A History of the Royal Lego Fire DepartmenT and its Apparatus
A History of the Apparatus of the RLFD
When the RLFD first came into existence, it operated a 1928 Seagraves pumper (Engine 3) and a Seagraves ladder truck (Truck 2) with the fire chief driving Car 1. The '28 Seagraves pumper and ladder were used until 1955 when the department was allocated a brand-new 1955 Crown Triple pumper and an American LaFrance mid-mount ladder. In 1972, the city had funds to rebuild the station and they did so in a three-bay pattern with a new ambulance. In 1975 a Ward LaFrance P-80 Ambassador was delivered to replace the Crown (old Engine 3), which was renamed Engine 5 and placed in an additional bay added to the station. In 1987, the Crown given to the city museum, leaving a vacancy at Engine 5. An 85' Crown Snorkel was purchased to replace the aging American LaFrance (Truck 2) in 1989. It was a few more years before a permanent replacement for Engine 5 would be found. Then, the department put a 1981 American LaFrance Century pumper into service as Engine 3 in 1985. Finally in 1996, a 1995 Pierce was put in the Ward's place and the American LaFrance pumper was rechristened Engine 5. During the 1990s, a third engine (Engine 4) was added to the station. In 2010, the Pierce and American LaFrance were nearing the end of their frontline service. A 2010 Iveco VIR (Engine 3) and a custom 2008 Ford Explorer (Engine 5) replaced them. Then, in late 2012, the Snorkel was replaced by the 2013 E-One Metro 105 Platform (with a 105-foot aerial) and became Quint 2, after a new fire department regulation. The current station was built in 2011 after citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $3.5 million fire department millage proposal in November 2010.
A History of the Royal Lego Fire Department
The Royal Lego Fire Department was founded in 1930, after citizens of Royal Lego Township had no fire protection yet. The city of Royal Lego, which did not yet have a fire department, agreed to pay the start-up costs of forming a fire department that would serve both the city and the township. (Through the years, the city annexed portions of the township until today, when the city now occupies all parts of the former township.) The city commission approved the building of five stations. Because Royal Lego is a square (4 miles x 4 miles), four would be near the corners of the city and one (headquarters) would be in the center of the city near the municipal complex. Each station would have two bays; an engine and a truck in each of them with four men per rig. The RLFD headquarters was to be in the city hall, which is in downtown Royal Lego. All of this happened in 1930. Then, the depression fully hit Royal Lego. Fortunately, the city was not impacted as hard as the rest of the country, and all five fire stations remained open with their full crews.
After the depression, World War II began for the United States. Many young firefighters of the RLFD went to war, leaving only one company per station available. This put a strain on the department's resources, as over half the department often had to respond to a structure fire. Other cities offered to provide mutual aid, and the city commissioners agreed. Many of these contracts are still in effect today. After four years, the war ended and city firefighters returned home to a joyful nation and town. This is also when many returning servicemen moved to the more suburban Royal Lego to begin their new lives. It was at this time the RLFD's headquarters were moved into a brand new fire station across the street from city hall in downtown and two more fire stations were built.
During the baby boom era (1946-1964), the population of Royal Lego soared from 15,000 people to a little under 60,000 and city services needed to be upgraded as well. Taking advantage of the new-found tax surplus, the city board of commissioners approved the purchase of one new replacement apparatus per station. This helped the RLFD immensely.
Then, the 1960s came. With the baby boom still going on, the city commission approved the purchase of new apparatus for companies not replaced in the first wave of spending. Many new firefighters were going through the state fire academy to fulfill Royal Lego's need for fire protection. Even though there was a draft at the time, the ranks of the RLFD did not suffer during the Vietnam War era. The population rose to 70,000 during this decade.
In the mid- and late-1970s, all seven fire stations were rebuilt. These new stations incorporated three total bays, one with an engine, one with a truck, and a third bay with paramedics (either an ambulance or another ALS unit). By 1980, all stations had at least one ALS company to respond with. Paramedicine was now nationally known thanks to Emergency! on NBC and Royal Lego was no exception. Paramedics were well received by the 100,000 citizens of Royal Lego. With the increase in population, the population density rose to 8,333 people per square mile and the paramedic program made the city safer. Originally, paramedics were only trained at the hospital. Today, the state fire academy offers to train candidates as paramedics while they are at the academy for an additional three months of training. If candidates choose not to become paramedics, they still become EMT-B certified while at the academy. However, if an academy-graduate EMT wants to upgrade their certification to paramedic, they must take a four-month class at the hospital and serve as an intern for a month there.
In the 1980s, the population of Royal Lego rose through 120,000 while the number of firefighters and fire stations remained the same. This increased the amount of runs per company.
In the late 1990s, a millage was passed by the citizens of Royal Lego to upgrade the fire station to more modern specifications. All fire stations are expected to be updated by 2015. At the beginning of this decade, the population of Royal Lego began to fall. This caused the city commission and the fire department to consolidate the stations from five to one. Although no companies were eliminated and no personnel were laid off, this new agreement saved the city money.
Today, the city of Royal Lego is home to 96,000 people and utilizes one fire station strategically located in the center of the city to minimize response times. The average response time for the RLFD is under four minutes. The population density is now 8,000 people per square mile, among the highest in the state.
In 2015, all members of Quint 2 on all three shifts completed paramedic training. The quint became ALS Quint 2 in August 2015. This allows the RLFD to have two ALS units to respond with.
