Fire apparatus weight is by no means a new topic, but the latest episode of *The Apparatus Workshop* podcast, hosted by Nick Wilbur and Win Slauch, pulls together fresh insights and lessons learned from years of field experience to emphasize why weight management remains critical for fire departments. From budgeting and chassis engineering to ride quality and safety, weight affects every element of apparatus performance. For those specifying new rigs or maintaining existing fleets, here are three essential takeaways from this comprehensive discussion.

Takeaways include:

• Weight planning must start with the vehicle mission.
• Annual weighing and weight management after delivery are non-negotiable.
• Spec’ing apparatus with weight and staff realities in mind saves money and improves safety.

The discussion reveals why departments must start spec’ing apparatus with candid mission profiles and equipment placement plans, perform consistent annual weigh-ins, and realistically match vehicle design to staffing patterns.

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Hillsborough County (FL) Fire Rescue is replacing three of its 60-year-old stations, according to fox13news. The stations are in Palm River, Armdale, and Citrus Park. The upgrades will lower response time, increase apparatus space, and allow for more firefighters at the facility.  

Public Information Chief Rob Herrin explains that these improvements have been years in the making. Herrin states the new stations will also have decontamination rooms, which will help mitigate carrying carcinogens from the station back to their homes. In addition, the stations will have laundry facilities, upgraded living spaces, and gyms. Living dorms will now be fully enclosed instead of being separated by curtains or partial walls.  

The three stations are expected to be completed in 2026, while three additional stations also got approved for construction. The additional stations are in North Sun City, South Progress Village, and Town ‘n’ Country. There is no projected finish date currently.  

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Ashcroft Fire Rescue welcomed a new vehicle to the department for the first time in nine years, according to wltribune.com. On July 15, firefighters got their first look at the 2016 tender. It will replace the current apparatus which was acquired in 2015.  

Fire Chief Josh White explained in the article that he reached out to Rocky Mountain Phoenix for lightly used tenders. The apparatus he found has about 125,000 kilometers (approximately 77671.4 miles) on it and can serve the department for 30 to 40 years.  

The old tender had a capacity of 2,000 gallons, while the new apparatus has 1,800 gallon capacity. In addition, the old vehicle had hydraulic brakes, and the new one has air brakes, which White explains is better for heavy loads.  

The new tender was given some upgrades and modifications before being delivered from Alabama, ultimately enhancing its use. The vehicle is expected to be in full operation on July 18.  

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The Allen Fire Company (MD) has a new fire apparatus, according to a wmdt.com article. Chief Sarah Townsend says the truck was used by two other departments before Allen County received possession of it; however, the company upgraded it . The apparatus is also a major upgrade for EMS workers. Wayne Norman and Christopher Cossell shared in the article that many hours were spent updating the truck and getting equipment mounted.  

The company investigated purchasing a new engine; however, the cost was over $1 million.  

For more information, visit https://www.wmdt.com/2025/07/the-allen-volunteer-fire-company-has-a-new-engine/ 

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Wildland firefighters wear different personal protective equipment (PPE) than their structural firefighting counterparts, reflective of the different nature of wildland hazards and firefighting tasks. They also carry a variety of different types of equipment into the fire lines.

Alysha Gray, product marketing director of fire PPE for Lion, says Lion makes VersaPro® and VersaPro Plus PPE that are compliant with both NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting and Urban Interface Fire Fighting, and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. Gray says that VersaPro® is a single-layer garment composed of Safety Components Sigma fabric for a combination of flash and thermal protection, durability, and comfort and features a bi-swing back, banded crotch, zippered legs, and PCA-reinforced knees and pant cuffs.

1 Lion makes VersaPro PPE that’s compliant with both NFPA wildland and tech rescue standards and also the Station 1 leather boot. (Photo 1 courtesy of Lion.)

2 Fire-Dex makes Wildland PPE from a variety of materials, including TECGEN51, Sigma, Nomex, and WestTech DH. (Photo 2 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)

She adds that VersaPro Plus includes all those features, plus polycoated aramid reinforcement on the elbows, knees, and pant cuffs as well as Lite-N-Dri padding in the knees. Lion also makes the Station 1™ boot that is compliant with NFPA 1977. Station 1 is a 9-inch leather boot with GORE^® CROSSTECH^® waterproof lining, a steel triple-rib logger shank, and a Vibram® ATS outsole.

Todd Herring, vice president of product innovation and strategy for Fire-Dex®, says the company makes TECGEN51 multifunctional wildland/ technical rescue gear that is dual compliant with NFPA 1977 and NFPA 1951. “The gear is made with TECGEN51+ fabric built with a PFAS-free water-repellent finish that provides optimal strength, breathability, and thermal protection,” he says. The gear has thermoplastic zippers, STEDSHIELD® FR reinforced elbows, cuff warmer pockets, and knees with padded inserts, reinforced boot cuffs, and pass-through pockets.

3 Lakeland Fire + Safety makes its wildland PPE jackets, shirts, and pants in either Nomex IIIA or TecaSafe Plus, along with an all-leather wildland glove with Nomex wristlet. (Photo 3 courtesy of Lakeland Fire + Safety.)

4 VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s VIKING Shield PPE has a Sigma outer shell and a Gore SR moisture barrier liner. (Photo 4 courtesy of VIKING Life-Saving Equipment.)

Fire-Dex also makes Wildland PPE that’s compliant with NFPA 1977 and is available in either a two-piece or coverall version. Herring says the 32-inch Wildland jacket is available in a variety of materials including TECGEN 51, Sigma, Nomex, and WestTech DH. “The jacket has an inner zipper and outer hook-and-loop closure, a throat tab, two utility loops on the pockets, and a utility hook-and-loop on the chest and cuffs,” he says. “The pants have a zipper fly with snap closure, elastic on the sides of the waistband, belt loops, leather knee reinforcement, 1