APPARATUS DELIVERIES
About 10 years ago, a Coralville (Iowa) fire chief thought about the future and recognized his department’s eventual need for an aerial unit. Because of this, the city established a fund for the purchase; monies were budgeted into the fund each year.
The apparatus, a 102’ Aerialcat from Grumann, was delivered to the department in July. It’s equipped with a two-stage, 1,500-gpm Waterous pump, a 250-gal. booster tank, and a 6 kilowatt diesel generator. The Iowa City Fire Department ordered a virtually identical unit at the same time as Coralville ordered its apparatus, enabling each to serve as the other’s back-up unit.
Circle No. 82 on Reader Service Card
Photo by Mark Christiansen
The Wassaic (N.Y.) Fire Company decided to refurbish a 1974 Clintonville Fire Apparatus tanker rather than purchase a new one.
Cost was a factor in the decision to refurbish, says David Luther, president of the volunteer firefighting company. To get everything the company wanted on a new tanker, it would cost about $120,000; the cost of refurbishing was $77,000.
The tanker, refurbished by Pierce Manufacturing Co., has a 2,000gallon V-shaped booster tank for quick unloading time; it can be dumped of its entire load in 1.45 minutes. The tanker can also be filled in less than two minutes. There are three 10″ electric Newton quick dump valves. The unit has a rebuilt 350-gpm Watcrous pump and new Code 3 warning lights.
The Wassaic Fire Company protects a 26-square-mile rural area in the Hudson-Harlem Valley and relies heavily on tanker shuttle operations.
Circle No. 81 on Reader Service Card
Photo by Dove Stewordson
■ The Calgary (Alberta, Canada) Fire Department’s new hazardousmaterial unit is part of the department’s initial attack force on hazmat calls. Calgary is the site of heavy petrochemical refinement and, subsequently, transportation. The new unit, with firefighters trained in haz-mat response, would be sent out first on such a call, followed by a specialized haz-tech crew, says Deputy Chief Orville Eby.
The unit, built by Superior Fire Trucks on a GMC chassis, has five double-door and one tall single-door equipment compartments in the body, with an entry door mounted on the right side. Its large construction allows for an interior working area, storage of specialized equipment, and enables personnel to suit-up inside compartment areas. It carries reference materials, a variety of acid/gas suits, 60and 30-minute SCBA, radiation equipment, and a computer.
Circle No. 88 on Reader Service Card
Photo by Tom W. Shand
■ The Mesa (Arizona) Fire Department expects growth in the number of multistory and high-rise buildings in its coverage area. Its new 95-foot aerial, built by Emergency-One on a Hurricane chassis, is part of its protection plan for the city.
The platform quint is equipped with a Hale QSMG 1500 gpm, single-stage pump and carries 200 gallons of water; the unit also carries 800 feet of 5-inch hose. The vehicle has a Detroit 8V92TA diesel engine and an Allison HT740 automatic transmission. The body has 16 compartments and six SCBA storage tubes.
Circle No. 89 on Reader Service Card