When the RLFD first came into existence, it operated a 1928 Seagraves pumper (Engine 3) and a Seagraves ladder truck (Truck 2) with the fire chief driving Car 1. The '28 Seagraves pumper and ladder were used until 1955 when the department was allocated a brand-new 1955 Crown Triple pumper and an American LaFrance mid-mount ladder. In 1972, the city had funds to rebuild the station and they did so in a three-bay pattern with a new ambulance. In 1975 a Ward LaFrance P-80 Ambassador was delivered to replace the Crown (old Engine 3), which was renamed Engine 5 and placed in an additional bay added to the station. In 1987, the Crown given to the city museum, leaving a vacancy at Engine 5. An 85' Crown Snorkel was purchased to replace the aging American LaFrance (Truck 2) in 1989. It was a few more years before a permanent replacement for Engine 5 would be found. Then, the department put a 1981 American LaFrance Century pumper into service as Engine 3 in 1985. Finally in 1996, a 1995 Pierce was put in the Ward's place and the American LaFrance pumper was rechristened Engine 5. During the 1990s, a third engine (Engine 4) was added to the station. In 2010, the Pierce and American LaFrance were nearing the end of their frontline service. A 2010 Iveco VIR (Engine 3) and a custom 2008 Ford Explorer (Engine 5) replaced them. Then, in late 2012, the Snorkel was replaced by the 2013 E-One Metro 105 Platform (with a 105-foot aerial) and became Quint 2, after a new fire department regulation. The current station was built in 2011 after citizens voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $3.5 million fire department millage proposal in November 2010.
A History of the Royal Lego Fire Department
The Royal Lego Fire Department was founded in 1930, after citizens of Royal Lego Township had no fire protection yet. The city of Royal Lego, which did not yet have a fire department, agreed to pay the start-up costs of forming a fire department that would serve both the city and the township. (Through the years, the city annexed portions of the township until today, when the city now occupies all parts of the former township.) The city commission approved the building of five stations. Because Royal Lego is a square (4 miles x 4 miles), four would be near the corners of the city and one (headquarters) would be in the center of the city near the municipal complex. Each station would have two bays; an engine and a truck in each of them with four men per rig. The RLFD headquarters was to be in the city hall, which is in downtown Royal Lego. All of this happened in 1930. Then, the depression fully hit Royal Lego. Fortunately, the city was not impacted as hard as the rest of the country, and all five fire stations remained open with their full crews.
After the depression, World War II began for the United States. Many young firefighters of the RLFD went to war, leaving only one company per station available. This put a strain on the department's resources, as over half the department often had to respond to a structure fire. Other cities offered to provide mutual aid, and the city commissioners agreed. Many of these contracts are still in effect today. After four years, the war ended and city firefighters returned home to a joyful nation and town. This is also when many returning servicemen moved to the more suburban Royal Lego to begin their new lives. It was at this time the RLFD's headquarters were moved into a brand new fire station across the street from city hall in downtown and two more fire stations were built.
During the baby boom era (1946-1964), the population of Royal Lego soared from 15,000 people to a little under 60,000 and city services needed to be upgraded as well. Taking advantage of the new-found tax surplus, the city board of commissioners approved the purchase of one new replacement apparatus per station. This helped the RLFD immensely.
Then, the 1960s came. With the baby boom still going on, the city commission approved the purchase of new apparatus for companies not replaced in the first wave of spending. Many new firefighters were going through the state fire academy to fulfill Royal Lego's need for fire protection. Even though there was a draft at the time, the ranks of the RLFD did not suffer during the Vietnam War era. The population rose to 70,000 during this decade.
In the mid- and late-1970s, all seven fire stations were rebuilt. These new stations incorporated three total bays, one with an engine, one with a truck, and a third bay with paramedics (either an ambulance or another ALS unit). By 1980, all stations had at least one ALS company to respond with. Paramedicine was now nationally known thanks to Emergency! on NBC and Royal Lego was no exception. Paramedics were well received by the 100,000 citizens of Royal Lego. With the increase in population, the population density rose to 8,333 people per square mile and the paramedic program made the city safer. Originally, paramedics were only trained at the hospital. Today, the state fire academy offers to train candidates as paramedics while they are at the academy for an additional three months of training. If candidates choose not to become paramedics, they still become EMT-B certified while at the academy. However, if an academy-graduate EMT wants to upgrade their certification to paramedic, they must take a four-month class at the hospital and serve as an intern for a month there.
In the 1980s, the population of Royal Lego rose through 120,000 while the number of firefighters and fire stations remained the same. This increased the amount of runs per company.
In the late 1990s, a millage was passed by the citizens of Royal Lego to upgrade the fire station to more modern specifications. All fire stations are expected to be updated by 2015. At the beginning of this decade, the population of Royal Lego began to fall. This caused the city commission and the fire department to consolidate the stations from five to one. Although no companies were eliminated and no personnel were laid off, this new agreement saved the city money.
Today, the city of Royal Lego is home to 96,000 people and utilizes one fire station strategically located in the center of the city to minimize response times. The average response time for the RLFD is under four minutes. The population density is now 8,000 people per square mile, among the highest in the state.
In 2015, all members of Quint 2 on all three shifts completed paramedic training. The quint became ALS Quint 2 in August 2015. This allows the RLFD to have two ALS units to respond with.
The City of Royal Lego
The city of Royal Lego is mostly suburban, with the Central Business District (downtown) being urban.