Trading views of the cornfields of Iowa for forested mountains of southern Washington state, a new Toyne Pumper–named Engine 11–has been delivered to its new home with Skamania Fire District (SFD) #1. This is the department’s second Toyne Tailored Apparatus and, just like the other Toyne in their fleet, it is geared explicitly for SFD’s needs.
Established in 1959, SFD #1 has been providing fire protection to the residents of Carson, Cook, Stabler, and surrounding communities in Skamania County for over half a century. In total, the department watches over a mountainous territory that spans nearly 44 square miles. To cover such a large area, the fire district has 35 highly trained volunteers that respond to fire, medical, trail, rope, vehicle, and hazardous material emergencies. Their new Toyne Apparatus is designed to reinforce their dedicated response efforts to those they serve.
“This versatile Toyne Pumper will be a valuable addition to Skamania Fire District’s fleet and a big help to the volunteers serving their communities,” said Bill Bird, Toyne Product Support Coordinator. “We are proud to be a part of their process, and to be trusted by this fire department to build highly capable apparatus.”
Skamania’s pumper is mounted to a Spartan Metro Star MFD chassis with a ten-inch raised roof. Under the hood, the apparatus is equipped with a 450-horsepower Cummins ISL9 engine and an Allison 3,000 EVS Transmission. The cab’s interior has enough seating for six occupants and hosts several different features, including a backup camera system, in-cab custom storage, and an in-cab radio system with mounted headsets. Engine 11 is covered in a two-tone black/red paint scheme with custom lettering and striping.
This pumper body is stall-built with bolted-painted stainless steel. Designs called for plenty of customized storage to meet the fire department’s needs. Fitted on each side of the engine’s storage compartments are ROM painted roll-up doors for fast, easy entry to equipment. For added ease of access to all of the tools of the trade, the main storage compartments feature Toyne’s custom slide-out shelving and custom swing-out toolboard.
Enough storage is available over each wheel well to accommodate up to eight SCBA bottles, with additional SCBA mounts added to the primary storage compartments. On the top-side of the equipment compartments is room for hard suction hoses. At the rear end of the apparatus is an area for slide-in ladder and pike pole storage.
At the heart of the department’s new pumper is a 1,250-gallon-per-minute Hale Qflo pump. To feed this beast of a pump, Engine 11 is equipped with a 1,000-gallon UPF tank. For added fire support, Toyne installed a Foam Pro 2001 Class A foam system with a 30-gallon foam cell. In addition, the Skamania firefighters have an Elkhart Volcan Perm Monitor with a telescoping tiller extension at their disposal.
A host of electrical components ensures Engine 11 can support these first responders beyond fire suppression. Toyne mounted a hefty 10,000-Watt Onan hydraulic generator that can provide continuous power to apparatus’ two electric cord reels and Fire Research telescoping lights. SFD’s pumper is also wired up with Whelen warning lights, Whelen MV9 scene lighting, Firetech Hiviz 72-inch LED brow light, and ILI LED strip compartment lighting.
For additional information about SFD #1, visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/SkamaniaFireDistrict1.
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Posted: Feb 1, 2021
In July 2020, Copper Canyon Fire & Medical Authority (CCFMA) in Camp Verde, Arizona, began constructing its new fire station, located at 3675 Cherry Creek Road near State Route 260. However, because of COVID-19-related construction delays, the latest hope is that the new station can open by June.
According to CCFMA Chief Terry Keller, the department’s ideal location for the station would have been off of Arena Del Loma, which would allow for direct access to the underserved Middle Verde area. However, land issues with the Yavapai-Apache Nation put a stop to
Keller also had pushed for the bridge over the Verde River at Coury Lane off of State Route 260 as part of the Verde Connect project, which would have allowed for easy transportation from the State Route 260 corridor to Middle Verde, but the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors ended that project this week.
The total cost of the 10,500-square-foot building is expected to be $3.6 million. Because property tax rates for the fire district are maxed out, the department hopes to pay for it without any additional taxes. The district used funds in its capital reserves to purchase the land; it is now using a lease purchase process (similar to that of a mortgage) to finance construction.
The building will feature eight dorms, although only five will be staffed when it officially opens. The new station is part of a plan to deal with the future of the SR 260 corridor, which the town of Camp Verde hopes to develop in the next few years.
For the next few years, staffing will be covered by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Keller said that grant would normally require significant matching funds from the fire district, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in federal financing, eliminating the matching requirements.
CCFMA also plans on purchasing an additional engine and hiring nine employees—three are already on the payroll—to staff the new station. The department will move an ambulance and the associated staff from the main CCFMA office in Camp Verde rather than simply purchasing a new ambulance, though Keller clarified that both of the fire district’s two ambulances will likely be moving from station to station as the need arises.
CCFMA also hopes to also build a station off Howards Road, southwest of Camp Verde, to access the Verde Lakes area, which is too far away from the main station.
The post AZ’s Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority Builds New Fire Station appeared first on Fire Apparatus.
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Posted: Feb 1, 2021
According to a report from WEAU, the Eau Claire (WI) Fire and Rescue’s (ECFR’s) truck at Station 5’s was ready to be replaced after many years in service. So, it was no surprise when many ECFR firefighters became excited when their first platform apparatus showed up last week.
ECFR Captain David Whitehouse said Station 5 received the new truck because they respond to most of the city’s tallest buildings, necessitating the need for the new platform’s 110-foot tall ladder. Other safety features include a headphone system that protects the firefighters’ hearing and allows for easier communication.
Whitehouse also said that the new addition to ECFR’s fleet will allow them to do things of which the old ladder truck was incapable.
He anticipates the truck will make many appearances in city parades.
The post Eau Claire (WI) Fire and Rescue Receives New Platform Apparatus appeared first on Fire Apparatus.
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