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Posted: Apr 8, 2025

Tillers Make a Comeback in Prince George’s County (MD)

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (PGFD) is one of the largest combination fire departments in the country, comprising close to 1,000 career firefighters and paramedics and 1,000 volunteer firefighters.

They operate out of 45 fire stations with station and apparatus ownership mixed between the career department and the volunteer corporations. This unique system allows for a number of rigs to be purchased through a number of manufacturers and builders. And with some of the volunteer corporations dating back to 1886, it allows for some rather storied rigs to have been purchased and have seen service within the county. While there are a number of unique units within the department that have served the county, we will look at some of the past tiller trucks the departments have owned and then take a dive into the career fire department’s recent purchase of tiller trucks—a trend that is spreading across the country now more than ever as departments are making the decision to purchase tillered rigs for their communities.

LEGACY RIGS AND PLANNING FOR NEW TILLERS

There are many storied tiller trucks in Prince George’s County owned by the volunteer corporations—some of them even have wooden aerial ladders on them. And, they served their response areas with great maneuverability and capabilities for tight streets, urban sprawl, and many apartment projects across the county. The varying manufacturers also brought uniqueness to each of these rigs. The county career department, which was founded in 1971, did not actually purchase rigs from the manufacturers brand new until 2021. Most of the tiller trucks that were owned by the county were purchased from the volunteer corporations, repainted, and put into the reserve fleet. The fire department shop also put together some tiller rigs by marrying different trailers and tractors together to make rigs ready for service in the reserve fleet or for extended stay in front-line service. There were certainly some very interesting combinations during that time period, and they each had their own stories to tell.

Prince George’s County

1 The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department took delivery of this Pierce Ascendant 107-foot tractor-drawn aerial with an Enforcer tractor cab in 2022. (Photos by author.)

Prior to this recent purchase

2 Prior to this recent purchase, many legacy tillers were purchased from the volunteer corporations, repainted, and put into the reserve fleet.

As early as 2019, the department started looking at the feasibility of purchasing tiller trucks for the county fleet as the county continues to add commercial developments, housing projects, large planned communities, and town centers based around public transportation stops. The design and density of many of these newly built population centers place maximum living units and retail centers, all in a tightly packed square footage, making access to these structures challenging based on small streets and parking garages as a center core. A combination of close street parking to front doors and setbacks created a number of positioning problems for truck companies to make access and obtain a good scrub surface.

While working with the department budget and collecting data to support the decision, we also needed to factor in dedicated staffing levels that would ensure fireground tasks could be completed while assigning two drivers to the apparatus. Choosing which stations would receive the new tiller rigs was based on the density of their response areas; analysis of street widths; proper staffing levels; and a review of historical responses into are

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Posted: Apr 8, 2025

Patient Killed After CA Ambulance Crashes Into Tree

An ambulance transporting a patient to the hospital crashed into a tree in Home Gardens, leaving one person dead and two others injured.

KCAL reports the AMR ambulance was traveling at 6:45 a.m. on the 12000 block of El Sobrante and Willow roads when the driver lost control and slammed into a palm tree, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The vehicle was severely damaged, with witnesses describing it as barely recognizable.

The crash sent all three occupants of the ambulance to the hospital. The two members of the ambulance crew sustained minor injuries. However, the female patient being transported in the back of the ambulance was pronounced dead.

Authorities have not yet determined whether the woman died as a result of the crash or due to the medical emergency that prompted her transport. The ambulance was reportedly not using lights or sirens at the time of the crash.

The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.

Visit KCAL for more.

The post Patient Killed After CA Ambulance Crashes Into Tree appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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Posted: Apr 7, 2025

Fire Apparatus at FDIC International 2025: Monday

Check out the rigs on display Monday, April 7, at FDIC International 2025. Fire apparatus will be on display at the Indianapolis Convention Center and in Lucas Oil Stadium. Photos by Jonathan Miller

Posted: Apr 7, 2025

REV Fire Group to Exhibit 14 Fire Apparatus Including All-Electric Vector at FDIC 2025

OCALA, Florida (April 7, 2025) – REV Fire Group, which includes REV Group, Inc. fire apparatus brands E-ONE®, KME®, Ferrara, Spartan Fire Chassis, Spartan Emergency Response®, Smeal, and Ladder Tower, will showcase 14 of the latest in fire apparatus innovation and design including the Vector® pumper, the first North American-style all-electric fire truck, during FDIC International (Fire Department Instructors Conference) in Indianapolis, Indiana from April 10-12, 2025.

