By John M. MaleCKy
The Fort Madison (IA) Fire & Rescue Department replaced a 65-foot articulated elevating platform with this ALEXIS to obtain greater reach, explains backup driver Rob Blindt.
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Features/Equipment:
- HME 1871 chassis with 246-inch wheelbase and six-seat cab;
- DETROIT Series 60 515-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- WATEROUS CSU single-stage, 2,000-gpm pump with HALE Foamlogix foam system, 1¾-inch front bumper line, three speedlays (two 1¾-inch, one 2½-inch), and two crosslays (one 1¾-inch, one 2½-inch);
- UPF 300-gallon water and 30-gallon foam tanks;
- R K 104-foot platform with 1,000-pound dry and 500-pound wet payloads, 16-foot outrigger spread, and AKRON Stream Master monitor;
- platform has Stokes basket mounting at the front and rappelling bracket at the rear;
- seven wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
- two HANNAY reels (one electric cord, one hydraulic); and
- light and power with ONAN 10-kw PTO generator, five AKRON floodlights (two at rear of cab, two midship, one tripod rear), four FRC floodlights (two rear of platform, two underneath), and four HAVIS SHIELDS COLLINS spot/floodlights (two at front of platform, two at base of ladder).
The Deptford Township (NJ) Fire Department has in service an SVI TRUCKS rescue (largest SVI ever built at the time) and a KME platform quint. Chief Stephen M. Hubbs calls the rescue his “Swiss Army knife,” since it has all of the necessary equipment to get a job started while waiting for reinforcements. It responds throughout the township to structure fires, all types of rescues (confined space, water, vehicle, high angle, trench, and so forth), and is first-out to alarms in all commercial buildings. The nonwalk-in body has room for current and future inventory, the platform’s pump is larger than its predecessor, and the rear-mount design works well for the department.
 Photo by author. |
Features/Equipment (rescue):
- SPARTAN Gladiator Classic LFD chassis with 257-inch wheelbase and eight-seat cab with 10-inch raised roof;
- CUMMINS ISM 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- 26.5-foot nonwalk-in body with ROM compartment doors, rear stairway, four roof tie-offs, and seven wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
- 32-inch extended front bumper with hydraulic and air reels within;
- 10 HANNAY reels (two in bumper, two electric cord, four hydraulic, two air);
- HURST rescue tools;
- SPEEDAIRE industrial air compressor;
- INTEC rearview camera at rear and right side;
- rear BRADEN-PACCAR 10-ton winch and RAMSEY 4.5-ton portable winch;
- PHILLIPS FR2+ defibrillator; and
- light and power with ONAN 30-kw PTO generator, SVI Command Light with backlight, eight HAVIS SHIELDS floodlights (two brow, six on body), and six WHELEN fixed scene lights (two on cab, four on body).
 Photo by author. |
Features/Equipment (platform quint):
- Predator LFD chassis with 249-inch wheelbase and eight-seat cab with 12-inch raised roof;
- CUMMINS ISM 500-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 4000 EVS automatic transmission;
- HALE Qmax single-stage, 2,000-gpm pump with 1¾-inch and 2½-inch front bumper lines (the 2½-inch line has a TFT Blitzfire hand monitor that the pump operator can set up and leave unstaffed while other lines are stretched), three crosslays (two 1¾-inch, one 2½-inch) and AKRON Apollo deck gun with tethered remote;
- UPF 300-gallon water tank;
- 102-foot platform with 1,000-pound payload, 18-foot outrigger spread, and two AKRON Stream Master monitors (one electric, one manual);
- detachable STOKES basket and roof ladder mounted on basket;
- rear ROBINSON roll-up door and seven wheel well sleeves for spare SCBA cylinders;
- EMS cabinet; and
- light and power with ONAN 20-kw PTO generator, nine FRC floodlights (four on body, two on platform, and three under platform), two UNITY spot/floodlights at front of platform, and two HANNAY electric cord reels.
Photo by author.
