A man was killed Monday morning in a forklift accident, Seattle Fire officials said. Firefighter and medics arrived at 26th Ave. East and E. John Street around 10:45 a.m. to find a man pinned underneath a forklift. Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene. Officials say the man was a construction delivery driver and was unloading pallets of pavers on a steep incline.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2018 11:46:55 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

HOLDEN, LA – May 14, 2018 – Ferrara, a leading manufacturer of custom built, heavy-duty fire apparatus, is introducing a new line of aerial ladders and platforms to meet the rigorous demands of the fire service.

The new aerials are built with 100,000 PSI steel and have a 2.5:1 structural safety factor which is 25% more than the minimum of 2:1 required by NFPA 1901. 

The new Ferrara aerials include:

• Two feet more vertical reach on three models

• 500 pound tip loads while flowing 1,500 GPM on all aerial ladders

• 500 pound tip loads while flowing 2,000 GPM on rear mount platforms

• A narrower jack stance for easier aerial set up on congested streets

• Higher handrails providing firefighters an extra measure of safety when climbing the ladder

• Wider ladder sections which accommodate stokes baskets for rescue operations

• Routing of cables and electric between sections to reduce obstacles during ladder operation 

• 165 degree store front blitz monitor on all aerial ladders

The new Ferrara aerials can be equipped with the computer based Parker IQAN® electrical system that controls the hydraulic system, creating smooth and precise movements of the aerial such as automatic feathering and ramping features for the control valves. A seven-inch digital display on the control panel provides accurate and important information for the operator. 

The new aerials are available on selected existing Ferrara models such as the MVP Rescue Ladder, HD-77 Ladder, HD-107 Ladder, LP-102 Ladder and HD-100 Rear Mount Platform. New models are also available, including the TD-100 and TD-101 tractor drawn aerials, an HD-123 rear mount ladder, and two articulating/telescopic booms. Higher flow rates are available with an optional 3,000 GPM flow capability on the rear mount platform, making it ideal for industrial fire departments.

The first two deliveries of the new Ferrara aerials are an HD-77R MVP Ladder for Bossier City Fire Department, and an HD-107R Ladder for Shreveport Fire Department. See more information on these trucks and the new product line at: www.ferrarafire.com/new-aerial

“With the new Ferrara aerials, we’re able to improve upon our already successful aerial line, essentially maintaining our tip loads and improving the structural safety factor to 2.5:1 on all the rear mounts,” said Paul Christiansen, Ferrara Aerials Sales Manager. “Having the first two new aerials go to longtime Ferrara customers Shreveport Fire Department and Bossier City Fire Department is a real honor for Ferrara.”

 

About Ferrara

Ferrara is a part of REV Group (NYSE: REVG), a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services. Ferrara builds custom heavy duty fire apparatus for municipal and industrial fire departments. Located in Holden, Louisiana, Ferrara is focused on protecting firefighting personnel with a custom chassis line and extruded aluminum body that exceeds NFPA and industry safety requirements. With over 6,000 trucks in service worldwide, Ferrara continues to push performance standards by delivering custom engineered fire trucks that provide maximum response capabilities. 

Firefighters were still mopping up the scene of a brush fire Monday morning that burned about 90 acres and threatened several homes in West Valley. According to the West Valley Fire District the fire began at about 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon just off of Cottonwood Canyon Road. The fire started when a controlled burn got out of control after winds picked up in the area.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2018 10:32:57 AM - SOURCE: KIMA-TV CBS 29 Yakima

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—For the Virginia Department of Forestry, the heavy artillery to combat forest fires throughout the state consists of medium duty trucks—primarily Kenworth T370s—and John Deere bulldozers.

The fire dozer is the go-to piece of equipment to cut trenches and lines that keep wildfires from spreading. “Getting our bulldozers to the scene quickly keeps fires from spreading—they are our firefighters’ best friend,” said Danny Fortune, the Virginia Department of Forestry’s transportation officer. “When firefirefighters see the dozers, it’s like how infantrymen in World War II viewed tanks coming in for support. They make all the difference, and we count on the Kenworths to get that equipment were it needs to go.”

To cover all the Commonwealth’s forests—nearly 16 million acres—the agency utilizes 88 transporter/dozer units, 56 of which are Kenworths, purchased through Truck Enterprises Harrisonburg.

Each dozer is mated to a truck, which has a beaver-tail loading ramp. Spread out among three regions in Virginia, drivers of the Kenworth T370s also operate the bulldozers. According to Fortune, the Kenworth’s low profile is an advantage. “We have some overpasses that aren’t very tall,” he said. “One of the procurement requirements was for a truck lower than 13 feet, 6 inches—a necessity since the units must be able to go under all overpasses. Kenworth was the only OEM able to meet that requirement.”

The trucks were spec’d with firefighting and high heat in mind. “These trucks can really get blasted by heat—not often, but it can happen,” said Fortune. “We also spec’d locking differentials—which is needed since the trucks are off-road and need maximum traction.”

The Kenworth T370s are powered by the PACCAR PX-9 engine rated at 330 hp and use Allison automatic transmissions. The trucks are geared for low-end torque to help in pulling power in difficult terrain.

Virginia has two fire seasons, the spring and the fall—Feb. 15-April 30, and Oct. 15-Nov. 30. “Those are the seasons when we’re on high alert—we have high winds and a lot of outdoor burning. In the fall, the leaves are on the ground and dry out, adding more potential fuel to fires. In the spring, the forest floor dries out before the grasses begin to grow. In a three-day period in early March, we responded to 127 fires covering more than 302 acres. We protected at least 78 homes with a combined value estimated at more than $12 million. Most of our wildfires are a result of debris burning. In a typical year, we will respond to 900 wildfires, which burn around 12,000 acres.”

During the “off season,” the Kenworth T370s and bulldozers are on call to help neighboring states. “We all help each other in times of need,” said Fortune. “We also help our federal partners in the state, such as U.S. Forest Service ranger districts that are responsible for 1.8 million acres of land in the the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.”

According to Fortune, mileage is very low on the trucks during the off-season. “We’ll make sure the trucks are run at least once a month to keep everything moving and lubricated, so they are always ready to go when needed. We also promote fire prevention—using our trucks in parades, as well as school programs with our Smokey Bear program.”

For more information, visit www.kenworth.com.