By Chris Mc Loone

On the high side, the industry across the board has experienced consistent growth; fire departments continue to replace old or add new stations with designs built around maximizing efficiency, health, and safety of firefighters; and along with consistent market growth, fire service suppliers are continuing to develop new products. And, for fire departments, capital expenditures are finally receiving approval, often including multiple apparatus orders.

2013 vs. 2014

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For Dennis Mueller, chief of the Lake Havasu City (AZ) Fire Department (LHCFD), 2014 was a culmination of a multiple-apparatus purchase, the process for which began in 2013. "I spent the first half of the year developing a plan to purchase four new pumpers and one new quint," he says. "This plan took a lot of meetings with the various stakeholders prior to making the presentation to the city management and council. In July 2013, the City Council approved the plan, and the apparatus was ordered by the end of August." The department took delivery of the apparatus in April 2014 and the department spent six months fabricating compartments. "All units are in service and doing great with a lot less maintenance issues or downtime being reported," he adds. "So far, [2014] has been really nice."

Chad Newsome, national sales manager for PL Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc., (PLCB) says, "In comparing 2013 and 2014, we have had consistent growth and demand, seeing a net gain that actually began in 2011 and has consistently exceeded expectations through today. 2015 will be interesting, as the rebalancing between reduced demand begins and the dividends of training and expansion pay off."

Mark Huber, president of Smeal Fire Apparatus Company, says that compared with last year, "We saw about 50 percent growth in the trucks that we sold in 2014 vs. 2013. So, we grew pretty significantly. What I'm seeing around the industry is that most manufacturers produced more in 2014 than they did in 2013."

As 2014 ends, Task Force Tips (TFT) and Performance Advantage Company (PAC) also expect to see increases in the books compared with 2013. According to Dick Young, founder of PAC, 2014 is up 10 percent above 2013, and Rod Carringer, chief marketing officer at TFT, says, "We are looking at a record year in 2014 with outstanding growth from all market segments-both domestically and internationally."

Challenges Ahead?

With such good news about 2014, one might think 2015 will be a breeze and good fortune will continue right into the new year. But, next year will not be without its challenges as manufacturers work to maintain the momentum.

"It is my belief that there are three concerns facing our industry in 2015: regulatory, pent-up purchasing demand reduction, and manufacturer instability," says Newsome. The regulatory concerns won't be as much of a concern for PLCB's Rescue 1 division next year, he says, but the impact of new regulations and new regulatory bodies form new challenges for the ambulance industry. "How each state addresses these changes through their own

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Performance Advantage Company (PAC) heavy rescue tool mounting kit supports, locates, and secures most rescue tools including cutters, spreaders, and combi tools. Kits pair PAC's new 1035 Pocket with either of its K5020 Fast Lok or 1070 Jumbo Lok brackets, so extrication tools can be mounted vertically, horizontally, or angled. The kit offers heavy-duty construction, multiple mounting positions, and three strap colors. www.pactoolmounts.com, 888-514-0083

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California

Rosenbauer-Ferndale Fire Department, rear-mount pumper. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 350-hp engine; Hale RSD 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank. Sold by Kevin Graham, Fire Trucks West Inc., Meridian, ID. Delivery in January 2015.

Rosenbauer-Lake Valley Fire Protection District, South Lake Tahoe, water tender. Kenworth T800 cab and chassis; Cummins ISX15 500-hp engine; UPF Poly 3,000-gallon tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 1600 Class A foam system; Waterous CXK 750-gpm pump. Sold by Bob Beck, Fire Trucks West Inc., Meridian, ID. Delivery in May 2015.

Arkansas

E-ONE-Pine Bluff Fire Department, pumper. Typhoon X cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,250-gpm pump; 780-gallon polypropylene tank; two 30-gallon foam cells; FoamPro 2001 dual-agent foam system; Waterous 140-P compressed air foam system. Sold by Chip Croms, Sunbelt Fire, Fairhope, AL. Delivery in March 2015.

Florida

Sutphen-West Palm Beach Fire Department, pumper. Custom cab and chassis; Cummins ISX12 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene tank; Harrison 10-kW generator. Sold by David Stonitsch, South Florida Emergency Vehicles, Ft. Meyers, FL. Delivery in June 2015.

Illinois

E-ONE-Bloomington Fire Department, aerial ladder quint. Typhoon Severe Duty cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; 78-foot rear-mount aerial ladder; eMAX 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon tank; heavy duty aerial ladder. Sold by Craig Hamrick, Banner Fire Equipment, Roxana, IL. Delivery in May 2015.

Pierce-Evanston Fire Department, 100-foot tractor drawn aerial. Arrow XT cab and chassis; Detroit DD13 500-hp engine; Harrison 8-kW generator. Sold by Rick Berndt, Global Emergency Vehicles, Aurora, IL. Delivery in August 2015.

Alexis-Sheldon District Fire Department, pumper. International 7400 cab and chassis; MaxxForce9 330-hp engine; Waterous CXS 1,250-gpm pump; Pro Poly 1,500-gallon polypropylene tank. Sold by Stan Froelich, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL. Delivery in May 2015.

Iowa

Alexis-Victor Fire Department, wet side tanker. Peterbilt 348 cab and chassis; Paccar PX-9 350-hp engine; Waterous PB-18 3030C portable pump; APR polypropylene 2,200-gallon tank. Sold by Greg Landon, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL. Delivery in May 2015.

Alexis-Wilton Fire Department, tanker. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 350-hp engine; Waterous CLVK 500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 2,000-gallon polypropylene tank. Sold by Greg Landon, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL. Delivery in May 2015.

Kentucky

Rosenbauer-Owensboro Fire Department, pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSUC20 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Waterous Advantus 6 Class A foam system; Smart Power 6-kW generator. Sold by Bob Stark, Fire Apparatus Division S.D.C., Louisville, KY. Delivery in February 2015.

Ferrara-Shelbyville Fire Department, rescue-pumper. Cinder cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon tank; 20-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 single-agent foam system. Sold by Kevin Hardwick, Mid-America Fire & Safety, Evansville, IN. Delivery in February 2015.

Louisiana

Ferrara-Plaquemines Parish Government, Booth-Venice Volunteer Fire Department, Belle Chasse, pumper. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 350-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon tank. Sold by Lee Chambers, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Holden, LA. Delivery in November 2015.

Ferrara-Dry Fork Volunteer Fire Department, Leesville, tanker. International 7400 two-door cab and chassis; MaxxForce9 330-hp engine; UPF Poly 3,000-gallon tank; Hale Qflo 1,250-gpm pump. Sold by Lester Daire