New Pumpers, Aerials Introduced at FDIC

The Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) is known as the venue to introduce new product innovations to the fire service. FDIC 2011 was no different, with seven fire truck manufacturers introducing new pumpers and two manufacturers debuting aerial vehicles.

Pierce unveiled its latest pumper innovation–the Dash-CF–a tilting cab-forward design that repositions the engine rearward and down low between the frame rails and features an open interior configuration.

Mike Moore, Pierce’s vice president of business development, says changing the location of the engine and combining it with the PUC (Pierce Ultimate Configuration) pump design enables a configuration “that dramatically increases driver and officer interior cab space, improves visibility and serviceability, and sets a new benchmark for heavy-duty construction– all the while keeping the vehicle easy to maneuver.”

Pierce’s PUC pump is a midship design that’s 30 percent lighter than conventional pumps, allowing a shorter wheelbase and more compartment space.

The Dash-CF driver and officer seats are positioned farther inboard, allowing greater shoulder, elbow, and hip room, Moore points out, and the flat floor offers increased space to stow turnout gear.

The pumper has a single-piece panoramic windshield lowered 10 inches to give greater outward visibility as well as teardrop front door windows and larger side middle windows, so firefighters have improved visibility when approaching an emergency scene.

Each of the two Dash-CF pumpers on display featured a 450-hp engine; 70-inch raised roof cab; 177-inch aluminum body; 9-foot 9-inch overall height; PUC 1,500-gpm pump; 500-gallon water tank; Command Zone advanced electronics; and single-point service access.

E-ONE debuted its new eMAX pumper at FDIC, featuring a new pump location and apparatus configuration that Joe Hedges, product manager of aerials and chassis, says “is designed to offer maximum maneuverability with a short wheelbase; maximum storage with up to 586 cubic feet available; maximum accessibility with low, preconnected handlines; rear-access ladder; and maximum utility to be able to carry the equipment necessary for fire, rescue, and EMS responses in one organized apparatus.”

The eMAX is built on a Typhoon medium cab with a 12-inch vista roof; is powered by a Cummins ISL 450-hp diesel with a Jacob’s engine brake and an Allison EVS 3000P transmission; and carries a 1,500-gpm low-profile split-shaft eMAX pump, a 750-gallon polypropylene water tank, and a Class A and B direct injection foam system.

Hedges points out that the eMAX’s side discharges and intakes were lowered to allow ease of use, and the pump panel is enclosed in a compartment 24 inches wide. The eMAX pumper has a 178-inch wheelbase, is 10 feet 11 inches high, and has a travel length of 31 feet 5 inches. The unit on display was outfitted for a four-person cab but can be built to accommodate six firefighters.

Other equipment E-ONE displayed included a Typhoon rear-mount pumper with a 180-inch wheelbase and 9-foot 9-inch height, carrying a Hale RSD/RGA 1,500-gpm pump and a 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; a Typhoon stainless steel pumper with 206-inch wheelbase, 10-foot 1-inch height, Hale QMAX 1,500-gpm pump, and 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; an HP100 aerial platform with a 100-foot extruded aluminum aerial, 2,000-gpm Hale QMAX pump, and 300-gallon tank; an HP78 aerial ladder with a Waterous CMU 2,000-gpm pump and 500-gallon tank; and a CR137, 137-foot aerial ladder.

Crimson Fire debuted a new Classic series 4×4 mini-pumper built on a Ford F-550 chassis with a two-door extended cab, 6.7-liter diesel engine, Hale DSD 1,250-gpm pump, 300-gallon water tank, 20-gallon foam tank, Hale 2.1a FoamLogix foam system, and 150-cfm Classic CAFS compressed air foam system.

Crimson Fire also announced its first foray into the heavy rescue market with a heavy rescue featuring a stainless steel walk-in body built for the Elizabeth (NJ) Fire Department. The rig, built on a multiplexed chassis with a Classic front fascia and Gladiator LFD 20-inch raised roof, is powered by a Cummins ISX 550-hp diesel and an Allison 4000 transmission.

Bill Doebler, vice president of sales and marketing, says the heavy rescue carries an Onan PTO-driven 32,000-watt generator, two Hannay 200-foot electric cord reels, two Hannay 150-foot utility air reels, a Holmatro hydraulic reel, a front bumper winch, and side and rear rescue winch receivers.

