Seagrave Fire Apparatus, LLC (“Seagrave”) announced that it is celebrating its 140^th year in business—a benchmark with even greater importance in these unprecedented times.

Seagrave has remained in continued operation throughout many challenges over its loaded history, including two world wars, the 1929 Depression, many economic crises and uncountable technological shifts. The COVID-19 pandemic was the latest one that Seagrave has overcome with the support of the employees, the community, and the continued confidence of trusted customers.

“Seagrave owes its lengthy business life and success to an unbendable adherence to our core values of Safety, Longevity and Reliability in our products and in our business dealings. Our motto of Lifetime Values – Customers for Life is what we live by every day. “These values carried us for the last 140 years and will certainly support our future growth with loyal customers and new ones,” stated Ulisses Parmeziani, President and Chief Executive Officer, in a communication to customers, partners and employees.

“Through the tough times that we are experiencing currently, it is even more important to recognize how far Seagrave has come and how much growth is ahead of us,” Parmeziani said.

Seagrave is working on ways to recognize its 140^th year in business, celebrating its history, its workforce, customers, and partners in a long and successful journey.

“Seagrave will bring this special milestone to the forefront of our activities in many ways,” continued Parmeziani, “As we celebrate our past, rooted in the innovation driven by our founders, we keep an eye on the future as we return to bring innovation to firefighting by achieving a new patent award on our newest product – the HydroForce®,” concluded Parmeziani.

Seagrave designs, engineers, and builds its own aerial apparatus and custom chassis in a variety of models to meet the demands of diverse firefighting needs. Products include Custom Pumpers, Tankers, Rescues, Hazmat, Rear-Mount Aerials, Tractor-Drawn Aerials, Rear- and Mid-Mount Platforms, Articulating Water Towers, as well as Commercial Wildland and Brush Trucks.

Seagrave also has a significant refurbishment business, including the capability to re-chassis and rebuild aerial units restoring them to fully operational compliance.

About Seagrave

Seagrave, founded by Fredric Seagrave in Detroit in 1881, is the oldest manufacturer of fire apparatus in the United States and is a premier manufacturer of severe-duty vehicles with a longstanding tradition of excellence. For more information, visit www.seagrave.com.

Newton County (GA) Fire Service cut the ribbon on its new Station 8, reports covnews.com.

The station—located on Gum Creek Road in north Oxford—was built with proceeds from the 2011 SPLOST approved by Newton County voters. The 11,000-square-foot structure cost $2.7 million.

Officials say homes in the area formerly given an ISO rating of 10 could see the rating drop to 4 and lead to lower insurance costs.

The Springville (NY) Volunteer Fire Company recently held a blessing ceremony for its two new apparatus, reports springvillejournal.com.

Pastor Stan Handzlik of the Springville Assembly of God Church conducted the blessing of the two trucks.

Officials say the new Engine 1 pumper will enhance the company’s response time, while the new 7-1 pickup truck will help with transporting firefighters, equipment, and tools to calls.

The back tire of a smoldering truck exploded Sunday and hit the responding Riverdale (NJ) Fire Department’s apparatus on Route 287 in Morris County.

“On Father’s Day at 16:06 the Fire Dept was dispatched to a truck on fire on I287 north between Rt 23 and Hamburg Tpk.,” the department wrote on Facebook. “On arrival the truck was smoldering, However as the Incident Commander pulled on Scene, a rear Tire exploded sending rubber flying into the side of his vehicle. Luckily the driver and Officers on scene were out of the hazard area. The fire was extinguished quickly and everyone was safely off the highway.

“Remember when you see flashing lights move over and keep responders safe.”

Gambier Island (B.C., Canada) is getting its first-ever functioning fire truck, which was built from scratch by local resident Doug Buckle, reports coastreporter.net.

Buckle, a former emergency vehicle technician for the West Vancouver Fire Department for 19 years, previously built trucks for Lions Bay and Pemberton.

The process began about a year and a half ago when he found a used cab chassis with low use. He cleaned it, a friend painted it, and then he found an engine’s compressed air foam unit that had never been used, and the apparatus was outfitted with equipment.

Buckle says he’d like to build a second truck for use on the other end of Gambier Island—as well as because a second apparatus is necessary to form an official volunteer fire department.

Currently, Gambier Island is equipped with about three trailers holding a fire hose, first aid equipment, an oxygen tank, and other tools. The trailers remain unlocked so that anyone who needs them has access. Buckle’s apparatus will be available primarily to people who have been trained to use it or to professional firefighters—and, until there is a station in which to house it, the truck will be kept and maintained at Buckle’s abode.