Brush trucks have many shapes and sizes—maybe more than any other type of fire apparatus. But, they all have one defining characteristic: they are meant to operate beyond the pavement. The problem is that there aren’t any commercial truck chassis available on the market that are purpose-built for off-road use. 4x4 is a start, but it’s not the whole story. And sure, there are surplus military trucks, and more than a few departments have those. But, those ex-military trucks often have limited availability and, more importantly, their condition is usually unknown in advance. So, that makes it difficult to plan a fleet replacement just how and when you need it.

VIDEO - Two firefighters were injured after an accident involving another fire department vehicle on Thursday. The Atlanta Fire engine was responding to a warehouse fire when it was slammed head-on into an SUV on Lee Street SW at Van Buren Street SW. The SUV was also a fire department vehicle. Quintin Barksdale said he heard an explosion on the fire truck right before it was engulfed in flames.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIA-TV NBC 11 Atlanta

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System board on Wednesday ordered former Loomis Fire Chief David Wheeler to pay back more than $450,000 in pension benefits after an administrative law judge determined that Wheeler had violated state law. The judge had issued a preliminary finding that Wheeler, a member of the Loomis Town Council, knowingly violated state law by receiving a $137,000-a-year pension from CalPERS while also receiving a $60,000 annual salary from the Loomis Fire Protection District.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: sacramento bee

VIDEO - There were tense moments for some firefighters in South Amherst last night, after they were held hostage on a call. Assistant Chief Dennis Hevener was among those to respond to a brush fire behind a home on Hornyak Court. He said a man was soon outside pointing a rifle at him and two others, telling them to stand near a truck.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKYC-TV NBC 3 Cleveland

VIDEO - Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue is taking a humorous approach to teaching residents about public safety. In its latest effort, the department created a silly video to remind residents not to call 911 for non-emergencies. "What we try to do is make sure that No. 1 when people call 911 (they know) we are going to send somebody, and we want them to call 911 if they have an emergency," Fire Chief Alan Martin said.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AL.com