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Posted: Jun 27, 2025

Fire Apparatus of the Day: June 27, 2025

DARLEY—Lac Courte Oreilles Fire Department, Hayward, WI., Polyvision Quick Attack pumper. Navistar CV515 cab and chassis; Navistar 6.6L 350-hp diesel engine; Darley Champion PSMC 1,500-gpm pump; 415-gallon polypropylene water tank; 25-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2002 single-agent foam system; Darley CAFS 120-cfm system; Copolymer body. Dealer: Troy Crothers, Darley Company, Chippewa Falls, WI.

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The post Fire Apparatus of the Day: June 27, 2025 appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jun 27, 2025

Sterling Fire Department seeking federal funds for critical radio upgrades

Brandon Clark
Daily Gazette, Sterling, Ill.
(TNS)

Jun. 26—STERLING — The Sterling Fire Department may soon receive a long-overdue upgrade to its communication system that could vastly improve coordination with local law enforcement and enhance firefighter safety.

Nearly four years after the death of Sterling Fire Lt. Garrett Ramos during a rural Rock Falls house fire in December 2021, the department remains focused on closing gaps in its emergency response capabilities.

While the immediate cause of Ramos’ death was ruled asphyxiation after falling through a floor during the blaze, a deeper issue emerged in the aftermath: communication breakdown. At the time of the incident, his radio had been set to a frequency that prevented him from being heard — a delay that may have cost him his life.

Now, thanks to a Congressional Funding program championed by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the department has been placed in an approval position for a $420,000 request to replace its outdated radios. Sterling Fire Chief David Northcutt told Shaw Local that the measure is expected to move forward for a vote.

“The grant is for portable and mobile radios,” Northcutt said. “We have applied for a lot of money this year for new SCBA’s [self-contained breathing apparatus], a new tender [tanker], and a new aerial [truck]. All of these purchases are just as important as our communications considering we have radios currently.”

The core issue facing SFD’s communication system is incompatibility with other agencies’ technology.

Northcutt said that when the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office switched to StarCom radios for all police agencies in the county, the SFD lost its direct communication link with them. That disconnect now requires emergency dispatchers to manually switch channels between fire departments and law enforcement, an inefficient process that could cost precious moments during an emergency, and in the worst cases, a firefighter’s life.

“Due to the amount of radio traffic police have, and the amount we have, we can’t always use the same channels, nor scan each other,” Northcutt said. “It’s a slow and at times confusing task to switch channels in the middle of an event.”

The solution: Dual-band radios — the same technology that Northcutt said is now used by the Sterling Police Department. They would allow both departments to communicate directly, without relying on dispatchers to serve as go-betweens.

However, SFD’s limited budget capacity has placed these dual-band radios, which can cost upward of $16,000 each, out of the department’s reach.

If approved, the federal funds would allow Sterling to bring its radio communications in line with surrounding agencies and current safety standards.

“This would allow us to have each other’s channels in our portables,” Northcutt said. “We wouldn’t have to go through dispatch to try and coordinate in the middle of an emergency.”

© 2025 the Daily Gazette (Sterling, Ill.). Visit www.saukvalley.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Posted: Jun 27, 2025

Pumper-Tanker Replaces Hahn Tanker

The Marlboro (NJ) Volunteer Fire Company serves the residents of Marlboro Township Fire District #1, as well as providing mutual aid to other parts of the township and neighboring towns. The fire company runs two pumpers (a KME and a Marion), a KME 100-foot rear-mount aerial ladder, a rescue, a 3,000-gallon Hahn tanker, a Ford brush truck, a utility pickup, and two chief’s vehicles. The fire company wanted to replace its Hahn tanker and went to Spartan Emergency Response for a new rig.

Ryan Bailey, director of emergency truck sales for Campbell Supply Company, who sold the new rig to Marlboro, says the fire company had a good handle on what it wanted in a new pumper-tanker. “They wanted it on a commercial chassis with a high-horsepower engine, a large amount of water, a large pump, an electrically controlled deck gun, and three dump valves,” Bailey observes. “They have a lot of nonhydranted areas in their coverage district, and they also give mutual aid to surrounding areas that are without hydrants.”

Spartan ER built this pumper-tanker for Marlboro (NJ) Volunteer Fire Company on a Kenworth T880 two-door cab and chassis, powered by a 500-hp Cummins engine and an Allison 4500 EVS automatic transmission. (Photos courtesy of Campbell Supply Company.)

Bailey says that the pumper-tanker Spartan ER built for Marlboro is on a Kenworth T880 two-door cab and chassis and is powered by a 500-horsepower (hp) Cummins engine and an Allison 4,500 EVS automatic transmission. He notes that the rig has a 245-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 35 feet 5 inches, and an overall height of 11 feet 3 inches, with a 20,000-pound rated front axle and a 52,000-pound rear axle.

