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Posted: Jul 15, 2025

Video: Lodi (NJ) Rescue-Engine

Lodi (NJ) Hose Company 1 currently runs the department’s rescue-engine, a 2021 E-ONE Typhoon with an extruded aluminum body and cab with high side compartments. The cab of the apparatus is 74 inches. The rig has a 2,000-gallon-per-minute (gpm) Waterous CSU pump with a 530-gallon United Plastic Fabricating Poly-Tank III. The rig is powered by a Cummins L9 450-hp diesel engine. (This is part 1 of three videos)

The post Video: Lodi (NJ) Rescue-Engine appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jul 14, 2025

Thoughts on Idaho and Not Losing Heart

Two recent events, the Idaho shooting in which two battalion chiefs were killed and a recent loss to Chris Mc Loone’s active crew to cancer, reinforced that we can be as vigilant as we can, yet tragedy can strike. Yet, we can’t be disheartened to the point of leaving the department. This and more in this week’s Podcast episode.

The post Thoughts on Idaho and Not Losing Heart appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jul 14, 2025

Grand Forks (ND) FD Receives Custom Pumper

The city of Grand Forks (ND) has received a custom pumper manufactured by Toyne and built on a Spartan metro Star LFD cab and chassis with a 10-inch raised roof.

The apparatus includes a Cummins ISL9 380-hp Engine, a 500-gallon UPF tank, a Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump, swing-out doors and ILI LED Strip Compartment Lighting. The body of the truck is an XL painted stainless steel with rear slide-in under-hosebed ladder and pike pole storage. In addition, there is storage for 11 SCBA bottles in wheel wells and roll-out storage trays. The cab has seating for 5 firefighters, and the rig offers a back-up camera, intercom system, as well as custom interior EMS compartments.

Scene lighting includes FRC SPA530-Q20 telescoping lights, a Whelen Summit 572MB brow light, Whelen M9LZC scene lights on the body, and Pioneer PCPSM28 scene lights on the cab.

For more information, visit https://toyne.com/fire-apparatus/delivery/city-of-grand-forks-pumper-2094.

The post Grand Forks (ND) FD Receives Custom Pumper appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jul 14, 2025

PHOTOS: 49th Antique Fire Apparatus Show and Muster Held in Harrisburg (PA)

The annual antique fire apparatus muster and flea market along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Pennsylvania Pump Primers, was held July 12.

The Pennsylvania Pump Primers Association is an organization of antique fire apparatus enthusiasts, many of whom own, drive, maintain, and improve their own fire trucks and related vehicles and equipment, according to the organization’s Web site.

The Pump Primers were founded in Harrisburg in 1975 and the following year became the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the national organization the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA). Every July the Pennsylvania Pump Primers holds its annual muster in Harrisburg along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Riverfront Park. Over the years the muster has drawn an average of 100 pieces of antique apparatus that participate in activities including static display and active drafting and pumping from the river. The muster also features an extensive flea market and fire related contests and games.

Photos by David Traiforos.

Posted: Jul 14, 2025

Editor’s Opinion: Raising the Flags

Editor’s Opinion | Chris Mc Loone

I was born in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved to the suburbs just shy of my second birthday. I was a kid who loved fire trucks, and July 4 in Glenside was my day.

I would sit on my neighbor’s lawn with my red “Emergency!” helmet on and wave to the firefighters who went by on the trucks during the annual Independence Day Parade. Maybe once in a while they’d ring the bell for me or give a short blast of an air horn. That’s just Independence Day in my town. Later, my parents moved to a different house in our town—a house actually on the parade route. I didn’t have to leave my yard to watch the trucks.

There is another part of July 4 in my town, and that is lining the main drag with flags. As a kid, I’d wake up, and they were just there. I wasn’t awake when they went up and I wasn’t paying attention when they came down. I’m not sure my parents even knew who put them up every year. By the way, they go up on Memorial Day as well.

It wasn’t until my first 4th of July in Weldon Fire Company that I understood that we are the ones who put them up, along with Glenside Fire Company on the “other side of the tracks.” Naturally, given family obligations, I’ve missed a few over the years, but I’ve made more “flags up” and “flags down” details than I’ve missed. It was also these details that taught me a valuable lesson: If the flags up detail is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. and you get there at 7:30 a.m., the work is probably going to be almost done. Just get there at 7:00.

During the parades, it was quite an image turning onto the main drag, looking down the hill and seeing all the bystanders and the flags lining the street. I was thinking about all this recently because I was reading an article about another fire company that recently announced it would not be doing something similar in its district because of lack of funds for replacing and repairing the flags and flag poles. Another municipality not far from me announced it would not have its annual parade because of security concerns. I’m not sure I’d know what to do with myself on July 4 without the annual Glenside Fourth of July Parade.

Looking back over my time in the fire service and particularly Weldon Fire Company, the weeks leading up to July 4 and Independence Day itself have been some of my favorite times. These were weeks we’d spend a lot of time at the firehouse, enjoying the camaraderie that can only be experienced there. Believe it or not, I look back with fondness on the blisters on my fingers from polishing diamond plate with Flitz and Never Dull, sometimes until late hours. Independence Day parades have been our chance to showcase our rigs. One of the parades is a judging parade, and we always look forward to bringing home a trophy—or two or three. Winning “Best Appearing Company” is a particular source of pride.

I don’t participate in as many parades as I used to. Looking back, I used to really enjoy driving in the parades, and there is a new generation of drivers that deserves the opportunity. And, there are only so many seats on the trucks, and I do not want to take one away from a newer firefighter just starting in the parades. And, it’s also fun to witness the enthusiasm newer fire company members bring to the entire process and to watch them take pride in the work they do to prepare all the trucks inside and out for the parades—but also for the rest of the year. Our rigs are an expression of our pride in our fire companies, the fire service, and our equipment and are the most visible example of that pride.

If you’re parading this year, enjoy every minute, especially the work nights leading up to it. There’s nothing better than stepping back on parade day and seeing the results of all your work.

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