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Posted: Jun 26, 2025

Multiple Departments Prepping New Air/Light Fire Apparatus for Service

In a press release from the State of Rhode Island (RI) General Assembly, a custom-made air/light fire truck will soon support multiple communities in Northern RI. At least 12 fire departments and districts will have access to the new unit, serving more than 460,000 Rhode Islanders.

Photo/Rhode Island House of Representatives Facebook

A $586,363 federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award delivered by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse made this possible, the press release shared. In addition, a $50,000 legislative grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives was dedicated to the project, delivered by Representative Stephen M. Casey, a Woonsocket firefighter.

The unit is able to refill self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) cylinders, provide enhanced portable lighting, as well as a rehab area to keep firefighters cool in the summer and warm in the winter, a news article by The Breeze states. In addition, the truck has two extendable awnings and storage space.

Captain Matthew Dubois and Captain Brendon Adams of Woonsocket, Lieutenant Daniel Petrin of Central Falls, and Lieutenant Jason Dupont of Limerock shared to The Breeze  that the process of designing this apparatus took nearly three years. Although there are air/light units in RI, Limerock Chief Timothy Walsh noted that there are no other trucks in the state with this level of performance and practicality.

Dupont stated in a news article that the truck is getting some finishing touches, but should be available for service in early July.

The post

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Posted: Jun 26, 2025

Braun Ambulances Earns Prestigious Ford Pro Upfitter Qualified Status

Braun Ambulances is proud to announce that it has officially achieved Ford Pro Upfitter Qualified status. This elite designation is part of Ford’s revamped accreditation program, formerly known as the Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program, designed to strengthen the relationship between Ford and final-stage vehicle manufacturers like Braun.

The Ford Pro Upfitter program ensures that upfitters meet rigorous standards across multiple areas, including regulatory compliance, manufacturing operations, quality control, customer service, and industry participation. Braun Ambulances’ acceptance into this program is a direct result of its unwavering focus on excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction.

“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” said Matt Kramer, Quality System & Continuous Improvement Manager at Braun Ambulances. “From the way we engineer our ambulances to the way we support our customers after delivery, we’re driven by a commitment to continuous improvement. Being named a Ford Pro Upfitter Qualified manufacturer confirms that our systems and processes meet or exceed the highest standards in the industry.”

For Braun customers and dealers, this designation translates to even greater confidence in the manufacturer’s ability to deliver well-integrated, reliable emergency vehicles built on Ford chassis. It ensures Braun ambulances are manufactured in clean, secure, and well-run facilities, in accordance with all applicable Ford and government regulations. It also confirms Braun’s longstanding commitment to responsive, customer-first service, as well as its continued involvement in key trade associations like the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA).

This new recognition underscores Braun Ambulances’ reputation for rugged durability, customizable craftsmanship, and legacy quality—attributes that have defined the company for over 50 years. The Ford Pro Upfitter Qualified status is a meaningful milestone that reinforces Braun’s position as a trusted partner in the emergency vehicle industry.

About Braun Ambulances

Since 1972, Braun Ambulances has been a custom ambulance manufacturer focused on safety, quality, and innovation. Serving small volunteer Fire/EMS services to large municipalities and all size departments/private organizations in between, Braun offers seven ambulance models in Type I or Type III configurations and countless customization options. Leveraging the power of partner brands, Demers Ambulances and Crestline, Braun Ambulances is committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience as a premie r ambulance manufacturer. Learn more by visiting www.BraunAmbulances.com.

About Demers Braun Ambulance Manufacturer

Through its strong and diversified portfolio of brands – Demers, Braun, Crestline, and Medix – is one of the largest ambulance manufacturers in North America with multiple production and service center facilities across North America. Its offering of ambulance products range from the price-conscious value ambulance to the highly customized specialty vehicle. To learn more about how Demers, Braun, Crestline, and Medix can help you save more lives, visit Demers-Ambulances.comBraunAmbulances.com, Read more

Posted: Jun 25, 2025

Tire Blowout Likely Totals Fire Truck

On Monday, June 23, a Waynesville (MO) fire truck suffered a right front tire blowout, resulting in minor injuries. According to a news article, three firefighters headed back from a call around 11:20 a.m. on Interstate 44 where the incident occurred. 

On a social media post, Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District confirmed that the heavy rescue exited the roadway and went up an embankment after the blowout where it struck an exit sign. This caused the windshield to shatter and resulted in significant damage to the fire apparatus, the post says.

According to KY3, driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, while the other two firefighters, thankfully, did not report any. The department did confirm that the apparatus appears to be a “total loss.”

The post Tire Blowout Likely Totals Fire Truck appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jun 25, 2025

Pierce U.S. Road Rally Rolls On

APPLETON, WI—Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation  business, announces the continued momentum of the 2025 Pierce Road Rally as it nears its midpoint visiting locations across the United States. Since beginning in April, the Road Rally has brought Pierce’s latest fire apparatus and technology to fire departments across the U.S. and now enters the summer stretch of events in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. 

