The FDIC International showroom floor was once again packed with apparatus and equipment manufacturers. It was a fantastic experience to speak to the manufacturers and view the newest equipment available to the fire service.
As one walks around the venue, you can sense the amount of pride that exists in the fire service just by looking at the rigs. Engines, trucks, rescue, tankers, chief’s vehicles, ambulances, and specialty vehicles grace the floor space with many having a common theme, to provide service to communities across the country.
From small towns to big city rigs, you’ll see it all at this show. Although the rigs might differ in appearance and functionality, they do have one thing in common: company and department pride.
Unique logos and department signage adorned many of the rigs. Whether it’s on the cab, upper area of the body or on the rear of the apparatus, each department is quick to showcase its pride to the public.
Let’s take a look at some of the rigs at this year’s show.
Indianapolis (IN) Pierce Engine Company 44. (Left) The front cab doors boast the Indianapolis department insignia with the 44 in the middle of the design. (Right) The firehouse logo, which features 44’s Engine, Ladder and Haz-Mat units.(Left) Indianapolis (IN) Pierce Tower Ladder 10. The bucket doors of the Tower have “The Brightwood Brigade” company logo affixed to them. (Right) Napanoch (NY) KME Rescue Pumper. The front cab doors are gold leaf signage.(Left) Napanoch (NY) KME Rescue Pumper. The Indian logo adorns the rig’s crew cab doors. (Right) Cridersville (OH) Rosenbauer Pumper. The rig has the town’s seal on the apparatus in a few locations.Napanoch (NY) KME Rescue Pumper. A large mural of a scenic section of town is painted on the upper portion of the rig’s body.Hazelton (PA) KME Tower Ladder. An overview of the logos that adorn the apparatus cab.Hazelton (PA) KME Tower Ladder. (Left) The front cab door has department logos on them. (right) The rear crew cab doors have the company patch with “One Team, One Family” motto beneath it.(Left) Fairfield (OH) E-ONE Aerial Ladder. Firehouse 32 is known as “The Coop” with its unique rooster designed logo. (Right) Noroton Heights (CT) Spartan/Marion/LTC Aerial Ladder. The unit’s crew cab doors sport a unique painting of cartoon characters laddering a smoking bird cage.(Left) Noroton Heights (CT) Spartan/Marion/LTC Aerial Ladder. The apparatus crew cab doors also sport the town’s seal. (Right) Walkersville (MD) Pierce Rescue. The rig also has the town’s seal attached to the body.Walkersville (MD) Pierce Rescue. The front cab doors sport a company logo, while the Maryland state flag is a border on the lower portion of the rear cab doors logo.Utica Michigan Spartan Rescue Pumper. (Left) The rig has most of its signage in a “black-out” design. (Right) The front cab doors sport a unique looking Maltese Cross.White River Township (IN) Ferrara Rescue Pumper. (Left) The front cab doors signage is bold in blue lettering. (Right) The unit’s cab door’s Maltese Cross boast multiple silos portrayed in its center.Johnson County (TX) Spartan/Smeal/LTC Aerial Ladder. (Left) The front cab doors have a county design with ESD1 in the center representing Emergency Service District 1. (Right) The American Flag and the Texas Flag are mounted on the upper portion of the crew cab.
Michael N. Ciampo is a 38-year veteran of the fire service and a Lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He was the lead instructor for FDIC International Truck Essentials HOT program. He wrote the Ladders and Ventilation chapters for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter 1 & 2 and the Bread-and-Butter Portable Ladders DVD. He writes the back page column On Fire in Fire Engineering and is featured in Training Minutes truck company videos on FireEngineering.com. Recently he wrote the textbook Tower Ladders, Tactics, Tips & Tales.
