoke Alarms." Officials generally recommend that people should change their smoke detector  batteries whenever they change their clocks for daylight savings time. Make sure that your detector works, and if you do not have one contact your local fire department for more information on obtaining a device.  For more information fire prevention week, please click here to be directed to the NFPA website.
November 22, 2004:  The JPFD has launched an ambitious plan to upgrade and replace its aging engine houses over the next couple of years.  As mentioned earlier on this site, Station 16 will receive a new home.  In addition to this replacement, Station 17 will also have a new home. Both stations will be rebuilt at their existing locations.  In order to improve response times, a new station (Station 10) will be constructed on Hudson near EJ Hospital.  The Parish has purchased 2 tracts of land.  Stations 11  and 19 will also be renovated as part of this plan.  At the November 17th Council meeting, council members had two items on their agenda which were related to these two station renovations.  Resolution #102266 required the Council to select a firm (possibly N-Y Associates, Inc.) for architectural services related to renovations of Station 11.  Resolution # 102288 required the firm of Linfield, Hunter, and Julius, Inc. to list all of the subcontractors and people involved with Station 19 renovations as required by resolution # 101506.  These improvements along with recent and future apparatus upgrades will help to solidify the department as a true Class 1 organization...At the November 17th council meeting, the council agreed to allow Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. to construct 3 midmount tower ladders.  As stated earlier on this site, the first two of these trucks will be in service by May.  The final truck should arrive later in 2005...The department is considering returning to the two squad system.  This could require the hazmat to operate as a rescue squad. For now the department operates one rescue squad, located at Station 16...Interviews for a new rookie class were recently conducted.  Look for this class to have about 15 people.  It should begin at the end of this month...Stay tuned to www.jpfd.net for the latest updates.
More Ladder Demos; New Construction Photos
July 11, 2004: Members of the ladder committee have had the chance to meet with reps. from more firetruck manufacturers. Sutphen and American Lafrance arrived after the companies listed previously to discuss what each had to offer to the department...Pictures have been added to the station 15 construction page. They show that pilings are being driven into the land.  Click here to see them...After months of bidding and preparation, the roof on station 18 is finally being replaced.
New Superintendent; New Ladder Specs.
August 11, 2004: After months of interviewing candidates from Ohio, Texas, and Louisiana, the Jefferson Parish Fire Department has finally chosen Jack Collier of Temple,Texas, to run the department. Collier becomes the 7th official superintendent to lead the department (eighth person including districts 1 and 2) since the department's inception in 1952...Specifications are being drawn up for a new 100 foot tower ladder. The new truck will be a mid-mount, which means the turntable will be directly behind the cab with the bucket facing towards the rear of the apparatus (as opposed to the front like the current 100 foot towers currently in service).  There is no word on where the truck will be placed, or when bidding will open...Station 18 recently appeared at the kickoff party for the National Night Out Against Crime. Pictures from the event will arrive soon. Stay tuned for the latest news in the department.
Squad 169 Finally Enters Service; Night Out Pics
Added
September 21, 2004:  After months and months of legal litigation and setbacks, squad 169 ,a 2003 Pierce Lance, finally entered service in August.  After being in service for only 10 minutes, squad 169 made its first fire on zenith, which turned out to be an apartment fire-one of two that day.  Check out the new apparatus page (under Extra Alarms) to see pictures that were taken October 15,2003  when the squad was first delivered to the department and graciously stored at Terrytown Volunteer Fire Department's station 51 on the westbank of Jefferson Parish.  Pictures have been added from the Night Out Against Crime night in which Station 18 and many other agencies participated (in the On Scene Section)...The new Station 15 is still on track.  Click here to see the pictures.
Fire Prevention Week
Ferrara Fits the Bill; Links Page Updated
November 3, 2004: After looking at demos and interviewing many of the major fire apparatus manufacturing companies, department officials have decided to purchase 2 100 foot midmount aerials with an option for an additional truck from Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc. located in Holden, Louisiana.  These trucks will replace the department's aging fleet of quints and possibly even a front line platform truck.  The switch to midmount platforms allows for greater maneuverability in close quartered streets.  Expected to be replaced are ladders 137 and 177.  Ladder 187 may be replaced in the near future with the add on option.  The next step is to gain the Parish Council's approval.  If all goes well, expect to see some of the trucks in service by the beginning of this summer...The links page has been redesigned to include more local and national links... Stay tuned for the latest developments in the department.
Station 10?!; New Recruits; Station Upgrades
Station 15 Coming Along; New Hose; Training Center
November 22, 2004: Station 15 has had its slab poured...The bids to redevelop the JPFD Training Center on the Westbank have been reopened and the previous contract has been canceled...Bids have opened to purchase 60 sections of 4 inch hose and 30 sections of 1 3/4 hose...Stayed tuned for the latest information.