Trending Topics

Mo. FD orders 4 Pierce pumpers and an Ascendant 110' aerial platform

cottleville_pierce_oct2020.jpg

The new fire apparatus will replace aging trucks.

Courtesy photo

Pierce Manufacturing has secured an order from Cottleville Fire Protection District in Missouri for four Velocity Pumpers and an Ascendant 110’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platform.

APPLETON, Wis. — Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, has secured an order from Cottleville Fire Protection District located in St. Charles County, Missouri. Sold through Pierce dealer, MacQueen Emergency, the order includes four Pierce Velocity Pumpers and an Ascendant 110’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platform on a Velocity chassis. The new fire apparatus will replace aging trucks, and will allow the Cottleville Fire Protection District to establish improved standardization with an entirely Pierce fleet.

Researching, specifying, and subsequently purchasing apparatus during a pandemic presented a new level of complexity that few were prepared to handle.

“The professionals from MacQueen Emergency and Pierce worked closely with our apparatus purchasing committee through these unchartered waters, making sure that we had everything needed to make such critical decisions,” said Craig Tihen, assistant chief of the Cottleville Fire Protection District. “As we researched the best fire apparatus for our district, multiple fire districts and departments were on lockdown and limiting outside visitors. We absolutely had to test drive, pump, and operate an Ascendant 110’ single rear axle platform to make an informed decision, and our sales team worked diligently through the situation to deliver a demonstrator truck as promised.”

Cottleville Fire Protection District’s new fire apparatus will feature:

Pierce Velocity Pumpers

  • Velocity chassis

  • 700-gallon water tank

  • Pierce PUC 1500 gpm single-stage pump
  • Detroit Diesel DD13 525 hp engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • HiViz electronic LED headlights with halo flashing system, Will-Burt light tower, and Whelen warning light system
  • Carcinogen Awareness and Reduction to Exposure (CARE) cab customization including vinyl seats and aluminum floor

Ascendant 110’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platform

  • Velocity chassis with a 110’ heavy-duty steel ladder platform

  • 500-gallon water tank

  • 1500 gpm pump
  • Detroit Diesel DD13 525 hp engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • Single rear axle configuration
  • Carcinogen Awareness and Reduction to Exposure (CARE) cab customization including vinyl seats and aluminum floor

Chief Tihen added, “We chose this configuration for its balanced compromise between apparatus size, options, and capacity. The 189” rescue body provides us ample storage for equipment with 700 gallons of water and a safely positioned hose bed, all while providing a short wheelbase for exceptional maneuverability.”

The Cottleville Fire Protection District covers 38 square miles of St. Charles County, Missouri, and is located just northwest of St. Louis. The district responds to over 3,800 service calls per year out of four fire stations. With three shifts working a 48/96 rotation, the District employs 58 full-time personnel.

“Selecting new fire apparatus to best serve a community is a huge responsibility even during the most normal of circumstances,” said Andy Klein, sales manager of MacQueen Emergency’s Missouri branch. “When we faced the challenges experienced worldwide this year, we knew that all parties would have to work together in a creative way to achieve a common goal. Thankfully, our team has built an incredible level of trust with the Cottleville Fire Protection District over 25 years, and we are confident that the apparatus selected will meet their needs for exceptional maneuverability, reliability, performance.”

For a comprehensive review of Pierce pumpers and Ascendant aerials, visit www.piercemfg.com for specs, video and images.

About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU