According to Raven Radio, St. Albert (Canada) Fire Services added a Pierce Ascendant ladder truck to its fleet. The apparatus includes a midmount 100-foot platform.  

The ladder truck is built on a Pierce Enforcer cab and chassis with a 510-hp PACCAR MX-13 engine. The fire apparatus has a Waterous with 2,000-gpm pump and carries 300 gallons of water. The overall length of the vehicle is 43 feet 1/4 inches long, and it can hold five firefighters.  

Chief Leigh Sawicki shares that this truck can get into tighter spaces that the department’s current truck cannot.   

The apparatus traveled from Wisconsin and made it to St. Albert’s in the beginning of May. Firefighters are training on it throughout the summer, and it should be ready for active duty in the early fall.  

For more information, visit https://www.piercemfg.com/customers/new-deliveries/st-albert-fire-services-aerial-43211 

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Fire apparatus weight is by no means a new topic, but the latest episode of *The Apparatus Workshop* podcast, hosted by Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch, pulls together fresh insights and lessons learned from years of field experience to emphasize why weight management remains critical for fire departments. From budgeting and chassis engineering to ride quality and safety, weight affects every element of apparatus performance. For those specifying new rigs or maintaining existing fleets, here are three essential takeaways from this comprehensive discussion.

Takeaways include:

• Weight planning must start with the vehicle mission.
• Annual weighing and weight management after delivery are non-negotiable.
• Spec’ing apparatus with weight and staff realities in mind saves money and improves safety.

The discussion reveals why departments must start spec’ing apparatus with candid mission profiles and equipment placement plans, perform consistent annual weigh-ins, and realistically match vehicle design to staffing patterns.

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Hillsborough County (FL) Fire Rescue is replacing three of its 60-year-old stations, according to fox13news. The stations are in Palm River, Armdale, and Citrus Park. The upgrades will lower response time, increase apparatus space, and allow for more firefighters at the facility.  

Public Information Chief Rob Herrin explains that these improvements have been years in the making. Herrin states the new stations will also have decontamination rooms, which will help mitigate carrying carcinogens from the station back to their homes. In addition, the stations will have laundry facilities, upgraded living spaces, and gyms. Living dorms will now be fully enclosed instead of being separated by curtains or partial walls.  

The three stations are expected to be completed in 2026, while three additional stations also got approved for construction. The additional stations are in North Sun City, South Progress Village, and Town ‘n’ Country. There is no projected finish date currently.  

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Ashcroft Fire Rescue welcomed a new vehicle to the department for the first time in nine years, according to wltribune.com. On July 15, firefighters got their first look at the 2016 tender. It will replace the current apparatus which was acquired in 2015.  

Fire Chief Josh White explained in the article that he reached out to Rocky Mountain Phoenix for lightly used tenders. The apparatus he found has about 125,000 kilometers (approximately 77671.4 miles) on it and can serve the department for 30 to 40 years.  

The old tender had a capacity of 2,000 gallons, while the new apparatus has 1,800 gallon capacity. In addition, the old vehicle had hydraulic brakes, and the new one has air brakes, which White explains is better for heavy loads.  

The new tender was given some upgrades and modifications before being delivered from Alabama, ultimately enhancing its use. The vehicle is expected to be in full operation on July 18.  

The post Ashcroft (Canada) Fire Rescue Welcomes New Vehicle After Nine Years  appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

The Allen Fire Company (MD) has a new fire apparatus, according to a wmdt.com article. Chief Sarah Townsend says the truck was used by two other departments before Allen County received possession of it; however, the company upgraded it . The apparatus is also a major upgrade for EMS workers. Wayne Norman and Christopher Cossell shared in the article that many hours were spent updating the truck and getting equipment mounted.  

The company investigated purchasing a new engine; however, the cost was over $1 million.  

For more information, visit https://www.wmdt.com/2025/07/the-allen-volunteer-fire-company-has-a-new-engine/ 

The post Allen (MD) Volunteer Fire Company Receives New Engine   appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.