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The Signal 51 Group
Our mission to serve our fire department from the beginning was twofold:
*Rehab was a term that was not heard of when we first started. It was
just -- Bring the drinks and food if necessary to the fire. What are fire buffs? The term is not defined in Webster's Dictionary; however, to the estimated more than 50,000 Buffs in the U.S., most of whom are "free lance" and do not belong to an organized group or club Mr. Karl Detzer comes closest to explaining our avocation when he wrote in the Baltimore Sun as follows:
Fires to us are not mere spectacles. They are demonstrations of
strategy and tactics, for behind the apparent confusion at any "working
fire," there is generalship. A real buff can tell at a glance just how
the battle lines are drawn. The placement of hose lines and ladders, the
use of high pressure deck pipes and ladder pipes, the location of
windows being smashed out with axes - All these are clues to what kind
of fire it is, where it is centered and how the job of extinguishing the
blaze is progressing. Like other fire buff clubs we get a great deal of satisfaction out of assisting with re-hab at multiple alarm fires. At these emergencies Signal 51 members used to operate the local Salvation Army Canteen which supplies food and refreshments to all the emergency workers and displaced citizens. However now we use our personal cars to respond to and take supplies to the incident. The fire dept. sets up the rehab area near a medic unit on any significant event. Most buffs generally are apparatus enthusiast and some members can even tell you the make, model and year of each Shreveport fire engine.
The picture at the right shows Signal 51 members, Jerry
We act as a citizens' public relations group for our Fire Department and combat unjust criticism or ridicule. Most of us have attended the Citizen's Fire Academy which has given us an entirely new perspective and a deeper respect for what firefighters do. A few of our members belong to the Shreveport Fire Corp. One of our members was Chairman of the 9-1-1 Board, and other are on boards and committees related to the Fire Service. Another member has been president of the IFBA, and two others have been vice-presidents. Every five years Signal 51 host a regional International Fire Buff Associates meeting in Shreveport to show off our Fire Department. The Fire Buffs who have attended from around the country have always been highly impressed by our firefighters' knowledge of fire fighting, their friendliness, and the appearance of our equipment. The group is always interested in obtaining Fire Dept. memorabilia and was instrumental in bringing the Shreveport Firefighters Museum into existence. We have taken photos and videos of most major fires over the years and try to keep track of the history of the S.F.D.
We have a 1928 American LaFrance which is one of our museum pieces. In
the 1980's we
When Shreveport Fire Chief, Brian Crawford became Chief the new fire department maintenance facility was opened on Mansfield Road. Since the building was at one time an automobile dealership it had a large showroom. Chief Crawford designated the showroom to be the location for the Shreveport Firefighters Museum. Dr. Harvey Carter, one of our members placed on permanent loan, a 1928 Seagrave pumper and his alarm console from old Fire Station 5, plus many other SFD historical items. The 1928 American LaFrance that the members of Signal 51 had maintained for many years was also placed in the museum. Signal 51 members spent many hours refurbishing the alarm console and restoring the appearance of the antique fire engines that are now on display in the museum.
Members of the Signal 51 Group have radio scanners and Fire Dept. Pagers
and are paged out when there is a need for our canteen service. A few
years ago after units were dispatched to a fire at Libby Glass
Manufacturing Company on a very hot summer evening a chief officer was
heard on the fire radio frequency barking out to fire dispatch, "Give me
a second alarm and tell the Signal 51 Group to setup on the east and
south sides of the fire building!" As most of us were listening to our
scanners that evening we did not wait for the pagers to go off for us
that time. If you have a Highband Internet Connection click HERE for the origin of our organization's name. Other Links that relate to us:
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Old TV Story
About What We Do << If you are interested in finding out how you can become a member of the Signal 51 Group please email us: sig51grp@aol.com |
About Us
them
at a fire emergency and paid attention to the organization and
leadership that takes place you will notice the strategy and tactics
that they use. Watch the aggressive interior attack that takes place,
but when there is too much danger the commanders on the scene quickly
have the firefighters removed from the structure and begin an exterior
or defensive attack. It is a well orchestrated event in what appears to
be a chaotic situation.