By Alan M. Petrillo

The Egelston Township (MI) Fire Department needed to replace a 1979 tanker (tender) and a 1982 engine with a single vehicle and had a number of specific requirements that it wanted built into the new pumper-tanker. Specifically, it wanted a short wheelbase, an integrated polypropylene body and tank on a custom Spartan chassis, and at least a 2,000-gallon water tank on a single rear axle.

Mark Cleveland, Egelston Township's chief, says the department was replacing a 1979 commercial chassis tanker with a 250-gallon-per-minute (gpm) pump as well as a 1982 KME/GMC chassis engine with a 1,000-gpm pump and a 1,000-gallon water tank. "We considered several manufacturers that build polypropylene body and water tank vehicles, but one of them would not build it on a custom chassis, so they were out," Cleveland says. "Spencer Manufacturing had built an all-polyrpopylene body and water tank pumper-tanker for the South Haven (MI) Fire Department, so we looked at their vehicle, and then put together the specs of what we wanted. We put the specs out to bid, got two bids returned, and awarded the contract to Spencer."

Cleveland points out that besides the integrated polypropylene body and water tank on a custom chassis, "we also wanted a Waterous pump and at least a 2,000-gallon water tank on a single rear axle. We ended up with a 2,200-gallon water tank, and Spencer Manufacturing gave us everything that we wanted in the pumper-tanker."

Steve Buckner, direct sales representative for Spencer Manufacturing, says that Egelston Township "approached us after seeing a Spencer pumper-tanker at a neighboring fire department. They had spent a lot of time designing exactly what they wanted, wrote their own specs, went out to bid, and accepted us. The department really had its act together in knowing what they wanted."

The resulting pumper-tanker is on a Spartan MFD custom chassis and a Solid-Poly™ composite body powered by a Cummins ISL9 engine, and Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission and with a side-mount Waterous 1,250-gpm pump and 2,200-gallon water tank. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 185 inches, an overall length of 31 feet, an overall height of 9 feet 7 inches, a front axle rated at 18,000 pounds, and a rear axle rated at 33,000 pounds. Price on the rig was $400,000.

"We tailored the pump house layout to be exactly what they wanted in order to match existing pumpers that the department has," Buckner observes. "Also, the department wanted the ladders mounted in the traditional style on the right side of the vehicle above the lower compartments, but Egelston Township has the extension ladder on the outside and the roof ladder on the inside, instead of the other way around. We put our own spring-loaded ladder rack with polypropylene handles on the pumper-tanker."

Cleveland says the pumper-tanker has three crosslays: two 200-foot 1¾-inch and one 200-foot 2½-inch. The extended front bumper carries a 6-inch suction, as well as 150 feet of 1¾-inch hose in a well. The hosebed, he says, carries 1,200 feet of 5-inch LDH and 400 feet of 2½-inch hose.

All compartments are covered by ROM roll-up doors, and there is wheel well SCBA bottle

Despite a ban in Bellingham, and restrictions in other parts of Whatcom County, the State Fire Marshal’s Office says the County saw an uptick in firework stand licenses this year. Pierce and Whatcom County saw the largest increases with ten and nine additional licenses issued respectively. The state as a whole saw a 13.
- PUB DATE: 6/11/2018 9:34:28 AM - SOURCE: KPUG-AM 1170

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Firefighter Dakota Snavely, 17, of the East Side Fire Department on June 10, 2018.

While en route to a water rescue at Morrow Mountain State Park with confirmed persons in the water, Firefighter Snavely was involved in a motor vehicle crash with a commercial motor vehicle on Hwy 205. Snavely passed away from traumatic injuries sustained during the crash. The incident is under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. 

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Snavely at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

To date, 42 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018.  Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html

Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.

AUSTIN, Minn., June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To honor America’s heroic firefighters and highlight their red-hot cooking talents, the makers of HORMEL® Chili are once again teaming up with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to crown “America’s Best Firehouse Chili Recipe.” The contest, now in its second year, provides firefighters across the country the opportunity to submit their very own chili recipes for the chance to win $10,000 for their station.  

From now until July 16, 2018, firefighters will be encouraged to submit their best chili recipe to www.firehousechili.hormel.com for judging. Hormel Foods will select five finalists, one from each major region of the U.S. including North, South, East, West and Midwest. Those finalists will be flown to New York City to compete in a live chili cook-off for a chance to win the grand prize. Judging of recipes will be based on originality, flavor, and inspiration behind each recipe submission. In addition to contest prizing, the makers of HORMEL® Chili will also be presenting the NFFF with a donation of $20,000.  

"The makers of HORMEL® Chili are proud to once again be working with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support firefighters and their communities across the country,” said Mark Beierle, HORMEL® Chili brand manager. “The NFFF not only does so much for active firefighters, but also works to honor fallen firefighters and their families on a continued basis. Our company greatly respects the work of firefighters everywhere and the support that the NFFF provides them and their families.”  

For the second year of the contest, the makers of HORMEL® Chili have tapped Jason George, star of ABC’s new hit show, Station 19, to participate as a guest judge. In the new Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, Jason reprises his role as Ben Warren, surgeon turned firefighter. Outside of embodying the spirit of a firefighter on TV, Jason is dedicated to giving back to the firefighter community and helping to highlight the service they provide.  

“I’m thrilled to be a judge for America’s Best Firehouse Chili contest this year,” said Jason George, star of ABC’s Station 19. “The NFFF does incredible work giving back to the firefighter community, and this contest with the makers of HORMEL® Chili is a great way to raise awareness to their cause and showcase the hidden cooking talents of the guys who risk their lives everyday keeping us safe.”  

The brand officially announced this year’s contest at the Fire Department Instructor's Conference (FDIC) April 23 - 28, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The FDIC is a six-day conference, full of workshops, seminars, competitions, networking and more.  

"We are grateful for the continued support from the makers of HORMEL® Chili, as well as their commitment to heightening awareness about our mission to a broader audience and excited to work alongside them again,” said Chief Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director of the NFFF. Last year’s winner will be tough to top, and we look forward to meeting the finalists this year!”  

Last year’s contest saw firefighter, Jeremy Chauvin of Edgard, LA, take home the grand with his “Spencer Way” chili recipe. The recipe, named in honor of his late brother who was also a firefighter, is something that has been passed down through his family along the years.  

“I entered the contest last year in order to share my brother’s story,” said Jeremy Chauvin, winner of the inaugural America’s Best Firehouse Chili Contest. “Spencer was my fire department’s district chief, who died in the line of duty just months before I heard about the contest. After hearing that the makers of HORMEL® Chili were supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, where my brother was being honored

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The Attica Community Foundation has made a donation of $4,000 to the Attica Voluntary Fire Department so that the department is able to purchase a powerful washing machine to help protect the fire fighters from toxins. Captain Chris Beedle first brought up the idea to look into the machine.

 

“The commercial quality (extractor) machine is the most effective way to de-contaminate uniforms by removing chemical carcinogens. Keeping the gear clean is important for fighting different types of cancers that can be absorbed through the skin,” White said. “The new washing machine will not only keep the volunteers safe, but also the families and the community they serve.”