BY JOHN M. MALECKY
Saint John Rescue in the Virgin Islands designed its ODYSSEY rescue truck with a short wheelbase and high angles of departure and approach to negotiate the district’s hilly terrain, which includes unimproved roads and switchbacks, explains President Marty Alperen.
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Features/Equipment:
- FORD F-450 4 2 4 chassis with 141-inch wheelbase and two-seat cab;
- FORD 7.3 liter Power Stroke diesel engine with 4R-100 automatic transmission;
- nine-foot body with 110-watt roof-mounted solar panel (encased in protective housing with lexan cover) to charge batteries during sunlight and power ODYSSEY ventilation system;
- two WARN portable winches (one 21/2-ton, one 41/2-ton) with front and rear receivers;
- POWERHAWK rescue equipment; and
- light and power with NEXTGEN 5.5-kw diesel generator with autostart, WILL BURT light tower, six WHELEN fixed scene lights on body, and one FRC tripod floodlight on right rear.
The Elmer (NJ) Fire Department specified its KME apparatus as a quadruple combination unit to protect the numerous 21/2-story, turn-of-the-20th-century homes in its area. Chief Tom Crim says the department also wanted a variety of ladders to be able to reach different heights.
 Photo by author. |
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Features/Equipment:
- Excel chassis with 191-inch wheelbase and six-inch raised roof cab with six seats;
- DETROIT Series 50 350-hp diesel engine with ALLISON MD 3060P automatic transmission;
- HALE Qmax single-stage, 1,500-gpm pump with three 13/4-inch crosslays, two 21/2-inch preconnects, one-inch booster reel at rear, and TFT Crossfire monitor with Extend-Gun;
- UPF 780-gallon water tank;
- 116 feet of ground ladders; and
- light and power with A.M.P.S. eight-kw PTO generator and four FRC telescoping floodlights (two pole raise behind cab; two tripod on rear).
The Fairmount Fire Protection District in Golden, Colorado, purchased its PIERCE tanker to assist in protecting an ever-growing wildland interface area in its jurisdiction, according to Firefighter Tony Ligrani. The department wanted a high-profile commercial chassis to access the rural roads.
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Features/Equipment:
- INTERNATIONAL Model 2674 4 2 6 chassis with 220-inch wheelbase and three-seat cab;
- CUMMINS M11 400-hp diesel engine with ALLISON HD 4060P automatic transmission;
- WATEROUS CPK-2 single-stage 250-gpm PTO pump with two 13/4-inch lines in crosslays and tray of five-inch supply line alongside water tank;
- PIERCE aluminum 3,000-gallon water tank with three BRAY dump valves (one 10-inch in rear, two eight-inch on sides);
- enclosed hard suction hose tray and right-side rack for 3,000-gallon FOL-DA-TANK; and
- six WELDON fixed scene lights.
