By Alan M. Petrillo
Many fire departments around the country are moving toward smaller fire apparatus to handle emergency medical services (EMS) runs and nonstructure fire calls to lighten the load that’s been placed on first-due engine and truck companies.
Ford F-550-chassis-sized vehicles are becoming popular in that role, meaning fewer hourly operating costs, reduced maintenance costs, and savings in wear and tear on the larger fire apparatus.
Joe Messmer, president of Summit Fire Apparatus, says that when fire departments go to a smaller chassis vehicle, “It’s mostly to lighten the load on engines and aerials that are running on EMS calls. They are having us build rescues on Ford F-550-size vehicles that can handle popping a vehicle’s door and assisting other EMS units.” Messmer notes Summit also has built such rescues on Ford F-450 chassis as well as on Dodge 4500 and 5500 chassis. “With squads, we build an enclosed utility rescue body with six compartments that can be customized for the application the department wants, whether more rescue or more medical.”
1 Alexis Fire Equipment Company built this squad for the Lewistown (IL) Fire Protection District on a Ford F-550 chassis with a four-door cab. (Photo courtesy of Alexis Fire Equipment Company.)
Cost Factor
Jeff Morris, president of Alexis Fire Equipment Company, points out that economics can be a driving factor when a department chooses a small-chassis vehicle. “The economy is still having an effect on budgets,” Morris observes, “and with the cost of running big rigs out on every call, many departments are looking toward smaller vehicles, which cost less and are easier to maneuver. Departments are comparing $185,000 to $210,000 for a smaller chassis vehicle to a Type 1 custom pumper that costs between $450,000 and $600,000.”
Todd Nix, apparatus consultant for Unruh Fire, echoes the issue of budget restraints having an effect on cities and fire departments. “Many of them are making changes to enhance their response while trimming their budget and lowering operating costs,” Nix says. “That’s where the smaller apparatus come in, which is basically our bread and butter. And, staffing is definitely a part of the trend where across the country volunteer fire departments are seeing fewer firefighters show up. They don’t want one or two firefighters on a full-size pumper to an EMS call when they can jump into a smaller vehicle and do it safely.”
Small Vehicles and Staffing
Brian Connely, account manager for Spartan ER, points out that many departments are trying to squeeze all the equipment from a traditional pumper into a smaller unit. “They want a rig that can be used for an EMS squad, at a motor vehicle accident (MVA) rescue, and for wildland fires,” Connely says. “The cost of ownership is one of the reasons, both for the initial cost and the cost of operation, as well as because of staffing issues. We’ve seen this happen all over the country, very often in rural volunteer departments, but also with some career departments too.”
Mark Brenneman, engineer for 4 Guys Fire Trucks, concurs that the ex