The 2025 U.S. Road Rally features a rotating lineup of fire apparatus—including the Pierce Volterra™ electric pumper, heavy-duty Ascendant® aerial ladder and midmount tower trucks, a heavy-duty rescue, and PUC™ pumpers, along with direct access to Pierce product experts and dealer representatives. Participants have the opportunity to drive demonstration vehicles on their community streets, set up and operate aerial fire apparatus, flow water out of the Pierce Volterra electric fire truck, and more. The Road Rally will continue into August, concluding at  Fire-Rescue International 2025 . 

In May and June 2025, Pierce dealers Commercial Emergency Equipment and L’Arsenal completed a Canadian Road Rally, which featured demonstrations and product conversations to fire departments across 19 stops in Ontario and Quebec. The Canadian tour included a Pierce Ascendant 107-foot heavy-duty aerial ladder, an Ascendant 100-foot heavy-duty aerial tower with midmount configuration, and a PUC pumper. 

“We’re proud to see the momentum of the Road Rally grow as we reach more departments across North America,” said Bob Schulz, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “These events deliver more than just product displays. They offer real opportunities for education, collaboration, and innovation to support the fire service at every level.” 

Upcoming U.S. Road Rally Stops

The next U.S. Road Rally stops take place throughout July and August and include 12 locations from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, Maryland to Ohio, and Kentucky to the Carolinas. Events will feature demonstrations and opportunities to explore Pierce apparatus. 

To view the full tour schedule and learn which apparatus will be showcased at each stop, visit: www.piercemfg.com/road-rally.

The post Pierce U.S. Road Rally Rolls On appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Jun 25, 2025

Union Gap (WA) Fire Rescue Adds Third Type 1 Structural Engine to Its Fleet

SPECIAL DELIVERY

ALAN M. PETRILLO

BY ALAN M. PETRILLO

Union Gap Fire Rescue was looking to replace an older commercial chassis Type 1 engine and a mini pumper/ brush truck with a Type 1 pumper that could run as its first-out response unit and be able to handle structural fire calls and other fire suppression situations.

Union Gap had worked with KME in the past on the purchase of a Type 1/3 RidgeRunner engine that it was very satisfied with, so the department decided to have KME build a new Type 1 pumper.

Greg Cobb, public safety director for Union Gap Fire Rescue, said the city of Union Gap borders the city of Yakima on its south side and is home to a regional shopping center, large auto dealerships, light industrial complexes, fruit packing warehouses, and many retail shops and restaurants in the city’s 5½ squaremiles.

“We had been running paid staffing for one engine during the daytime and volunteer firefighters at night. But, things changed in 2015 when we contracted with Yakima Fire Department to provide the firefighters to staff our first-out engine,” Cobb points out. “Yakima has six staffed apparatus running out of five stations with their 130 paid full-time firefighters, and Yakima sends four engines and one truck to every structure fire in our district. Essentially, we have automatic mutual aid with them.”

While Yakima provides staffing for Union Gap’s rigs, it is Union Gap Fire Rescue that’s responsible for providing the station, apparatus, and equipment for those firefighters, Cobb notes.

When it came to specifying a new Type 1 engine, Cobb says that Union Gap had some concerns with the length of the bays in its station. “We wanted a top-mount pumper like our second-line engine,” Cobb says, “and wanted the new pumper to be as close as possible to the design of Yakima’s top-mount pumpers. To fit the new engine in the station, we had to shorten the cab and the catwalk and slim down the tailboard, but we kept the compartmentation as close as possible as those on Yakima’s pumpers.”

SeaWestern Emergency Vehicles

1 KME built this custom top-mount pumper on a Panther EMFD cab and chassis that is powered by a 450-hp Cummins L9 engine and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission for Union Gap (WA) Fire Rescue. (Photocourtesy of SeaWestern Emergency Vehicles.)


Union Gap (WA) Fire Rescue

STRENGTH: Contracts with the Yakima (WA) Fire Department to staff fire apparatus during daytime; Union Gap volunteer firefighters staff rigs at night, one station. Automatic mutual aid with Yakima Fire.

SERVICE AREA: Union Gap Fire Rescue provides fire protection and rescue services to the 5.5-square-mile city of Union Gap with a population of 6,500 residents.

OTHER APPARATUS: 2020 KME RidgeRunner 4×4 Type 1/3 pumper, 1,500-gpm pump, 500-gallon water tank, 20-gallon Class A foam tank; 2012 E-ONE Typhoon pumper, 1,500-gpm pump, 750-gallon water tank, 20-gallon Class A foam tank.


polypropylene water tank

2 Union Gap’s rig has a top-mount Hale Qmax 1,750-gpm pump and a 750-gallon polypropylene water tank.

Mark Merritt, director of emergency vehicles for SeaWestern Emergency Vehicles, who sold the KME top-mount pumper to Union Gap, says the

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