By Alan M. Petrillo

Hagerstown-Jefferson Township (IN) Volunteer Fire Department, a small fire department in a rural Indiana community, was having difficulty staffing its apparatus during the day, a situation that many volunteer fire departments around the country are experiencing. The department needed to replace its walk-in rescue truck, and one of its engines was getting elderly, so it decided to combine two trucks into one and buy a new rescue-pumper. The department chose Toyne to build that truck.

Rick Cole, Hagerstown-Jefferson Township’s chief, points out that when the department responds to motor vehicle accidents it has to run two rigs, its rescue and a pumper to the call, but with the new Toyne rescue-pumper, it only has to staff a single vehicle. “Our new Toyne rescue-pumper carries all the rescue equipment that we had on the old rescue, like our TNT hosed hydraulic extrication tools, a cutter, spreader, two rams and a combi tool, and also our Holmatro struts,” Cole says.

Jeff Murray, fire truck salesman for Donley Safety, who sold the Toyne rescue-pumper to Hagerstown-Jefferson Township, says the rig is built on a Spartan Metro Star LFD chassis and cab with a 10-inch raised roof and seating for six firefighters, five of them in SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) seats. The rescue-pumper is powered by a 400-horsepower (hp) Cummins L9 diesel engine and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission, and has a Waterous CS 1,250-gallon per minute (gpm) pump, a UPF Poly® 750-gallon water tank, a 25-gallon foam cell, and a FoamPro 2001 Class A foam proportioning system.

Cole says one of the department’s objectives was to make the rescue-pu

Bulldog Fire Apparatus Inc. announced the launch and operations of a major refurb and repair center in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, utilizing the former KME Fire Apparatus factory facilities and will specialize in the refurbishment of apparatus, specializing in aerial ladder devices, with the capability to perform all fabrication, paint, and fit and finish along with providing wiring harness fabrication operation and full graphics department. This facility will also perform upfitting and equipment mounting of new apparatus prior to delivery.

“Bulldog Fire Apparatus is one of the largest KME dealers and in my 17 years with Bulldog, I have enjoyed visiting the Nesquehoning facility many times. Each time, I was struck by the dedication, pride, and quality of the KME workforce. Finding qualified, technically skilled people in today’s market is very challenging.” said Bulldog President Jeffrey Mazza. At the time of this release, Bulldog has already hired 35 employees and will continue to ramp up as business grows utilizing the existing firetruck experience in the local area.

Furthermore, the market is facing unprecedented pressure from the chassis shortage and other supply chain issues. It is a difficult time in the Fire/EMS industry with departments being hit by inflation and budget constraints. With long lead times and increasing costs, departments are being forced to run rigs longer and face slower replacement cycles. To offer our customer relationships full chassis off Refurbishment and Repair of existing units is a necessary alternative to keep their fleets operating efficiently.

“Leveraging the workforce, we can hit the ground running. Combining their expertise with plant, tools, and equipment will allow us to restore more fire apparatus to like-new condition than ever before. Moreover, we will have the capacity to take on additional specialty truck projects that other OEMs cannot. It’s a win-win for us. We genuinely look forward to working with the Nesquehoning community to better serve first responders nationwide” Bulldog President Jeff Mazza stated

For more information about Bulldog Fire Apparatus, please visit our website www.BulldogFireApparatus.com.

About Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus: Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus was established in 1933 as a fire apparatus manufacturer. Over the years, the company evolved to represent other emergency vehicle manufacturers, including KME Fire Apparatus, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Fouts Bros. Fire Apparatus, Ward Apparatus, Demers Ambulances, Braun Ambulances, Crestline Ambulances, and Osage Ambulances. Today, they are a one-stop shop from sales to service. They offer in-shop and on-site repair, preventative maintenance, custom fabrication, accident repair, body and paintwork, refurbishments, remounts, equipment mounting, aerial and pump testing, antique restoration, and graphics. To learn more about Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus, visit www.BulldogFireApparatus.com.

Sutphen—Massillon (OH) Fire Department 75-foot mid-mount aerial ladder quint. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon water tank; FRC and HiViz LED scene lights; Whelen LED warning lights; 304 stainless-steel body; low ”pumper”-style hosebed; Zico electric ladder rack. Dealer: Ray Capezzuto, Herb Fire Equipment, Powell, OH.

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The 27-year-old woman who was killed Tuesday afternoon in a crash involving a forklift on Aurora Avenue North and North 96th Street in Seattle has been identified by her family as Jessica Valdez. Valdez was in the passenger’s seat of a gray SUV when the crash happened. Seattle police said that a man driving a forklift while intoxicated was trying to cross the intersection when he hit the gray SUV, which then hit a landscaping truck.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2023 3:17:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV ABC 7 Seattle

Today was an exciting day for the BFD & the City of Boston as we broke ground on a new Meetinghouse Hill Firehouse, Engine 17, Ladder 7 District 7. pic.twitter.com/0FyLGa2XKr

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) February 7, 2023

Monday was an exciting day for the Boston Fire Department and the city of Boston as ground was broken on a new Meetinghouse Hill Firehouse, Engine 17, Ladder 7 District 7, the Boston Fire Department tweeted.

The city of Boston has allocated $24.7 million toward the design and construction of a new Engine 17 / Ladder 7 Fire Station in the Meetinghouse Hill area of Dorchester, the city said in a news release. The new building will feature:

• a sloped roof
• a dormer stair tower, and
• a brick façade that speaks to the historic use of masonry for fire houses.

The prominent apparatus bay canopy will provide shading and a distinctive civic presence. The large windows will introduce daylight into program spaces and create a welcoming entrance to the building. Puddingstone outcroppings will be incorporated, preserving this unique local landscape feature.

The primary theme for this commission is fire fighting and the neighborhood’s relationship with the fire station.

The budget for this public art project is $200,000. The primary theme for this commission is fire fighting and the neighborhood’s relationship with the fire station. This Call to Artists was open to all artists, national and international. There is a strong preference for artists who have a connection to Dorchester or themes of the project.

THE SITE

The Engine 17 Fire Station is located at 37 East Street in the Meetinghouse Hill area of Dorchester. The new site is adjacent to the existing firehouse, and is currently a parking lot. The existing firehouse will remain in operation during the course of construction. 

The original Engine 17 / Ladder 7 firehouse opened on February 15, 1928. It was built on the site of two old firehouses that dated back to the annexation of the Town of Dorchester to the City of Boston. The firehouse sits across the prominent white-spired First Parish Church. Engine 17 / Ladder 7 respond to incidents in the Dorchester and Roxbury areas, and to parts of South Boston.

The site identified for the public art project is the entrance tower, which is largely glass on the west and south sides. We are looking for artists with experience working with translucent materials in public spaces.