By John M. Malecky
The Valley Forge Fire Company (VFFC), Schuylkill Township, Pennsylvania, has hydrants in less than half of its first-run district. Chief Engineer Jonathan Shepsko says the department uses this MARION pumper/tanker first-out on fires to ensure adequate water supply until its tanker arrives or a water supply is established.
Features/Equipment:
- SPARTAN Gladiator Classic LFD chassis with 230-inch wheelbase and 10-inch raised roof cab with six seats;
- CUMMINS ISM 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- WATEROUS CMU two-stage, 2,000-gpm pump with five-inch front intake, Advantus 6.0 foam system plumbed to three crosslays (two 1½-inch and one 2½-inch), and front bumper 1½-inch preconnect;
- Rear four-inch electric and two three-inch discharges and TFT Crossfire monitor with five-inch piping;
- UPF 2,500-gallon water and 50-gallon foam tanks;
- E.J. METALS 10-inch rear dump valve;
- 2,500-gallon FOL-DA-TANK accessed from rear compartment;
- ZICO ladder rack;
- three double wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
- SAFETY VISION rear and side cameras;
- MEDTRONIC AED; and
- light and power with HARRISON 15-kw hydraulic generator, WILL BURT light tower, six FRC floodlights (two each brow, side, and tripod at rear of cab), six WELDON scene lights, and two HANNAY electric cord reels.
VFFC also placed in service this SPARTAN ERV rescue pumper. Chief Rick Beittel says the department wanted this type vehicle for their substation to combine firefighting and rescue capabilities on one apparatus.
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| Photo by Ken Snyder. |
Features/Equipment:
- Gladiator chassis with 227-inch wheelbase, six-seat cab with medical cabinet, and 10-inch raised roof;
- CUMMINS ISX 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- WATEROUS CM two-stage, 2,000-gpm pump with top-mount panel, six-inch front intake, one-inch trashline, three speedlays (two 1¾-inch and one three-inch), rear three-inch attack line and three-inch leader line wyed to two 1¾-inch lines, and TFT Typhoon deck gun;
- Advantus Class B foam system with 30-gallon tank;
- UPF 1,000-gallon water tank with 2½-inch rear direct/auto tank fill;
- ROM roll-up compartment doors, seven wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders and enclosed ladder storage;
- transverse compartment for stretchers and backboard on top of cab;
- RAMSEY 4½-ton portable winch with four receivers, (rear one also functions as a trailer hitch);
- MEDTRONIC AED;
- HURST rescue tools including combi-tool in front bumper;
- four HANNAY reels (two each hydraulic and electric cord);
- ON SPOT tire chains;
- AUDIOVOX Voyager backup camera; and
- light and power with HARRISON 20-kw hydraulic generator, WILL BURT Powerlite, 10 FRC flood and scene lights (two each brow, sides of cab, body, and rear of cab on tripods), and eight WELDON scene lights (two each cab and rear and four on body).
The North Star Volunteer Fire Department, Fairbanks, Alaska, uses dry hydrants at ponds from which to draft water for firefighting, says Deputy Chief of Operations Steve Crouch. The department employs this KME pumper tanker for additional water supply. The department provides mutual aid to the City of Fairbanks, the North Pole, Eieslon Air Force Base, and Fort Wainwright.
Features/Equipment:
- Predator MFD chassis with 216-inch wheelbase and five-seat cab with Command side cab equipment door, medical cabinet, and 16-inch raised roof;
- CUIMMINS ISM 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- WATEROUS CSU single-stage, 1,500-gpm pump with Aquis 2.5 Class A foam system, three crosslays (two 1¾- and one 2½-inch), and TFT Crossfire radio-controlled monitor;
- UPF 2,000-gallon water and 30-gallon foam tanks;
- ROBINSON roll-up compartment doors and seven wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
- ZICO ladder rack;
- ZOLL AED and medical jump box; and
- light and power with HARRISON 20-kw hydraulic/pto generator, Command Light, FRC brow light, and three AKRON electric cord reels.
