The North Patchogue (NY) Fire Department on Long Island began looking into the purchase of a quint a few years ago. According to Ted Peters, assistant chief, the department wanted to have a vehicle that would be a first-out response vehicle to respond to all alarms between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and be able to handle the work load with limited staffing if necessary. It would also be used for mutual-aid responses locally, if requested.
The district is primarily like all others on Long Island—numerous apartment and condo complexes as well as strip shopping centers, schools, big box stores, restaurants, and a major medical center. So, this vehicle would have to be able to operate at all these types of target hazards as well a normal dwelling fire.
Since it operates primarily Pierce apparatus, the department was interested in continuing along this line. The local Pierce dealer had informed the department that the manufacturer was going to introduce a new line of aerials, so North Patchogue waited to see what Pierce was offering.
The new Ascendant line of aerials was introduced, and the department decided to go with a 107-foot Ascendant ladder on a single-rear-axle Velocity chassis. The truck committee comprised chiefs, commissioners, and district employees.
North Patchogue worked with Firematic, the local Pierce dealer on Long Island that it had a great relationship with previously on its other purchases. The quint was purchased through the Houston, Galveston Area Cooperative (HGAC), which is a group purchasing organization. By working with HGAC, the department didn’t have to go out to bid, saving a great deal of time.
1 The North Patchogue (NY) Fire Department’s 2018 107-foot Pierce Ascendant quint built on a Velocity cab and chassis. (Photos by author.)
Multipurpose
The vehicle is set up to be used as an engine, a truck, and a heavy rescue. It carries a full complement of HURST battery-operated rescue tools that can be backed up by the vehicle’s generator if needed. It also carries the normal engine company fittings and tools, a full set of saws, Milwaukee battery-operated grinder and band saws, a man vs. machine kit, shoring and struts, and battery-operated fans.