Crimson Fire also displayed a Legend series pumper carrying a Waterous 1,500-gpm side-mount pump and 1,000-gallon Pro Poly water tank, a Transformer pumper on an International Harvester chassis with a Darley 1,250-gpm PTO pump, 1,000-gallon water tank, 20-gallon foam tank, and Hypro Foam Pro 2001 foam system; and a 100-foot rear-mount aerial platform with a 3,000-gpm aluminum waterway, Waterous CMU 2,250-gpm pump, 200-gallon Pro Poly water tank, 10-gallon foam tank, and Foam Logix system.

Crimson Fire also debuted a Classic series tanker on a Kenworth T370 chassis and cab with a 500-gpm Hale AP50 PTO-driven pump, 2,000-gallon water tank, and Newton 10-inch manual swivel dump.

Rosenbauer unveiled its new Maverick rural-urban pumper-tanker at FDIC, a 4×4 vehicle carrying a 1,500-gpm NH-55 pump and a 1,500-gallon polypropylene water tank.

Donley Frederickson, national sales manager, says the aluminum body vehicle sits on a 203-inch wheelbase, carries an Elkhart Brass front turret monitor, has manual enclosed drop tank storage, and features an electronically controlled 10-inch rear dump valve with a 180-degree swivel extension.

Rosenbauer also displayed a pumper-tanker built on an International Lone Star chassis with a Darley 1,250-gpm pump and 2,500-gallon water tank, built for the Flint (MS) Fire Department; a Timberwolf 4×4 urban interface pumper with a 1,000-gpm NH-40 pump, 750-gallon water tank, two high-pressure hose reels, and a high-pressure Fix-Mix system; and its new Smart Cab with easy-entry steps, three SCBA seats in the back, and an all-metal interior.

HME Ahrens-Fox debuted a Type 6 Multi-use Vehicle (MUV) on a 4×4 Ford F-550 crew cab chassis with a Waterous E511-A Hi Flow 275-gpm diesel-driven pump and 300-gallon water tank.

Greg Eliott, an HME territory manager, said the vehicle has a 17-gallon foam tank and a Scotty around-the-pump system, a Hannay hose reel, and an all stainless steel body.

HME also displayed a Type III Model 34c wildland engine with stainless steel body, Darley JMP-500 single-stage pump, 500-gallon slip-in water tank, 20-gallon foam tank, and Foam Pro 1600/2.0 system; and a custom rescue-pumper with a stainless steel body and piping, a Hale 1,250-gpm Q-Flow Plus pump, and a 1,000-gallon T-style water tank.

Marion Body Works Inc. introduced a new custom rear-mount pumper on a Spartan fully multiplexed chassis with an all-aluminum body, a Hale 1,500-gpm pump, a 750-gallon water tank, a 25-gallon foam tank, and a wirelessly controlled electric deck gun. Marion built the pumper for the Delmar (NY) Fire District.

Marion also displayed an all-aluminum all-purpose cab walk-through combination rescue with a 6,000-watt light tower, 20,000-watt Harrison hydraulic generator, 150-gpm PTO pump, and 250-gallon water tank.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus introduced three new products at FDIC–100-foot and 77-foot aerials and a heavy duty chassis. Ferrara built the Ultra 100-foot rear-mount aerial for the Fire Department New York (FDNY) on a 236-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 37 feet 8 inches and a height of 10 feet 93⁄4 inches. The aerial has a stainless steel four-door split-tilt custom cab with an 8-inch notched raised roof that seats six and provides interior storage and compartments in the rear cab extension.

The four-section ladder reaches 100 vertical feet at 80 degrees, Paul Christiansen, marketing director, says, and has a 93-foot horizontal reach at zero degrees. It’s powered by a Cummins ISM-500 engine and an Allison 4000EVS transmission.

Ferrara’s HD-77 MVP aerial ladder is on an Ember custom chassis and features a 230-inch wheelbase, a 37-foot 8-inch overall length, and a height of 11 feet 53⁄4 inches. It has a Cummins ISL-400 engine, an Allison 4000 EVS transmission, seats six with five SCBA seats, and an EMS cabinet inside the cab. The heavy-duty three-section aerial has a 500-pound tip load and a 1,250-gpm rated waterway.

Ferrara also debuted its Ultra heavy-duty fire chassis with all-stainless steel cab in two-door and four-door configurations. The FDNY aerial carried the four-door version.

Sutphen Corp. introduced its new SPH-100 aerial platform with a stainless steel body and 300 cubic feet of compartment space at FDIC. The company also debuted its Scene View body on its Shield Series S2 pumper and a new pumper-tanker.

The Scene View module allows the pump operator to control the pump up out of the roadway by placing the pump panel and controls high on the side of the pumper and on an indented platform, says president Drew Sutphen, giving the operator a full view of the fire scene.

