FORT COLLINS — September 26, 2018 — The Harwich (Massachusetts) Fire Department is taking delivery on an unusual apparatus — or at least one not typically found on the East Coast. The two-station fire department, which protects 11,765 within 20.93 square miles in the mid-Cape Cod region, turned to Colorado fire truck manufacturer SVI Trucks to build a Type III Wildland Engine to help respond to the area’s severe flood scenes.
Built on a Freightliner 108SD Type III chassis, Harwich Fire Chief Norman Clark Jr. said the apparatus will provide the department with higher ground clearance to navigate flooded areas where deep water has been known to create obstacles for some of its other engines. Featuring up to 15” of ground clearance, this chassis delivers an additional 7” of clearance compared to other trucks that meet the NFPA 1901 8” requirement. Among Harwich’s 17-vehicle fleet, the department has two rescue boats, a dive rescue truck and a dive rescue trailer, all devoted to water rescues.
Harwich’s newest addition features a Hale MBP 1,000 GPM pump with 500-gal. water tank, FoamPro 1601 foam system and Chelsea “Hot-Shift” transmission PTO. The rear-access hose bed storage is located over the water tank and body of the apparatus, featuring two adjustable aluminum hose bed partitions. Compartments are equipped with ROM roll-up doors, OnScene Solutions LED lighting and Shelf-Trac or PAC Trac mounting. Harwich will store a Warn 9,000 lb. 12-volt electric winch, furnished with the build, in one of the compartments, along with a 20’ 3-section ladder in the rear curbside compartment.
“We’re excited Harwich turned to SVI Trucks and our dealer, Five Star Fire, to help complete this Type III build. We know how important this apparatus is to this Massachusetts community because it’s not your typical East Coast truck,” said Rafe Bridges, SVI Trucks Sales Manager. “This apparatus was truly designed for Harwich’s unique challenges.”
For full specifications and more photos, visit bit.ly/harwich-1051.
