Clayton is mourning the death of its fire chief, who also served as the town manager. The Clayton Fire Company released the following statement about the passing of Chief John Pridemore:

The Clayton Fire Company regrets to announce the passing of Fire Chief John M. Pridemore. Chief Pridemore was injured in a fall at the station on March 7, 2022 while conducting station clean up duties. Chief Pridemore died on March 8, 2022 at the Christiana Hospital.

Chief Pridemore joined the Clayton Fire Company in January 1991 as a regular member “stating he wanted to serve the community he lived in”.

Chief Pridemore Served the Clayton Fire Company in many offices, the most recent as fire chief from 2021 to the present. Chief Pridemore served as vice president of the fire company in 2008 and 2012 and served as president from 2009-2011, he also served as company secretary in 2007. Chief Pridemore served as a fire lieutenant in 2013 and 2014, fire captain in 2015 and 2017, 1st Assistant Chief 2016 and 2018. In 2019 and 2020 he served as Deputy Chief and was elected chief in 2021.

Chief Pridemore’s service extended beyond his community, he served as the president of the Kent County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association in 2013 and Chief Pridemore served his county in the Delaware National Guard as a military police officer. Chief Pridemore was a third degree mason with the Smyrna Lodge.

Chief Pridemore is survived by his wife Kimberly, his daughter Amanda and her significant other Jorden, and son Michael, and his granddaughter Sadie. Chief Pridemore was currently employed by the Town of Clayton as the Town Manager.

The Clayton Fire Company has been placed out of service until the services have been completed and the fire district will be covered by fire companies in Delaware and Maryland giving the Clayton members time to decompress and prepare for the services. The members of the Clayton Fire Company would like to take every company who has reached out to offer their services.

Details of his services at this time are not complete and will be sent once confirmed.

The family request any donations be made to the Clayton Fire Company PO Box 1050 Clayton, DE in Chief Pridemore’s memory.

Clayton is mourning the death of its fire chief, who also served as the town manager. The Clayton Fire Company released the following statement about the passing of Chief John Pridemore:

The Clayton Fire Company regrets to announce the passing of Fire Chief John M. Pridemore. Chief Pridemore was injured in a fall at the station on March 7, 2022 while conducting station clean up duties. Chief Pridemore died on March 8, 2022 at the Christiana Hospital.

Chief Pridemore joined the Clayton Fire Company in January 1991 as a regular member “stating he wanted to serve the community he lived in”.

Chief Pridemore Served the Clayton Fire Company in many offices, the most recent as fire chief from 2021 to the present. Chief Pridemore served as vice president of the fire company in 2008 and 2012 and served as president from 2009-2011, he also served as company secretary in 2007. Chief Pridemore served as a fire lieutenant in 2013 and 2014, fire captain in 2015 and 2017, 1st Assistant Chief 2016 and 2018. In 2019 and 2020 he served as Deputy Chief and was elected chief in 2021.

Chief Pridemore’s service extended beyond his community, he served as the president of the Kent County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association in 2013 and Chief Pridemore served his county in the Delaware National Guard as a military police officer. Chief Pridemore was a third degree mason with the Smyrna Lodge.

Chief Pridemore is survived by his wife Kimberly, his daughter Amanda and her significant other Jorden, and son Michael, and his granddaughter Sadie. Chief Pridemore was currently employed by the Town of Clayton as the Town Manager.

The Clayton Fire Company has been placed out of service until the services have been completed and the fire district will be covered by fire companies in Delaware and Maryland giving the Clayton members time to decompress and prepare for the services. The members of the Clayton Fire Company would like to take every company who has reached out to offer their services.

Details of his services at this time are not complete and will be sent once confirmed.

The family request any donations be made to the Clayton Fire Company PO Box 1050 Clayton, DE in Chief Pridemore’s memory.

KME Fire Apparatus, a subsidiary of REV Group^® and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, welcomed Patriot Fire, LLC as its dealer in Maryland.