“The configuration saves about 10 inches in wheelbase vs. traditional top-mount controls,” Sutphen notes.

Sutphen’s new pumper-tanker sports an International heavy-duty chassis, a MaxxForce 9 330-hp diesel engine, an Allison 3000 EVS transmission, an L-shaped water tank to lower the truck’s center of gravity, and a 1,250-gpm Hale DSD-125-23X pump.

Spartan Chassis Inc. introduced its new Spartan Force chassis featuring a 94-inch-wide aluminum cab in a medium four-door style, 24-inch front bumper extension, four-leaf or nine-leaf front suspension, and spring rear suspension. Ed Dobbs, senior vice president, says the preengineered and configured chassis is available in wheelbases from 171 to 210 inches.

Dobbs notes that Spartan also offers a Supplemental Power System (SPS) for the chassis–a “green” auxiliary engine of 45-hp that reduces fuel consumption, main engine wear, and maintenance.

“Studies have shown the pumps on fire trucks are only pumping water on about five percent of the calls,” Dobbs states. “In tests, our SPS has produced 51 percent savings in fuel use.”

KME displayed a Predator Pro series pumper with a 16-inch raised-roof cab, 475-hp MaxxForce 13 diesel engine, Allison 4000 EVS transmission, Waterous 2,000-gpm pump, 1,000-gallon water tank, 25-gallon foam tank, and Waterous Aquis 2.5 foam system.

In addition, KME displayed its 79-foot rear-mount AerialCat ladder, which has an unrestricted 500-lb. tip load, 70 feet of horizontal reach, a Cummins ISL 450-hp engine, Allison 3000 EVS transmission, Waterous 2,000-gpm pump, and 500-gallon water tank.

Alexis Fire Equipment displayed several different apparatus types–a custom top-mount pumper with a 1,500-gpm Waterous CXVC10 pump and 1,000-gallon water tank; a 3,500-gallon elliptical tanker on an International 7600 two-door tandem chassis; and a 4×4 rear-mount pumper on an International 7400 four-door crew chassis with a 1,000-gpm Darley PSRH two-stage PTO pump and a 500-gallon water tank.

Seagrave Fire Apparatus exhibited an assortment of pumpers, aerials, and rescue units, among them a 2,000-gpm Marauder II pumper for FDNY carrying a Waterous 2,000-gpm CMU pump and a 500-gallon water tank; a Marauder II 100-foot aerial quint for Union Township in Chesterfield, Ind., with a Triton 1,750-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank, and 500-lb. tip load on the steel aerial with a pinnable waterway; and a Marauder II non-walk-in rescue, powered by a Cummins ISM 500-hp engine and Allison 400 EVS transmission and carrying a Will-Burt Nightscan NS4.5 9,000-watt light tower and a 30,000-watt Harrison hydraulic generator.

American LaFrance displayed an Eagle Tractor Drawn Aerial, built for the Ventura County (CA) Fire Department–a 100-foot steel four-section ladder with a 1,500-gpm water-flow capability and carrying 186 feet of ground ladders.

Also, American LaFrance showed an Eagle heavy rescue, built for the Seaside Heights (NJ) Fire Department. The rig features a Darley Power Flow 1,250-gpm pump and a 300-gallon water tank.

Smeal Fire Apparatus exhibited several rigs, including a 100-foot mid-mount aerial platform for Oil City, Pa.; a 105-foot aerial ladder for the Fairfields (VA) Volunteer Fire Department; a custom side-mount pumper for the St. Louis (MO) Fire Department; and a custom pumper for Pickering Fire in Ontario, Canada.

Summit featured a CAFS rescue pumper for Dover, Ohio, and an unusual ventilation unit carrying a 750,000-cfm airflow system at its rear for Hamilton County, Ohio.

US Tanker showed a custom stainless steel Guardian pumper with a six-person cab for the Whitewater (WI) Fire Department, and a Patriot series 3,000-gallon tanker on an International 7500 chassis.

Toyne displayed a pumper with a Spartan MetroStar MFD 10-inch raised roof cab and also a pumper on an HME 1871-VC with 12-inch raised roof.

Rounding out the FDIC apparatus exhibits, Fort Garry Fire Trucks exhibited an urban interface pumper and a rescue-pumper, while 4 Guys showed a custom pumper on a Spartan MetroStar MFD 10-inch cab, and Hackney presented a rescue built on an International TerraStar chassis.

ALAN M. PETRILLO is a freelance writer based in Tucson, Arizona, who writes for national and regional magazines and newspapers. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.

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