For fire service professionals involved in purchasing and specifying fire apparatus, a new conference launched this fall to fill a gap in the industry’s continuing education. The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) is hosting the inaugural FAMA Apparatus Specification Symposium in Orlando, Florida. This event aims to deliver focused, practical training on the art and science of crafting apparatus specifications, a topic often overlooked amid the sales-driven trade shows full of shiny new trucks.

“When you think about how fire departments buy apparatus, especially larger departments purchasing every few years, writing a clean and precise spec is a high-stakes task,” says Jason Whitmire, FAMA vice president. “But for many smaller departments or those without large purchasing teams, the process can be daunting. Specs often contain outdated terminology or miss recent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) changes, resulting in confusion and cost overruns.”

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FAMA recognized the increasing complexity of fire apparatus specifications—made all the more challenging by rising truck prices, extended lead times, and new technologies—and sought to create a platform to help agencies get it right upfront. “Our goal is to marry the technology experts, fire apparatus manufacturers, and fire service spec writers into one learning environment,” Whitmire explains.

No apparatus can displayed at the event, and no hard sales pitches are allowed. The emphasis is on understanding current technology advancements and the precise language needed to write specifications.

This might seem counterintuitive for an event about apparatus specification, but it’s deliberate. “Fire shows like FDIC are fantastic for seeing trucks, gear, and products all in one place. But, this event is completely different,” Whitmire says. “We’re focusing solely on the educational side of specs—the nuts and bolts of what to include, how to phrase it, and how to ensure your spec is technically sound and vendor-neutral.”

Removing the distraction of truck displays keeps attendees focused on what really matters for procurement officers tasked with bidding and acceptance—the exact written requirements. The goal is to give them the tools to write specs that prevent surprises during fabrication and keep costs more manageable.

The conference spans two full days of sessions featuring presentations from industry engineers, vendors, and experienced spec writers. Topics include warning light technology, cab design insights, 2027 emissions changes, and multiplexing and electronics, among others.

Each presentation is structured to focus on technology and best practices rather than product promotion. Two competitors often present together, providing balanced viewpoints and holding each other accountable for accuracy.

While the main focus is on writing specifications, the conference also covers the purchasing process including preconstruction meetings, final inspections, and how many factory visits to schedule. Whitmire notes that with current lead times extending to three-plus years, getting specs right at the start is more critical than ever. So, the symposium arms attendees with the knowledge to draft specs that reduce ambiguity and better reflect the realities of modern apparatus production.

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During this episode of Talking Trucks, the conversation between Chris Mc Loone and Ricky Riley focused on whether or not there has been a shift toward building more practical fire apparatus in recent years, even before the current apparatus purchasing atmosphere.

Mc Loone and Riley discussed an ongoing movement away from building trucks to do all things but to be designed for their mission and the operational realities of individual departments. Riley emphasized the importance of defining a fire truck’s mission upfront before deciding on features, capacities, and configurations—building vehicles that meet real-world needs rather than aesthetic preferences or trends driven by big-city departments with vastly different operational terrains. This means considering factors like staffing levels, geographic response areas, and the specific types of calls a department handles daily.

Riley explained that one of the reasons for this shift is apparatus purchasing committee makeup. He noted a generational shift where apparatus committees now often include younger firefighters rather than just senior officials or administrative staff who may not ride the trucks. This change has a direct impact on specifying apparatus that will actually meet the end users’ needs.

The conversation also touched on embracing new technologies.

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APPARATUS: THE SHOPS

For fire departments across the country, one of the most difficult and often debated decisions is whether to continue repairing aging fire apparatus or to invest in replacements.

With budgets tight, demands high, and safety always the top priority, this choice can’t be made lightly. Knowing when to say “enough” to ongoing repairs and “yes” to new equipment is a key component of effective fleet management.

THE TRUE COST OF REPAIR

It’s common for departments to try and squeeze a few extra years out of an aging engine or ladder truck. On the surface, it might seem more cost-effective to keep repairing a vehicle that’s already paid off. However, the true cost of repair goes beyond the invoice from the maintenance shop.

Downtime is one of the most underestimated expenses. When a frontline unit is out of service—whether for days, weeks, or in extreme cases months—it forces the department to rely on reserve units, mutual aid, or delayed response. This can negatively impact service delivery and increase risk to both firefighters and the public.

Frequent breakdowns also contribute to operational fatigue. Crews lose confidence in unreliable equipment, which can affect morale and increase the stress of already difficult situations.

LIFE CYCLE CONSIDERATIONS

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that frontline apparatus be replaced after 15 years and reserve apparatus after 25 years. While some departments successfully stretch these numbers depending on call volume, it often comes with a trade-off in safety and performance.

Departments should be tracking the life cycle of each vehicle in their fleets, not just by years but by usage metrics—miles driven, engine hours, pump hours, and total repair costs. A good rule of thumb is this: If a vehicle’s annual repair costs exceed 10% of the cost of a new vehicle, it’s time to consider replacement.

SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE

Modern apparatus are built to higher safety and emissions standards. Older vehicles may lack rollover protection, air bags, electronic stability control, and clean diesel technology. This makes them more dangerous for crews and less environmentally responsible.

In addition, departments that want to remain compliant with NFPA standards or ISO rating criteria may find that maintaining outdated equipment works against them during audits or recertifications.

