Most fire chiefs around the country have been working on ways to be more efficient with managing personnel and fire apparatus. More and more we have heard about doing more with less. Designing multipurpose, highly functional fire apparatus is becoming the norm.
Fire department budgets have also played havoc in purchasing decisions for many chiefs. Many fire departments have reduced their fleets because of cost and also have not been able to adequately staff the apparatus they presently have in service.
To deal with this dilemma, chiefs and their truck committees have begun to rationalize that they can operate more efficiently designing combination apparatus. In the past five years, the most common type of fire apparatus that has emerged from this idea is the rescue pumper. Most apparatus manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon and have provided ample types of these units to choose from.
A NEW LEVEL
However, one department has taken the idea of multipurpose apparatus to a new plateau. The Elkhorn (WI) Fire Department is a small combination fire department located 35 miles west of Milwaukee. It operates a diverse fleet of apparatus and was due to replace a 1989 pumper tender. The department covers 103 square miles and is a mixed rural-suburban area, with roughly two thirds of it being unhydranted.
According to Chief Rod Smith, the department tries to replace apparatus on a 25-year basis and currently had a pumper tender that was due to be replaced. Smith wanted another vehicle that was essentially the same as the one they had because of water concerns.
“We began planning in 2011, with our truck committee comprised of myself, other chiefs, officers, and motor pump operators,” Smith says. “After looking at our response district and target hazards, we decided to be proactive and design a vehicle that not only would carry water like a tanker but also have an aerial device mounted on it.”
The district includes large homes, including some with 20,000 square feet that are set back from the street with large, long driveways. The department has a hard time setting up its current aerial because of the size of the vehicle and its having an outrigger spread of almost 20 feet. So the new vehicle had to carry a great deal of water and have a small outrigger spread. “We looked around at various manufacturers but settled on Rosenbauer,” Smith shares. “Our city laws state that as long as we have the vehicle manufactured by a sole source manufacturer, we don’t have to go out for competitive bidding.”
IMPROVED DESIGNS
The department had purchased a Rosenbauer pumper four years prior and didn’t have any issues with it. The committee checked with other departments in the area that operate Rosenbauer apparatus and they were also happy with the manufacturer and its apparatus.
“One of the things that we liked was the Commander cab and chassis,” says Smith. “It seemed Rosenbauer took the best ideas from around the industry and put them into their design. The cab is roomier than we had in previous vehicles; we have more compartment space and it was designed with safety in mind, has great visibility, a smooth ride, and Green Star Technology, which saves us fuel and maintenance in the long run.”
Some of the ideas the committee settled on were a pump panel off the ground on the officer’s side of the vehicle, a 68-foot waterway, and the ability to operate the vehicle from a remote control. The vehicle also includes a 2,000-gallon tank, a 50-gallon Class A foam tank, and a 100-kW Harrison hydraulic generator.
“Virtually one member can operate the truck at a scene, which was what we really wanted, especially during the daytime hours,” Smith says. “A great asset was that the vehicle only had a 10-foot outrigger spread so it solved the problem operating in some of the narrow driveways that we have in the response district.”
The department had the funds to equip the truck with all new hose, nozzles, and all other equipment before it was put into service. The vehicle is equipped with crosslays in the front bumper and carries 250 feet of 2½-inch, 250 feet of 1¾-inch, and 500 feet of five-inch hose.
The committee visited the factory and was impressed with its efficient, clean, and friendly operation. “They answered all of our questions and the local dealer, Jefferson Fire and Safety, was top notch,” Smith shares. “We had some minor issues after we took delivery but service after the sale was great. All of our concerns were taken care of right away.”
Rosenbauer also spent three days at the Elkhorn fire station training personnel on all operations of the vehicle.
Presently the apparatus is first due on all fire incidents but will not respond on any mutual-aid alarms because of a staffing shortage.
CONTINUED SERVICE
When planning on the specs for your new vehicle, be proactive. Design for your response area and look for what your future needs may be. If you plan ahead, a mixed-use vehicle can serve your department well.
See what other departments in your area are using. See if the manufacturer you are considering will build what you want-not what it wants. Check to see if the local dealer will work with your department. And remember: Service after the sale is paramount.
Sidebar – Elkhorn Specs
- Rosenbauer Commander cab and chassis
- Cummins ISX 122 450-hp diesel engine, Allison EVS 4000 transmission
- 1,500-gpm N55 Rosenbauer pump, 2,000 gallons water, 50 gallons Class A foam tank, 68-foot waterway
- 100-kW Harrison hydraulic generator
- Federal Signal light package
Sidebar – Elkhorn (WI) Fire Department
- Covers 103 square miles with a population of 25,000
- Paid fire chief
- 2 paid EMS personnel
- 62 paid on-call firefighters
- 420 fires and 1,100 EMS runs for 2013
