When it comes to really large, multi-function fire apparatus, the Mount Horeb (Wis.) Fire Department (MHFD) seems to have a handle on it. They’ve been purchasing well-thought-out, progressive units for the past 20 years.
The department’s chief, Chuck Himsel, affectionately known as Fire Truck Chuck, prefers to spec vehicles that can be used at any type of emergency scene. Himsel has been chief of the MHFD for more than 40 years; his father was chief for 19 years. To say that he’s a dedicated fire service individual is an understatement.
Just like any other volunteer fire department in the country, the MHFD has a staffing problem during the daytime hours. “We tried over the years to have our apparatus evolve into multifunction pieces,” Himsel says. “We had nine pieces of apparatus, and it was beginning to get harder and harder to get these pieces out responding to fires. We probably responded with all nine pieces only a few times per year.”
As a result, the department decided to reduce its fleet from nine apparatus to five. “Several years ago, we bought two large pumper/tankers and a quint,” Himsel says (see FireRescue, Nov. 2003, p. 46). “We decided to sell our 1992 squad truck which was just a heavy-rescue with tools; there was no firepower on it, so when it responded we had to send an engine with it.” The MHFD’s 1980 engine was also due for replacement, so the department decided to sell that vehicle as well, and purchase a multifunctional rescue pumper to replace the two apparatus. As Himsel notes, reducing the fleet provided immediate cost-savings in maintenance and insurance.
An Obvious Choice
The MHFD had consistently purchased apparatus through CustomFire, located in Osceola, Wis. For those of you who haven’t seen the apparatus they build, they’re some of the most unique, multifunctional apparatus coming off the line today.
“CustomFire built two of our previous pumper/tankers, as well as rehabbed some of our engines and a walk-through rescue,” Himsel says. “In Wisconsin, no bidding is required, so you can buy from whatever manufacturer you want. It was an easy choice for us. This was a factory-direct purchase, so we didn’t have to go through a salesperson.”
The MHFD’s truck committee started speccing the apparatus 2 years before delivery. “We wanted the vehicle to carry rescue tools and a full complement of truck company tools and also be able to respond as a pumper,” Himsel says.
The department’s response area covers two villages and portions of four other townships–a total of 131 square miles with a population of about 14,000. “We’re a bedroom community to Madison and the state capitol,” Himsel says. “We have light industrial buildings, strip shopping centers, small mom-and-pop businesses, agricultural establishments and some areas with severe terrain. We wanted a do-all vehicle to cover our needs.”
The CustomFire factory is only 260 miles from Mount Horeb, so when the truck was on the line, the MHFD committee visited the factory every week. This eliminated change orders. “We had good communication with their engineers,” Himsel says. “The construction process took 9 months, which I thought was great. The best thing about CustomFire is that they back all of their products, and as far as I’m concerned, the owner’s handshake is just as good as a contract.”
Himsel says the new Squad 1 vehicle is working well. “Being able to carry all of the rescue and truck company tools, as well as having the vehicle as a pumper at an incident scene, provides more manpower and is a great timesaver for us,” he says.
Keys to Consolidation
In this case, bigger is better. Not only is Squad 1 a multifunctional piece of fire apparatus, but in preplanning the specs, the MHFD was able to save money on the purchase and in insurance and maintenance costs.
Before making any decisions to reduce your fleet, first check with ISO to make sure you’re not going to suffer by lowering your insurance ratings. You can’t just get rid of several vehicles to save money; you must first address other concerns such as needed fire flow, which determines the water flow needed to extinguish a fire in your community. But that’s a topic for another day.
2 in 1
A close-up look at Mount Horeb’s new rescue/pumper
- Spartan Gladiator chassis
- 525-hp CAT C13 engine
- Allison 4000 EVS transmission
- 2,000-gpm rear-mounted multi-stage Waterous pump
- 1,000-gallon polypropylene tank
- 30-gallon foam tank
- Aluminum cab and stainless-steel body
- Whelen LED lighting package
- Front-mounted Roto-Ray warning light
- Two Federal Q2B mechanical sirens
- Three rear 4″ discharges and one 6″ suction
- Driver’s side 6″ and 2 1/2″ suctions
- Driver- and officer-side rear 2 1/2″ discharges
- 30-kW Smart Power hydraulic generator
- Will-Burt light tower
- Rear-access ladders
- Aluminum four-way hosebed covers
- Pump compartment heating system
- Driver- and passenger-side winch receivers
- Floor-dry dispenser
Mount Horeb Apparatus
- Engine 2 (“Pete”): 1995 Peterbilt 357/CustomFire engine with a 1,750-gpm pump and a 2,000-gallon tank
- Engine 4 (“Re-Pete”): 2002 Peterbilt 357/CustomFire engine with a 2,000-gpm pump and a 2,000-gallon tank
- Engine 3: 1990 Amertek engine with a 1,000-gpm pump, 660-gallon tank and 40-gallon foam tank
- Ladder 1: 1986 Duplex/Grumman 102′ aerial platform with a 1,250-gpm pump and 400-gallon tank
- Squad 1: 2006 Spartan Gladiator/CustomFire rescue pumper with a 2,000-gpm pump, 1,000-gallon tank and a 30-gallon foam tank
- Rescue 40: HME ambulance
