Wichita Falls Fire Department Places Order for 11 Custom Pierce Fire Apparatus

The new apparatus are part of fleet expansion and replacement efforts by the Wichita Falls Fire Department.

APPLETON, Wis. (March 31, 2022) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, announced an order from the Wichita Falls Fire Department in Texas for 11 custom fire apparatus built on the Pierce Enforcer™ chassis, including eight pumpers, one Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower, one Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder, and one Heavy-Duty Non-Walk-In Rescue. Purchased through Texas-based Pierce dealer Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, the order is anticipated to be completed by April 2023.

“We’ve had a great experience with the Pierce apparatus currently in our fleet with regard to performance, drivability, configuration of the PUC, and maintenance support,” said Ken Prillaman, City of Wichita Falls Fire Chief. “The new apparatus will replace our entire current frontline, with some of the existing apparatus moving into reserve status. We look forward to the fleet updates and welcoming the new trucks into service as the department expands to meet the needs of our community.”

Wichita Falls Fire Department’s new fire apparatus will feature:

8 Pierce Enforcer Pumpers

  • Enforcer chassis
  • 750-gallon water tank
  • PUC™ 1500 gpm pump
  • Cummins L9 450 hp engine
  • TAK-4® Independent Suspension
  • HAAS Collision Mitigation System
  • Husky™ 3 Foam System

Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower

  • Enforcer chassis with 13” frame rails
  • 300-gallon water tank
  • PACCAR MX-13, 510 hp big block engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • HAAS Collision Mitigation System
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • Integrated ground pads
  • 20’ setback capability
  • 20-degree below grade operation

Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder

  • Enforcer chassis with 13” frame rails
  • 500-gallon water tank
  • PUC 1500 gpm pump
  • PACCAR MX-13, 510 hp big block engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Heavy-duty 107’ steel ladder
  • Quint, aluminum body
  • Single rear axle
  • HAAS Collision Mitigation System
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection

Heavy-Duty Non-Walk-In Rescue

  • Enforcer chassis
  • Cummins L9, 400 hp engine
  • TAK-4 Independent Suspension
  • Aluminum body, non-walk-in
  • HAAS Collision Mitigation System
  • Side roll and frontal impact protection
  • 3000 lb rope anchors on body roof
  • Harrison 6kw hydraulic generator
  • Will-Burt light tower
  • Plywood storage rack
  • Shelves, trays, tool boards, and tool drawers

The Wichita Falls Fire Department has eight fire stations and 160 sworn personnel that respond to over 13,500 calls per year. It is credited with being the first fire department west of the Mississippi River to have a motorized fire apparatus and a 100’ aerial apparatus.

“We have worked with the Wichita Falls Fire Department for over 20 years, and we are very proud that with this order, their entire fleet will be made up of Pierce fire apparatus, including reserve vehicles,” said Travis Ownby, sales representative with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. “We value our long-standing relationship and look forward to continuing our partnership as the department expands its resources to support emergency response across the Wichita Falls region.”

For a comprehensive review of Pierce pumpers, Ascendant aerials, the PUC, and the PACCAR MX-13 big block engine, visit www.piercemfg.com for specs, video, and images.

Hand entrapped in rope gripper

Elevator Rescue: Rope Gripper Entrapment

Mike Dragonetti discusses operating safely while around a Rope Gripper and two methods of mitigating an entrapment situation.
Delta explosion

Two Workers Killed, Another Injured in Explosion at Atlanta Delta Air Lines Facility

Two workers were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion Tuesday at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near the Atlanta airport.