The Marlboro pumper-tanker has a Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump, a 3,500-gallon water tank, a 50-gallon foam tank, and a FoamPro 2002 foam system.

Marlboro’s pumper-tanker has a 2,000-gallon-per-minute (gpm) Hale Qmax side-mount pump, a 3,500-gallon water tank, a 50-gallon foam tank, and a FoamPro 2002 foam proportioning system. Bailey notes that the rig has a Task Force Tips remote-controlled deck gun with an 18-inch Extend-A-Gun, two foam-capable single stack 200-foot1 ¾-inch crosslays, one foam-capable single stack 200-foot 2½-inch crosslay, and one 200-foot 2½-inch dead lay.

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Posted: Jun 27, 2025

P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. Adds Heritage Fire Equipment

P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. (PLCB) is pleased to announce the addition of Heritage Fire Equipment of Columbus, OH to its growing family of dealers. This partnership will strengthen the presence of PLCB in the Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia marketplace.  

Harry Sutphen, Owner, Heritage Fire Equipment, said that they “are excited to partner with PL Custom and expand our product offerings with a trusted name in emergency vehicles. With nearly 80 years of experience, PL Custom is a family-owned company supporting first responders with a deep-rooted commitment to quality and integrity. This partnership strengthens our ability to provide the communities we serve with customized ambulance solutions backed by decades of proven reliability and innovation.”

Chad Newsome, National Sales Manager of P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc., echoed Harry’s sentiments. “The Heritage team is fundamentally aligned with what we believe in here at PL, which is to bring emergency vehicles to customers that are, at their very core, durable, reliable, and serviceable products. With our 80th Anniversary kicking off in 2026, now was the absolute right time to partner with such a wonderful group of people at Heritage.”

P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. has been in business since 1946 and has been owned by the Smock family since 1970. This Manasquan, NJ based company sells through a network of 17 independent dealers covering 27 states and the District of Columbia. PL Custom Emergency Vehicle and Rescue 1 are the manufacturing divisions of the corporation and are proud to maintain a strong reputation as a customer focused designer and manufacturer of ambulances and rescue vehicles. PLCB continues to grow at a consistent pace, happy to be able to add partners who share our long-term vision for high quality products, outstanding customer service, and smart and sustainable growth. We are small by design, family-owned, and rich in heritage and tradition.

The post P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. Adds Heritage Fire Equipment appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jun 27, 2025

June 2025 Apparatus Showcase

COMPILED BY RON HEAL

delivery of the month

Midwest Fire

MIDWEST FIRE—Frederick County Fire Department, Winchester, VA, two pumper-tankers. Freightliner 114 SD cabs and chassis; Detroit DD13 450-hp engines; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pumps; APR polypropylene 3,000-gallon water tanks; Zico electric “Tip Down” portable tank carriers with 3,000-gallon portable tanks; Akron Brass model 3430 monitors; Ward No Smoke filtration systems. Dealer: Brett Jensen, Midwest Fire, Luverne, MN.


Kme

KME—Freetown (MA) Fire Department pumper. Severe Service cab and chassis with 8-inch raised roof; Cummins L9 400-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; Duo-Safety and Little Giant ground ladders. Dealer: Colbey Fournier, Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus, Westport, MA.


Pierce

PIERCE—Omaha (NE) Fire Rescue aerial platform. Enforcer cab and chassis; Paccar MX13 510-hp engine; 100-foot platform aerial; TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension; total height of the unit is just under 11 feet to fit in the fire station with an 11-foot door. Dealer: Todd Clyne, MacQueen Emergency, Omaha, NE.


E-One

E-ONE—Sharonville (OH) Fire Department HP 78 aerial ladder quint. Cyclone 100-inch-wide cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; 78-foot rear-mount aerial ladder; wireless controlled Akron StreamMaster monitor; FireTech scene lighting package. Dealer: Kevin Kleman, Vogelpohl Fire Equipment, Erlanger, KY.


Rosenbauer

ROSENBAUER—Springfield (OH) Fire Department two pumpers. Commander cabs and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engines; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pumps; 750-gallon polypropylene water tanks. Dealer: All American Fire, Canton, OH. (Photo by Paul Barrett.)


Smeal

SMEAL—Sanger (TX) Fire Department 100-foot midmount platform quint. Spartan Gladiator EMFD cab and chassis with 5-inch raised roof; Cummins X15 605-hp engine; Waterous CSUC20 2,000-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; Harrison 10-kW generator. Dealer: Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Houston, TX.


Ferrara

FERRARA—Bossier City (LA) Fire Department tanker. Freightliner M2-112 two-door cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Darley JMP 500-gpm pump; 3,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; pump controls mounted in cab console with front bumper turret joystick control; two 90-degree side spray head nozzles bumper mounted. Dealer: BFA Fire & Rescue, Prairieville, LA.


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