The latest in apparatus design & technology from FDIC 2006

PHOTOS BOB VACCARO Alexis' midi-rescue, built on an International chassis for the USA Disaster Relief Corps of Lake Bluff, Ill., is loaded with all types of communications equipment, generators, light masts, winches and special compartments.

Each April, apparatus manufacturers roll out their new and innovative products for the fire service at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). This year's show featured a common theme: firefighter safety. I saw more ergonomic features on apparatus than ever before — lower hosebeds, improved grab rails, Chevron striping, non-slip surfaces and more. Following are some of the highlights for those of you who could not attend.

ALEXIS
Alexis exhibited a heavy-rescue unit built for Elk Grove Village, Ill., featuring a new European Glassfibre reinforced polyester construction body from Plasticol. It also displayed a 100' rear-mount quint for Peoria Heights, Ill., and a utility brush truck for Washburn, Ill., built on a Ford-550 chassis with a 250-gpm pump and 400-gallon tank. But its most unique offering was an International chassis midi-rescue built for the USA Disaster Relief Corps of Lake Bluff, Ill., a privately funded disaster response team. This vehicle was loaded with all types of communications equipment, generators, light masts, winches and special compartments; the team plans to add even more equipment later.

Although it's not one of the biggest builders of apparatus out there, Alexis builds high-quality products worth consideration when speccing an apparatus.

American LaFrance's Eagle Rescue with an extended cab, built for the Morristown (Tenn.) Fire Department.

AMERICAN LAFRANCE
ALF debuted red LED-illuminated ladder rungs on its 110' aerial ladder. The ladder also features high handrails, full rubber rung covers and a wide climbing way. This great design promotes firefighter safety by illuminating the ladder walkway and providing a safer work environment for firefighters working on the aerial.

A major announcement from ALF at FDIC: The company will be building a new manufacturing facility that will include 57,500 feet of office space, a 429,000-square-foot manufacturing area, a research and development center, a vehicle test track, a pump test area, a modification and refurb center and a store for ALF memorabilia items.

Included in ALF's display was a 110' rear-mount aerial for St. Clair, Penn.; an Eagle Rescue with an extended cab for Morristown, N.J.; a mid-ship mounted aerial for Milton, Ont.; an Eagle Rescue engine for Belvedere, Del.; a Liberty Series Squad pumper for Peotone, Ill.; and a 27' Boston Whaler Challenger boat for Cape Coral, Fla.

CRIMSON
Crimson featured the largest and likely most unique vehicle on display: a gigantic, rear-mount CAFS-equipped pumper/tanker built for the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department in Wisconsin. It features a 2,000-gpm Waterous pump, a 2,000-gallon water tank and a 100-gallon foam tank. The front bumper includes two CAFS discharges, and the vehicle includes a rear-mount pump module. This vehicle provides a one-two punch for a variety of responses, including fire attack, rescue and water supply. It carries an array of tools for just about every kind of incident.

Also on display from Crimson: a mini-pumper wildland attack unit built for Boise, Idaho; a 100' rear-mount platform built for Wheaton, Ill.; and a heavy-duty demo pumper built on a Spartan Advantage MFD chassis.

Probably the most unique vehicle on display: a gigantic, rear-mount CAFS-equipped pumper/tanker from Crimson. The rig features two CAFS discharges in the front bumper and a rear-mount pump module.

E-One's large mobile command unit, built for the Arlington County (Va.) Fire Department.

E-ONE
E-One displayed several Brontos, including one that was demonstrated in the outdoor exhibit area. This 114' vehicle operates Genesis rescue tools off of the front bumper and Stanley hydraulic chainsaws off of the platform. The rig is extremely maneuverable. Add options like the rescue tools and saws, and you can operate in almost any hard-to-reach area.

Inside the exhibit hall, E-One displayed three 100' Brontos: one built for the Canadian National Defense Fire Department, one for the City of Forest Lake, Minn., and a demo.

In addition to its Brontos, E-One's exhibit featured a Cyclone II pumper built for Lake Havasu, Ariz.; a Typhoon pumper built for Washington Township, Ind.; a FireRaider 2,000-gallon tanker built for Rumney, N.H.; and a large mobile command center built for Arlington, Va.

Ferrara's Inundator, a large demo pumper for industrial applications.