“FDIC is a key event for our REV Fire Group brands, allowing us to highlight what makes each of our brands unique and demonstrate how the apparatus can address the specific needs of fire departments to best serve and protect their communities,” said Chris McClung, vice president, REV Fire Group. “We’re excited to connect with our customers and introduce new fire departments to the innovative fire apparatus from REV Fire Group.”

In celebration of first responders and in keeping with the theme “Protecting Those Who Protect Us,” REV Fire Group will host its popular “REV It Up Series” on Thursday and Friday at 12:00pm. This will include the REV It Up Product Review with live product walk-arounds.

Back by popular demand is the “Tiller Time Miller Time” Happy Hour at 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday which focuses on Tractor Drawn Aerial products, including this year’s new E-ONE TDA for the Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department.

The REV It Up Happy Hour at 2 p.m. April 10 will include a toast and celebration of the 50th anniversary of Spartan Fire Chassis, including a highlight of top innovations and recognition of longtime employees and customers. On display will be an All-Wheel-Drive Equipped chassis.

As part of the REV Innovation Showcase, the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department’s new all-electric Vector pumper will be on display at FDIC, and Roger Lackore, REV Fire Group’s Senior Director of Product Development, will be on hand to discuss its many features and answer questions.

REV Fire Group representatives will be present to discuss the unique features of each of the fire apparatus on display during the conference.

Visit the following REV Fire Group booths in Exhibit Hall H:

  • REV Fire Group Booth #4136
  • E-ONE Booth #4536
  • Ferrara Booth #3937
  • KME Booth #3737
  • Spartan Emergency Response Booth #4336

Daily Show Hours

  • Thursday, April 10: 11:00 – 5:30
    • Friday, April 11: 10:00 – 5:00
    • Saturday, April 12: 9:00 – 1:00

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About REV Group, Inc.

REV Group companies are leading designers and manufacturers of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services, which serve a diversified customer base, primarily in the United States, through two segments: Specialty Vehicles and Recreational Vehicles. The Specialty Vehicles Segment provides customized vehicle solutions for applications, including essential needs for public services (ambulances and fire apparatus) and commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers). REV Group’s Recreational Vehicles Segment manufactures a variety of RVs from Class B vans to Class A motorhomes. REV Group’s portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands, including many of the most recognizable names within their industry. Several of REV Group’s brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years. REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG. Investors-REVG

The p

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Posted: Apr 7, 2025

MO Firefighter, 16, Killed in Crash Responding to Water Rescue

Mitchell Willetts – Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.)

A Missouri fire department is heartbroken after a 16-year-old volunteer was killed while responding to a rescue call, officials and news outlets report.

The teen volunteer firefighter, Chevy Gall, was driving to the scene of a water rescue at 4:15 p.m. Friday, April 4, when he got into a fatal accident in Franklin County, the Beaufort-Leslie Fire Protection District said in a news release.

“Tonight is a fire chief’s worst nightmare,” Fire Chief Terry Feth said in the release.

According to a State Highway Patrol crash report, Gall was driving on Highway 50 when, for an unknown reason, his car crossed into an oncoming lane and crashed into the front of a cargo van.

The driver of the van suffered minor injuries. Gall was taken to a hospital where he died, according to the report. Gall was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

“Chevy died while answering the call to help others,” Feth said. “Our entire department is grieving, as we mourn with Chevy’s family, friends, and our fellow first responders during this incredibly difficult time.”

Beaufort and the surrounding area was under heavy rainfall at the time of the crash, Franklin County Emergency Manager Abe Cook told KSDK.

“It’s a dangerous situation” when first responders have to get somewhere quickly in bad weather, he said.

“Chevy’s passing leaves behind his loving parents and two siblings, who are engulfed in grief,” the Chief Mason Griffith Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping first responders, said in a Facebook post. “This unimaginable situation has cast a shadow over our entire community, reminding us of the tremendous sacrifices our first responders make every day.”

Beaufort is a roughly 60-mile drive southwest from St. Louis.

© 2025 the Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.). Visit www.mercedsunstar.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post MO Firefighter, 16, Killed in Crash Responding to Water Rescue appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

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