APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                                March, 2024

MORE VEHICLES FROM HUDSON COUNTY

This month we feature more vehicles form Hudson County, namely Bayonne and Jersey City. The lone vehicle from Jersey City is from the Hudson County OEM and Homeland Security. It is designated a Community Resource Unit, which includes being a rehab. It is a 2021 Freightliner with a Morgan body and conversion by LDV, a Pierce company. It has a canopy, floodlighting and a 12 kw generator. The other vehicles are from Bayonne. They include two Spartan ER pumpers from the Fire Department, along with an ATV issued to them by the Hudson County OEM. It is one-of-six being distributed to county fire departments. The other two vehicles are from the Bayonne Police and consist of a mobile command center, which formerly served with the New York City PD, and an AM General Hummer, soft skin model, which formerly served in Fort Knox, Kentucky. It is used for crowd and traffic control, but can also be put to work for other purposes as it is a tactical unit. The command center replaces a 1998 Ford E-Super Duty with First Priority Emergency Vehicles body. Finally, last but not least is a foam “super pumper” in service at the International Matex Tank Terminal, a petro chemical plant. If you recall, the July issue of this column featured updates from this facility. It is a Custom Fire foam pumper on a Spartan FC-94 chassis with large pump, large foam tank, water tank and three large volume deck guns (two TFT Monsoons and a Williams Ambassador). It will carry six-inch supply hose and was the last vehicle to be photographed for this column.

In dealer news, Campbell Supply Co., LLC has received an order from Hillsborough Township Fire District 1 (Flagtown) (Somerset County), for a KME rear-mount quint. It will replace a 2007 75-foot quint, which was featured some months ago in this column under the title “A True Quint.” Word has it that the district has changed in many ways, requiring a longer ladder. Features and equipment include a Severe Service chassis, 109-foot four section aerial with 100-foot horizontal reach, 3 ½ foot less of an outrigger spread, and a 250-pound stronger tip load. It will have a flat roof cab with six seats, 242-inch wheelbase, Cummins 605 hp diesel engine,  -7 degree to 80-degree operating range, 750-pound tip load, 14-foot jack spread (10-foot short jack spread) and can set up on an 11-degree slope. It also has a 1500-gpm waterway, 234-feet of portable ladders, Hale 1500-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank and Fire Tech lighting. Though it is a quint, its primary use will be as a truck company. Spartan ER orders include for Margate City (Atlantic County), a Spartan ER, S-180 pumper on a Metro Star LFD chassis with 10-inch raised roof cab. It will have a Cummins L9, 400 hp diesel engine, Hale DSD, 1500-gpm pump and 750-gallon water tank. Also, the Boro Collingswood (Camden County) has ordered an S-180 with Metro Star LFD chassis and 10-inch raised roof cab. It will have a Hale DSD 1500-gpm pump, a 750-gallon water tank and a Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine. The New Egypt FC in Plumstead Township (Ocean County) ordered a pumper/tanker with a Metro Star EMFD chassis and 10 inch raised roof cab.  It will have a Hale Qmax, 2000-gpm pump and 3,000-gallon water tank. They are prepping for delivery to the Colt’s Neck FC 1 (Monmouth County), a Star pumper with Metro Star MFD chassis, 10-inch raised roof cab, Waterous CMU 2000-gpm pump and 1000-gallon water tank. They have delivered to Washington Township (Gloucester County) a rescue pumper with Gladiator LFD chassis, 10-inch roof cab, Hale DSD 1500-gpm pump and 750-gallon water tank.

First Priority Emergency Vehicles reports the following EMS activity: Freehold EMS (Monmouth County) has ordered a Braun Chief XL. Central Jersey Hatzolah (Ocean County) has received two Demers MXP 150’s. Par Troy (Morris County) received two First Priority ambulance remounts on Braun Express Plus with Ford F-450 chassis. Palmyra Cinnaminson Riverton EMS (Burlington County) received a Demers Transit Type II ambulance and Bergen County OEM has ordered a Demers MXP 150. 

Absolute Fire Protection has received the following E-ONE orders: one that we had missed is Ridgefield Park (Bergen County) that will have a 100-foot rear-mount aerial (HR-100) on a single axle and Cyclone chassis for Truck 2. Other orders include for the Colonia FC in Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County), a Cyclone heavy duty non-walk-in rescue; for the Adelphia FC in Howell Township (Monmouth County) a Cyclone HP 100-foot platform quint with 2000-gpm pump and 450-gallon water tank; for Kearny a Typhoon squad pumper (Hudson County) and for Somerville (Somerset County) a Typhoon pumper. 

In last month’s Firefighter 1 report, there was a typo about the chassis of the Lafayette Fouts pumper. It is a Spartan FC-94 not an “FB-94.” They have since received an order from the Tabernacle Township VFD (Burlington County) for a Fouts Super pumper/tanker. Specs include a Kenworth T-880 chassis, Cummins ISX, 565 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax, 1500-gpm pump and a 4,000-gallon water tank with a 10-inch Newton dump having an electric valve and three-way directional chutes. 

New Jersey Emergency Vehicles has delivered the following P.L. Custom ambulances. In Monmouth County, a Type III Medallion 170 on a Ford E-450 chassis to the Keyport FAS; to the Sheriff’s Office and a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis. Another is a Classic Type 1 on a Ford F-350 4x4 chassis to the Elizabeth FD EMS and a remount on a Ford F-550 4x4 chassis (Union County), a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis to the Township of Branchburg (Somerset County) and to Wanaque FAS a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis ((Passaic County).  They were prepping for delivery a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis for Wanamassa FAS (Monmouth County).  P.L. Custom orders include for Wanaque, a duplicate of the last delivery of a Medallion; in Ocean County a third new order of a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis for Jersey Shore Hatzolah and a Medallion on a Ford E-450 chassis for the Lakewood FAS; a Classic Type 1 on a Ford F-550 4x4 for the Upper Deerfield EMS (Cumberland County), and a Classic also for Franklin Lakes VAC (Bergen County) on a Ford F-550 4x4 with gas engine. They also received an order from Hazlet Township (Monmouth County District 1) (West Keansburg) for a Toyne, stainless steel pumper on a Spartan Metro Star, ELFD chassis with 10-inch raised roof cab. Specs include a Cummins X12, 500 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 2250-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank and combination FRC and HiViz scene lighting.    

Defender Emergency Equipment has received an order from New Brunswick (Middlesex County) for a second Rosenbauer 100-foot mid-mount Cobra platform on a Commander chassis. It is similar to the one in service. Specs include an EXT body and Cummins 600 hp diesel engine. They have delivered to Tenafly (Bergen County) a Rosenbauer 109-foot Viper aerial on a Commander chassis. It is Tenafly’s second Rosenbauer apparatus. Specs include a lifetime body warranty, single rear axle, Cummins 500 hp diesel engine, joy stick operation, painted ladder sections and galvanized frame rails. 

Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce orders: in Cape May County, Middle Township for District 3 (Green Creek) an Enforcer PUC pumper; for the Boro of Alpha (Warren County) an Enforcer 107-foot Ascendant ladder; for Voorhees Township (Camden County), a Saber pumper and for Perth Amboy (Middlesex County) an Enforcer 105-foot RM aerial (no pump or tank).