APPARATUS OF THYE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                                    January, 2024

THE ENGINE THAT PACKS A PUNCH: EESS ADDS TRI STAR AMBULANCES

During a visit to the Ramtown Fire Company in Howell Township (Monmouth County), we encountered their newest engine, a Pierce wildland interface pumper with an International HV607 chassis. The elaborate specs and features include a Waterous CSU, 1250-gpm pump and 750-gallon water tank. It has pump and roll capability utilizing a PTO driven Hale 320-gpm pump which controls two booster reels mounted below the cab doors and the front bumper TFT Tornado RC turret. Other features include a 6-ton Warn winch, a 4.5-ton portable winch, Honda 10 kw generator, a TFT Hurricane RC deck gun, crosslays and scene lighting. In other photographs, we stay in Ramtown to feature a 2002 Pierce Dash 75-foot quint and a 2009 Pierce Velocity pumper. Also at the Southard FC in the township is a new Pierce Enforcer Ascendant rear-mount quint. Then we go to Middletown Township to show a new Spartan ER Gladiator pumper, which has a washing station that was featured in the “Tools of the Trade” feature in the September issue, and a 2002 Spartan Metro Star/Precision pumper. When I first heard of Precision Fire Apparatus, I observed that they built pumpers with rear discharges. I also found out recently that they install top-mount/side-mount designs on pumpers. Next, we feature a new Spartan ER Metro Star pumper in service at Allenhurst, and a retitled Pierce rescue in Tinton Falls FC. 1 that we were told by a member was originally destined for Venezuela, but the customer was unable to complete the purchase. It has a long body, which due to time constraints, I was unable to find out the measurement. All of these vehicles are in Monmouth County. Hence there are eight photos this month. 

In dealer news, Emergency Equipment Sales & Service has added Tri Star Industries to their products of HME, Excellance and FR Conversions. Tri Star is located in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and builds a variety of emergency and transport vehicles. In fact, Midland Park EMS (Bergen County) has ordered a Tri Star Type III ambulance. EESS has delivered to the Gloucester County EMS two Excellence Type III ambulances.

Absolute Fire Protection has received an order from the Highland Park FD (Middlesex County) for an E-ONE Typhoon low hose bed pumper. They have delivered the Cyclone pumper to Wayne FC 3 (Passaic County) and continue to prep South Plainfield’s 50-foot Boom (Middlesex County).

Campbell Supply Co., LLC has received an order from the Monmouth County Fire Academy for a Spartan ER Star pumper. Specs include a Metro Star LFD chassis with raised roof cab, Waterous 1500-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank, low hose bed, front intake and crosslays. They are prepping for the Reliance FC in Woodstown (Pilesgrove Township in Salem County), a Spartan ER Metro Star pumper. Specs include an LFD chassis with 20-inch raised roof cab, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Waterous 1500-gpm pump, 750-gallon water tank and a Harrison 15 kw generator.

We have a report that Mount Ephraim Boro (Camden County) recently received an E-ONE Typhoon pumper with 1500-gpm pump and 1000-gallon water tank, and will be getting their 2012 E-ONE Cyclone squad pumper refurbished.

Firefighter One reports that at the time of this writing they were in the process of delivering a three-pumper order to Paterson (Passaic County). They will be assigned to Engines 1, 4 and 5. Specs include a Ferrara Cinder custom chassis, extended cab with five seats plus an EMS compartment behind the driver’s seat, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax, 1750-gpm pump, FRC Pump Boss pressure governor, front intake with six-inch swivel, four-inch LDH discharges right side panel and right side rear body, 750-gallon “L” shaped water tank for low hose bed, Ferrara extruded aluminum body with ROM roll-up doors and an FRC inView 360 camera. Orders include for Cape May City (Cape May County), a Ferrara Igniter custom rescue pumper. Specs include a long cab with five seats and an EMS cabinet behind the driver’s seat, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax-XS 1500-gpm pump and 500-gallon “L” shaped water tank for low hose bed. Also, Lafayette Township (Sussex County) ordered a Fouts FB-94 custom rescue pumper. Specs include a Spartan FC-94 custom chassis, Cummins L9, 380 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 1500-gpm pump and 1000-gallon water tank.

Fire & Safety Services has received the following Pierce orders: for Bloomingdale (Passaic County), an Enforcer 107-foot Ascendant aerial and a stock Saber pumper, and for Glen Rock (Bergan County) a stock Enforcer 100-foot Ascendant mid-mount tower.