FERRARA
Ferrara featured several offerings. In the main exhibit hall, it displayed a large, heavy-duty 100' mid-mount platform demo pumper for industrial applications called the Inundator; a 77' rear-mount demo; a 100' rear-mount built for Needham, Texas; and a rescue pumper built for Springfield Township, Ind. Ferrara also demonstrated its Strong Arm firefighting vehicle in the demonstration area outside the main hall. The vehicle combines a telescoping Gradall boom with a Ferrara severe-duty custom fire cab and chassis. The boom provides quick access to roofs and walls at any angle, and the nozzle can penetrate most building materials to put water directly on the source of the fire, reducing the danger of building collapse.

Ferrara also announced a new line of emergency response trailers (ERTs) that can be used to transport additional equipment or be configured to serve as high-tech units with living quarters or elaborate communications and command units. More and more, we are seeing homeland security taking a big step forward in the design of emergency vehicles. ERTs are part of that concept.

Hackney's rear auto-deploy staircase enables firefighters to more safely access top-mounted compartments. Deploying and stowing the staircase is as easy as the push of a button.

HME's new city attack truck (CAT) is built with an L-shaped water tank that allows for a low-stow hosebed and lower mounting of tools and equipment—features that will enhance firefighter safety.

HACKNEY
Hackney showed a walk-around hazmat/technical rescue vehicle destined for Pima County, Ariz. The vehicle's rear auto-deploy staircase enables firefighters to access top-mounted compartments for extra equipment storage. The system allows for automatic deploying and stowing of the staircase. It also includes safety interlocks to prevent the apparatus from moving when the stairs are deployed. This is definitely a safer way to gain access to top-mounted compartments and equipment, and it's as easy as the push of a button.

HME
HME has recently added a city attack truck (CAT) and a rapid attack truck (RAT) to its Ahrens Fox line of apparatus. The CAT is a short, stubby pumper built with an L-shaped water tank that allows for a low-stow hosebed and lower mounting of tools and equipment. Both should enhance firefighter safety on the fireground. The truck is equipped with HME's Hydra Technology water-delivery system with pumping capacities up to 2,250 gpm. You can also equip the rig with CAFS and many shelving and slide-out trays for equipment mounting.

The RAT can be mounted on any suitable two- or four-wheel drive commercial or HME custom chassis and configured as a two- or a four-door cab. The vehicle features HME's Hydra Technology water-delivery system with pump-and-roll capability. Options include CAFS and many compartment storage alternatives. The CAT and RAT are two vehicles definitely worth a look. I liked the low hosebed design and the short wheelbase for easy maneuverability.

Also on display from HME: a Class A top-mount pumper with a 1,000-gallon tank and a 2,000-gpm Hale pump. Built for Liberty Township, Ind., the rig is equipped with Class A and Class B foam.

KME's new CAFS-equipped Predator Severe Service engine, built for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, features an upholstered interior ideal for high-temperature climates.

KME
KME featured its usual large display, including a new CAFS-equipped Predator Severe Service engine built for the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD). The rig features a special upholstered interior, making it ideal for high-temperature climates, and a bumper that's higher than the standard KME Predator cab. The raised bumper allows the vehicle to better navigate the mountainous, winding roads common in Los Angeles County. KME is building a large order for the LACoFD and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The company has come a long way from a regional builder of fire apparatus to a well-known national manufacturer.

In addition, KME displayed a 102' rear-mount platform on a Predator chassis for the Cornbelt Fire Protection District; a 100' mid-mount platform on a Predator chassis for Terre Haute, Ind.; a Predator pumper for Grosse Ile, Mich.; and an International Eliminator demo tanker. Also on display was a walk-around heavy-rescue unit built on a Predator XLFD chassis.

LDV
LDV cornered the market with command vehicles, and it displayed two at FDIC, one built for Montgomery, Ala., and one demo. LDV has delivered many command and control vehicles to fire departments, both large and small, all over the country. If your department is in the market for one of these vehicles, LDV's quality and attention to detail make its products worth checking out.