Patriot Fire recently opened a brand-new state-of-the-art facility at their Gibsonville, Maryland location to provide quality service with their highly experienced team. In addition to preventative maintenance, mechanical repairs, and DOT services, Patriot Fire offers collision and body repairs, custom fabrication services, and graphics.

KME Director of Sales Chris McClung said “We are happy to welcome Patriot Fire to our KME dealer network. We are confident that the Patriot Fire team will help grow the KME brand in Maryland.”

In addition to KME, Patriot Fire, LLC is a dealer of E-ONE^® and Ferrara^™ brands within REV Fire Group.

About Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. KME^®, a subsidiary of REV Group, engineers, and custom manufactures a full range of fire apparatus for municipal, federal, and wildland/urban interface markets. Additional information on KME can be found at kmefire.com.                                         

KME Fire Apparatus, a subsidiary of REV Group^® and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, welcomed Patriot Fire, LLC as its dealer in Maryland.

Patriot Fire recently opened a brand-new state-of-the-art facility at their Gibsonville, Maryland location to provide quality service with their highly experienced team. In addition to preventative maintenance, mechanical repairs, and DOT services, Patriot Fire offers collision and body repairs, custom fabrication services, and graphics.

KME Director of Sales Chris McClung said “We are happy to welcome Patriot Fire to our KME dealer network. We are confident that the Patriot Fire team will help grow the KME brand in Maryland.”

In addition to KME, Patriot Fire, LLC is a dealer of E-ONE^® and Ferrara^™ brands within REV Fire Group.

About Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. KME^®, a subsidiary of REV Group, engineers, and custom manufactures a full range of fire apparatus for municipal, federal, and wildland/urban interface markets. Additional information on KME can be found at kmefire.com.                                         

While the industrial access has been using large truck-mounted aerial platforms for wind turbines and such for a long time, the fire & rescue aerials have been limited to the heights of about 100-135ft. North America fire services commonly use aerial ladders, that tend to have lower heights than the articulated aerial platforms with a solid steel boom as the main structure. Another limiting factor has perhaps been the size of larger, over 200-foot aerials, that can be bulky and difficult to navigate through ordinary city streets. 

Breaking the boundaries of reach

The aerial offering is now radically changing, as Bronto Skylift introduces a 230-foot articulated aerial platform, the Bronto F230RPX, commonly known as The Beast. The working height is 230ft, which is equivalent to 20 floors, and the aerial is compactly mounted on a Mack chassis. The previous maximum height of North American aerials, 135ft, corresponds to about 11 floors. In other words, the F230RPX enables nine floors more vertical reach for fire departments all over North America. 

While there is a big increase to the operational rescue height, the reach can be seen in many different ways. Also the horizontal reach and so called up-and-over are much improved from what has traditionally been offered. Maximum horizontal reach is 105ft, while most of previous models offer less than 90ft. The capability to reach up and over for example the parapet walls and lower roofs is 34ft. Reach below grade from river banks and bridges is about 20ft.

 The first unit was developed, designed, built and delivered in collaboration with 1200 Degrees, an experienced Bronto Skylift partner in Canada. 1200 Degrees will be the local service provider making sure the unit remains safe and ready to serve during the years to come

Versatility for fire and rescue operations

The biggest benefit of an articulated aerial platform is the operational versatility. This is partly enabled by the articulation, that offers versatile reach in all directions, but a big part of the versatility is enabled by the spacious rescue platform with 1000lbs safe load. The platform allows access with a wheelchair or a stretcher and still allows space for the operator and a paramedic. The platform can be equipped with breathing air outlets, as well as hydraulic and electric power outlets for different tools needed during an operation.

There is also an Integrated, corrosion resistant telescopic waterway with 1000GPM capacity, which enables efficient fire fighting without compromising the safety of fire crews – even more so as the platform and the water monitor can be fully remote controlled.

This 230ft aerial platform is mounted on a commercial Mack chassis, which makes the configuration compact and easily maneuverable. As every fire department operates in different environment, the F230RPX and it’s equipment can be tailored to customer needs.