By Alan M. Petrillo
Some fire departments around the country continue to use the strategy of attacking a structure fire with a small quick-attack rig or mini-pumper before the big guns arrive on the scene. And manufacturers are responding to the need with minis and quick attacks that pack a much bigger punch than such rigs of earlier days.
Joe Messmer, president of Summit Fire Apparatus, says there seems to be a resurgence in the use of quick-attack trucks and mini-pumpers around the country. “We now can put a 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm)-rated pump on a Ford F-550 and on a Dodge RAM 5500 chassis because the pump manufacturers have developed bigger pumps that work on the smaller rigs,” Messmer says. “And the minis and quick attacks are great for fitting down narrow driveways and narrow roadways where full-size pumpers might have difficulty.”
While some departments are going with 1,500-gpm pumps on their small rigs, Messmer believes that the majority of the minis and quick attacks are being fitted with 1,250-gpm pumps and 300 gallons of water. “Weight is everything, and it’s cumulative on these vehicles, so you have to build the mini or quick attack for the majority of fire or rescue runs that the department has instead of for the biggest calls,” he says. Messmer also finds that many departments are putting foam systems and compressed air foam systems (CAFS) on their quick attacks and minis to make the best use of the minimal amounts of water carried.
1 Summit Fire Apparatus built this mini-pumper on a Chevy 550 chassis and four-door cab for the Clinton-Warren (OH) Joint Fire District. (Photo>s 1-2 courtesy of Summit Fire Apparatus.)
2 This mini-pumper/quick-attack truck was built by Summit for the South New Berlin (NY) Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
Russell Chick, marketing and communications manager for HME Ahrens-Fox, says HME recently built an EVO mini-pumper for the Argo (AL) Fire Department on a Ford F-550 chassis with a two-door extended cab, powered by a Powerstroke 330-horsepower (hp) 6.7-liter V8 engine and a Ford 10-speed automatic transmission. Chick says the Argo rig has a Hale DSD 1,500-gpm, 24-inch, side-operated pump; a UPF Poly® 500-gallon water tank; an Ahrens-Fox 3000 foam system;
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Posted: Jan 3, 2023
Spencer—Howe (IN) Volunteer Fire Department pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; APR polypropylene 1,043-gallon water tank. Dealer: Spencer Manufacturing, South Haven, MI.
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Posted: Jan 3, 2023
Bismarck (AR) Fire Protection Association reported on Facebook that it had an unfortunate Friday morning while one of its trucks was in route to a structure fire, the department reported on Facebook.
“Two firefighters were on board at the time of the wreck. Luckily they are only a little banged up, but no major injuries. We are so thankful they are OK! This could’ve been so much worse. We would like to thank GBF towing, Beene’s towing, Baptist ambulance, Hot Spring County Sheriffs department, and Arkansas State Police.”
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A fire truck crashed on the way to a house fire in Putnam County, wchstv.com reported. The incident happened on Panther Lick Road Sunday night in Culloden, the report said.
Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton said the fire truck is owned by the Culloden Volunteer Fire Department, according to the report.
No injuries were reported.
Five fire departments responded to the incident, the report said. Conditions were very foggy at the time of the crash, so weather could have played a role.
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A Pleasant Grove Fire Department engine was struck by a vehicle on I-15 Monday afternoon, kslnewsradio.com reported.
In an Instagram post, the Pleasant Grove Fire Department said their truck was parked on the roadside behind an ambulance when it was hit.
Then, a vehicle skidded into the fire truck and nearly collided with the ambulance before it was able to stop, the report said.
There were no injuries and minimal damage to the fire truck.
Officials are urging all drivers to slow down and use extreme caution on slick and snowy roads.
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