SOUTH HAVEN, MI—Spencer Manufacturing, Inc., a provider of customized fire apparatus, has released the Initial Attack – Stock build #1671, adding to its growing lineup of inventive and efficient builds.
The in-stock Spencer Initial Attack is built on a Ford F-600 chassis and equipped with a full-body pump. It can move over 2,000 gpm using Hale’s Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pump.

This configuration brings big-truck pumping power to a compact initial attack platform—typically the first apparatus to arrive on scene. With a smaller, more agile body designed for rapid response in remote, rural, or wildland environments, the truck provides maximum water flow in critical early moments of a developing fire, enabling faster and more effective suppression.

“We’re proud to bring forward innovations like this that make crews more effective and better equipped to protect their communities,” says Grant Spencer, president of Spencer Fire Trucks. “Our best innovations come directly from the field. By staying flexible and truly listening to what departments need, we’re able to design apparatus that solve real-world challenges and help firefighters do their jobs more safely and efficiently.”

Features of the Initial Attack include:

• Ford F-600 XLT chassis
• 6.7-liter V8 diesel engine
• 19,500-pound GVWR
• Spencer Solid-POLY™ body
• L2/R2 transverse compartment
• Ladder storage
• Suction hose storage
• Whelen CenCom Core® lighting package
• Whelen Liberty II lightbar
• Whelen M Series warning lights
• Whelen M9 EZ scene lights
• Hale Qmax-XS 1,500-gpm pump
• SmartFOAM 2.1A with 10-gallon cell
• 300-gallon water tank
• Two 200-foot 1¾-inch speedlays with foam
• Hosebed 2½-inch foam discharge

The Initial Attack stock unit #1671 is available now for immediate delivery

About Spencer Fire Trucks

Spencer Manufacturing, Inc. was founded in 1986 by volunteer firefighter Brian Spencer in South Haven, Michigan. Nearly 40 years later, the family-owned company continues to serve departments across the country with purpose-built fire and rescue apparatus.

Known for its unlimited customization, flexible build process, and exceptional craftsmanship, Spencer works side by side wi

Video obtained by king5.com shows a driver in a silver Honda hit a Seattle (WA) Fire Department apparatus three times. The driver then allegedly went on to block an intersection and lead police on a high-speed chase.

According to a police report, about 30 minutes after hitting the fire department rig, the same silver Honda later on allegedly blocked an intersection and attempted to hit cars and people.

Police officers attempted to pull the Honda over but a high-speed chase ensued. Once the Honda reached 85 mph the police ended their pursuit. The driver is still at-large.

No injuries were reported.

The post WATCH | Car Driver Repeatedly Backs Into Fire Apparatus appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

After finishing up its response to a highway crash Sunday Aug. 3, 2025, a St. Louis Fire Department pumper was rear-ended by a Jeep.

Two fire units responded to the first crash – one to investigate the incident, the other to “block” or protect the scene from traffic, a fire official told ksdk.com.

As the blocking engine was leaving the scene, a Jeep rear-ended it, causing the Jeep to flip on its side, the report said.

The driver of the Jeep and two firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the report. The firefighters were released from the hospital by around noon.

“Officers and the St. Louis Fire Department had a close call this morning,” the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department posted on Facebook. “While investigating a crash on I-44 near Jamieson, a driver failed to slow down and move over. The vehicle hit the rear of a fire engine.

“Thankfully, there were only minor injuries. This could have been much worse.

“Slow Down and Move Over. It’s the law!”

The post St. Louis (MO) FD Pumper Rear-Ended at Crash Scene appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

Don Worley, a local resident of Warren (VT), proudly drives a staple of Warren’s 4^th of July yearly parade. The 1928 American LaFrance fire truck has been in the parade since the 1980s. 

According to an erienewsnow.com article, the truck served the Bradford (PA) Fire Department until 1952 and then spent two decades at Bradford Airport. Worley found the truck in 1977 in a field, and it was in bad shape. The wheels were wood and the truck had a chain drive, and Worley decided he had to have it. After five years of restoration, the truck has been a staple of Warren’s parade.   

Don Worley’s passion for restoration has brought joy and intrigue to the local residents of Warren.  

The post 1928 Fire Truck Becomes 4th of July Parade Staple  appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

GENE ZALESKI
The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.
(TNS)

Calhoun County is taking steps to equip its newly constructed Sandy Run fire substation in preparation for when the station becomes operational in about two months.

Calhoun County budget includes tax hike

Calhoun County Council approved a budget that includes a tax increase.

County Council unanimously agreed Monday to the purchase of extrication equipment for $52,637 from Spartan Fire.

The equipment will go on the pumper tanker and the ladder truck to be housed at the station, County Administrator Richard Hall said.

“An invoice was submitted to be processed right at the end of the budget year for the Sandy Run Fire District,” Hall said. “It is something that we use. It is a county standard extrication gear. Spartan Fire is the vendor, so it matches our other items.”

The new Sandy Run station is currently under construction. It will be used to stage equipment in the next four to five weeks and be completed in about eight weeks, said Hall.

The procurement for the county’s future Sandy Run substation comes as the Sandy Run fire department has stopped responding to fire calls, citing its inability to reach a fire service contract agreement with the county by the July 1 deadline.

Calhoun County says the Sandy Run area continues to have fire service coverage provided by surrounding departments.

The Sandy Run Fire department has always operated under a special purpose tax district and never as a part of the county.

An ordinance passed April 28 by Calhoun County Council dissolved the existing fire districts and consolidated them into one district.

The Sandy Run department has consistently opposed the formation of the consolidated fire district, saying it will undermine the autonomy and community-focused service that the fire district has provided for decades.

The fire department has operated as its own fire district and has never needed a contract with the county to provide fire services.

“Calhoun County officials are actively reaching out to recruit our volunteer members for the new fire station just miles from ours,” the fire district said in a statement earlier this month. “This is a direct overreach and an absolute insult to a department that has proudly served Sandy Run and Calhoun County since 1977 — built by the community, for the community.”

“Instead of working with us to find a way to support a proven, equipped local department, the county is preparing to spend hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars to equip a new station, while residents continually face rising taxes,” the department continued. “This decision is particularly concerning given the recent substantial tax increases imposed on Sandy Run and county residents.”

“This isn’t at all about safety. It’s about control,” the district said.

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The Sandy Run Fire Department says negotiations with the county have stalled primarily over equipment ownership.

The department says with the exception of the new ladder truck, the new tanker truck curr