MARION BODY WORKS
Marion Body Works exhibited two heavy-rescue units. The first, a walk-in rescue built for the Evanston (Ill.) Fire Department, featured an all-aluminum body with a Spartan Gladiator chassis. The vehicle includes a six-bottle cascade system; an interior command center; a Command Light light tower; six Fire Research 1,000-watt Focus lights built into the body; a dive suit compartment with stainless-steel coat rails; and a portable winch with receive points in each wheel well and the front and rear bumper.

The second vehicle, a heavy-rescue pumper also built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis, features aluminum construction and a walk-around body. The vehicle includes a Hale 1,000-gpm PTO-driven pump with a 500-gallon polypropylene tank and a 25-gallon foam tank. It also features a FoamPro 2001 system installed with two 2 1⁄2" discharges, one 3" discharge and one 1 1⁄2" discharge.

Pierce's Rail Rescue Vehicle is a walkaround heavy-rescue unit built on an Enforcer chassis that deploys hydraulic railway gear, allowing it to operate on railroad tracks.

PIERCE
Pierce's usual big showing of new products included the premier of a commercial multi-cab design that can be built on the Kenworth T300 and T800 heavy-duty chassis in both the Pierce and Contender lines. The vehicle features a 6', 4" cab height and can be configured to operate as a top-mount pumper, a command center or a crew cab. As an enclosed top-mount pumper, the cab has windows on all sides, providing the pump operator with a better view of the entire fire scene and pump operations. The pumper also provides space to rehab the crew if needed. As a command center, the cab can be configured to include a workstation and EMS compartments.

The enclosed-cab design protects pump operators from the elements, allowing them to concentrate more on operating the vehicle safely. A pumper that operates in both severe cold and high heat environments is a great asset to the fire service.

Pierce also displayed an addition to its aerial product line: a 100' aluminum aerial ladder with a tip load of 750 lbs., the largest in the industry. The ladder features H-style stabilizers with a 12' spread; it also has a replaceable egress section. Options include mounted breathing air at the ladder tip, a quick-lock waterway, creeper controls and various tool-mounting configurations.

Another unique offering from Pierce: the Enforcer Rail Rescue Vehicle. A walk-around heavy-rescue unit built on an Enforcer chassis, this rig deploys hydraulic railway gear in the front and rear of the vehicle, allowing it to operate on railroad tracks for easy movement. The response areas of many fire departments feature major rail lines. For such departments, the Rail Rescue Vehicle will increase operability and reduce response times for incidents in hard-to-reach areas.

Last but not least: a new Special Services Vehicle built on the Pierce Contender line. This rig features a GMC chassis with a 14' or 18' aluminum body and a 300-hp engine. It can be configured for command and control, SWAT, explosive ordinance or mobile laboratory applications.

PL CUSTOM/RESCUE ONE
PL Custom displayed a walk-around heavy-rescue demo vehicle built on a Spartan Advantage chassis, featuring a full-lift rear stairway. It also displayed a Ford Medallion ambulance demo built on a F-350 chassis.

PL Custom has expanded into the large heavy-rescue vehicle market over the past several years. It builds a strong product with customer input as a selling point. The company is in the process of delivering 13 custom heavy-rescue vehicles to FEMA's New Jersey Task Force 1 (see "To the Rescue" in the February issue of FireRescue, p. 48).

ROSENBAUER GENERAL
Continuing a program it started last year, Rosenbauer's Tech Drive '06 display featured three vehicles: a walk-around heavy-rescue unit, a rear-mount pumper and a rear-mount aerial. All three vehicles promote firefighter safety to the fullest and are packed with every conceivable option available to the fire service. Features include front bumper and rear tailboard pre-connect crosslays, wireless aerial controls, Safe Scene controls and yellow grab handles, Chevron safety striping, in-body ladder compartments, a wireless monitor and camera on the ladder tip, the LG Rollover Alert system, a Safety Vision scene recorder and camera system and numerous compartments with slide-out trays and various mounting options. The rescue vehicle even has a rear ATV compartment for off-road response; responders can use the ATV to carry equipment to remote areas the rescue unit cannot access. 

Over the past two years, Rosenbauer has consistently promoted firefighter safety in its designs. These vehicles are built for the utmost in safe operation, not only when responding to and returning from the fireground, but also when operating at the incident scene.