WHAT CAN BE FIXED AND WHAT SHOULDN’T

Not every repair signals the end of a truck’s useful life. Components like pumps, electrical systems, warning lights, and body panels can usually be serviced or replaced effectively. However, when repairs begin to affect core systems—frame integrity, suspension, drivetrain components, or the aerial structure—it may be a warning sign that you’re investing in a losing battle.

1 Replacing a fire truck is a major investment but, when made at the right time, it protects lives, improves service, and saves money in the long run. (Photo courtesy of author.)

Rust, especially in critical frame or suspension areas, can be a death sentence for older vehicles. That is one reason you should insist on some type of frame protection. Personally, I believe galvanized frame rails are superior. Similarly, persistent electrical issues in older wiring harnesses often become timeconsuming and costly to troubleshoot.

Another factor is parts availability. As manufacturers change pl

The Wallace Fire Department in Nova Scotia, Canada, provides fire and rescue services to approximately 3,100 residents in Cumberland County. The department has 35 volunteer firefighters working out of a single station. The rigs include a 2013 pumper, a 2018 Ford F-550 rescue truck, a utility pickup truck, a fire/rescue utility terrain vehicle (UTV), and a drone. The department had a 1988 pumper that it needed to replace and it chose Fort Garry Fire Trucks to build a new pumper-tanker.

Chief Tom Flynn says the department had a number of features it wanted to see on the new rig, including a commercial chassis, a top-mount pump in an enclosed cab to keep the pump operator out of the weather, a center console in the driving compartment, and a remotely-operated deck gun with an automatic extension riser.

Adam Baldwin, Fort Garry’s Maritimes/Atlantic regional manager, says the pumper-tanker that Fort Garry built for Wallace Fire is on a Freightliner M2 106 four-door 4×2 cab and chassis with seating for six firefighters, four of them in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) rear-facing seats in the crew cab, a 5083 saltwater marine grade aluminum rescue body, a 350-horsepower (hp) 7.7-liter Detroit DD8 engine, and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission.

He says that the wheelbase on the rig is 257 inches, overall length is 34 feet 7¾ inches, and overall height is 10 feet 7½ inches, while gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on the rig is 38,600 pounds with a 14,600-pound front-axle rating, and a 24,000-pound rear-axle rating.

Baldwin points out that the pumper-tanker has a 1,250-gallon-per-minute (gpm) Waterous CX pump, an enclosed cross-control (top-mount) pump panel with a crown enclosure, a co-polymer 1,000-gallon water tank, a 25-gallon integral foam tank, a FoamPr

Alia Pharr
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)

One late August morning, a man fell about 100 feet down a ravine near the Chattahoochee River.

The trench was in a wooded area behind an apartment complex in Cumberland. The 41-year-old man couldn’t climb out because he’d injured his hip and arm, according to Cobb Fire Department officials. But he could video call 911 to help responders find him.

It was the first time Cobb dispatch and rescue crews used live video from a 911 caller. They had some difficulty accessing the feed at first, the fire department said. But with the help of the dispatcher, bystanders and ultimately the video, rescuers found the man and pulled him out on a special stretcher known as a Stokes basket.

A rescue boat, and then an ambulance, took him to the hospital.

“The integration of video from the 911 caller into the response operations, it was extremely valuable,” said Melissa Alterio, executive director of the Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications. “The fire department is just so grateful for the assistance.”

As land lines become symbols of nostalgia, metro Atlanta’s biggest 911 dispatch centers are spending millions to switch their networks from copper wire to digital, enabling new features such as video feeds and precise location capabilities.

Georgia is lagging behind other states in adopting the new technology, known as Next Generation 911. Alongside increased staffing, it can help improve answer rates that have been dismal in some counties.

After the recent tech upgrade, Cobb’s dispatchers can see a map with the exact location of every cellphone contacting them. In addition to video calls, there is a “silent chat” feature people can use to communicate secretly with 911 during domestic violence or active shooter incidents. The new technology uses artificial intelligence to translate and transcribe foreign languages. It also connects calls to the 911 center faster.

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation two years ago found thousands of emergency callers across the region were left on hold for significant periods of time when they called 911.

The 911 centers run by three of Georgia’s four most populous counties failed to meet the national standard of answering 95% of calls within 20 seconds. Of those counties, Cobb was the one that hit the mark.

Cobb dispatchers said their new technology also helps them respond more efficiently once they pick up the phone. Before the upgrade, they said, the only independent verification of a caller’s location came from the nearest cell tower.

“We had to ask the callers a bunch of questions and write it all out,” dispatcher Julianna Shetterly said one recent afternoon, after sending wreckers to an accident in Kennesaw where someone was trapped. “Location is absolutely everything.

“Even if the caller isn’t able to tell me what’s happening, if I have their location, I can get some kind of services to them.”

In Cobb, the upgrade has increased the Department of Emergency Communications’ budget by about $1 million per year.

The department plans an expansion to meet the needs of the fast-growing county, which includes Truist Park and The Battery mixed-use development.

Cobb’s 911 department has 160 positions and about 10 vacancies as of last month, Alterio said. County officials would like to hire more dispatchers and a larger technology team, but there isn’t enough space in the Marietta center.

The Cobb County Commission in August approved almost $1.6 million to buy