By Bill Adams

“Apparatus Purchasing: Drawings and Blueprints, Part 1” (September 2022) explained the value of blueprints and drawings in designing and building fire apparatus, especially when advancing an idea drawn on a bar napkin to a finished product.

Now let’s discuss the methodology and tools used in the process. There is no single accepted definition in the fire service for either blueprints or drawings, so consider them one and the same.

Fire apparatus articles are usually authored by marketing and salespeople from the corporate side of the apparatus industry and by current and past fire service members. When commentary includes sophisticated and technical data, some writers are in uncharted waters. There’s a possibility of regurgitating unfamiliar and misinterpreted data, thus inadvertently confusing or misleading readers. That scenario can exist when purchasers write apparatus specifications requiring blueprints with terms they may have misunderstood. Lukas Drayna, the lead engineer at CustomFIRE Apparatus in Osceola, WI, has provided some manufacturer’s engineering perspective to my commentary.

• Apparatus Purchasing archives
• Apparatus Purchasing: Detailed Specifications Are Needed—Sometimes
• Apparatus Purchasing Committee: Needs vs. Wants
• Apparatus Purchasing: Easy or Hard?
• Apparatus Purchasing: Revisiting Purchasing Specifications
• Apparatus Purchasing: Steps and Specs
• Apparatus Purchasing: Read Between the Spec’s Lines

Three fundamentals in the fire truck world are buying, selling, and manufacturing. Most purchasers want apparatus built their way. Some are oblivious to, or are uncaring of, the difficulty and cost. Manufacturers (OEMs) and salespeople (vendors) look at profitability—as they rightfully should.

Degreed engineers, designers, and draftsmen (engineer

Sutphen—Middlefield (OH) Fire Department pumper. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Hale SmartFOAM 2.1 single-agent foam system; Will-Burt Night Scan 2.1 light tower; Harrison 6-kW generator; coffin storage compartments; Whelen and FRC scene lights. Dealer: Ray Capezzuto, Herb Fire Equipment, Powell, OH.

PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >>

A push-in ceremony was held following trick or treat in the Village of West Lafayette (OH) for a new fire truck at the West Lafayette Volunteer Fire Department, CoshoctonTribune.com reported.

The Pierce Enforcer has a 750-gallon water tank and 1,500-gallon-per-minute mid-ship waterous pump, the report said.

The old pumper truck it’s replacing is being sold by the village.

The Cincinnati Fire Department says the trucks and ambulances it uses every day are getting worn out, Fox19.com reported.

Local 48, CFD’s union, says budgetary concerns are causing hiccups, the report said.

CFD has 26 stations that run on average 210,000 responses annually, which includes ambulance calls, the report said.

There’s a bumper of a backup truck that’s sideswiped and missing a door component. Even the spares are damaged, the report said. And even the spares are a sparse commodity.

The Local 48 president says it comes down to the wear and tear of CFD’s “basic tools,” according to the report.

The union president met Tuesday with city administration to bring the concerns to light. He said he got positive feedback with commitments to help, the report said.

Valley City (ND) bought a used fire truck last month to replace an aging one for its volunteer fire department, NewsDakota.com reported.