S&S
S&S displayed a Chevy midi-pumper built for the Turner (Ore.) Fire District, and an Infinity demo tanker built on a Freightliner chassis with a 2,100-gallon tank. S&S's Infinity line of custom tankers can be built on a commercial or custom chassis with cab-controlled automatic side-dump valves and a fully hinged passenger pump panel access door. These rigs feature a spring-mounted independent body and tank frame system to reduce stress from uneven road conditions.

Seagrave's Marauder 100' Force aerial, built for the Franklin Park (Ill.) Fire Department.

SEAGRAVE
This year, Seagrave is celebrating 125 years in the business, and it had a large presence in the exhibit hall. On the floor was a rescue pumper with an Attacker cab and chassis built for Ville de Gatineau, Quebec; a Marauder II six-person tilt-cab pumper for Salt Lake County, Utah; a 75' Meanstick quint for Streamwood, Ill.; a Marauder 100' Force aerial for Franklin Park, Ill.; a 2,500-gallon Poly tanker built on a Kenworth T-300 cab and chassis for Heath Springs, S.C.; and a 95' Aerialscope for Prince George's County, Md.

Seagrave recently broke ground for a new addition to its manufacturing facility that will add more than 100,000 square feet of space for offices, research and development and manufacturing. The addition should also help ensure quality and timeliness of apparatus deliveries.

Smeal's 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker, built on a Spartan chassis for the Newmarket (N.H.) Fire Department.

SMEAL
Smeal's display contained a 105' rear-mount quint for Ajax, Ont.; a large, 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker for Newmarket, N.H.; and a rear-mount platform with a 2,250-gpm Qmax pump for Coburg, Ont. All three vehicles were built on a Spartan chassis. Smeal also showed a Volunteer II top-mount pumper on a Freightliner chassis, built for North English, Iowa.

Smeal has grown considerably over the past several years. It not only builds for the smaller department, but also serves some big city fire departments, including Charlotte, N.C., and Toronto. The vehicles it displayed reflect its expanding lineup and ability to meet different departments' needs.

SPARTAN MOTORS
Spartan featured demos of all of its chassis: the Diamond Classic MFD, the Gladiator Evolution LFD, the Gladiator Classic LFD and the Advantage LTD. Also on display: information about Spartan's roll protection, independent front suspension and roll-stability control products, which can be installed as options in their line of chassis.

Spartan has always produced a great chassis. With these safety additions, the company has greatly improved its chassis design.

SuperVac's heavy-rescue unit, built for the Deptford (N.J.) Fire Department, featured every imaginable tool in a vast array of compartment space.

Darley stood out of the crowd with this purple-colored foam unit built for Grapeville, Pa., on a Chevy chassis with a Poly body.

Sutphen's 70' quint, built for the Broughton (Pa.) Fire Department, features a 2,000-gpm Hale Q-Max pump and a 300-gallon tank.

SUPER VAC (SVI)
SuperVac displayed an enormous walk-around rescue built on a Spartan chassis for the Deptford (N.J.) Fire Department. The vehicle was well thought out, with every imaginable tool carried in a vast array of compartment space. In addition, the compartments were designed for easy operation and made specifically for each type of tool.

ALSO OF NOTE
FDIC is one of the largest fire service events in the world, and this is just a sampling of the apparatus displayed at the conference. Several other manufacturers caught my eye as well.

Sutphen displayed a Shield Series pumper with a 750-gallon tank for East Jordan, Mich.; a small-body Monarch rescue pumper with a 750-gallon tank for Gettysburg, Pa.; a 100' Magnum mid-mount platform for Wilmington, N.C.; and a 70' quint with a 2,000-gpm Hale QMax pump and a 300-gallon tank for Broughton, Pa. Darley showed a top-of-the-line pumper built on a Spartan chassis and polypropylene body, and a purple-colored foam unit built for Grapeville, Pa., on a Chevy chassis with a polypropylene body. And Toyne exhibited a HME chassis top-mount pumper slated for Cicero, Ill.

UNTIL NEXT YEAR...
FDIC is a must-attend event for anyone looking to purchase a new piece of apparatus or any type of apparatus equipment. Apparatus design committees can talk to multiple manufacturers and gain insight into the vast amount of equipment mounting options and apparatus innovations just hitting the field. If you have a chance to attend next year, I highly recommend it.

Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire-service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office®, The New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant.