In The News

• FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY awarded a $61,000 grant to the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), helping the Fireman's Fund reach $30 million in grants nationwide. The Fireman's Fund grant program has donated more than $655,000 to the FDNY since the program began in 2004. The FDNY will use the grant to purchase lifesaving equipment and training and education materials. A Queens (NY) station that was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy will receive $25,000 from the grant, which it will use to purchase a forcible entry simulator, training props, and fitness equipment. The FDNY High School will receive $15,500 from the grant, while FDNY Station 50 and FDNY Fire Zone will receive the remaining $20,500 to purchase emergency medical services equipment.

• MIAMI DEPARTMENT OF FIRE RESCUE purchased the Guardian Safety and Survival Training System Simulator to train personnel in its 14 fire stations. The system replicates scenarios involving confined spaces, sewer lines, railcar leakages, window repelling or rescues, and leaking gas cylinders. The system is mobile, so it can be transported among stations and also to technical rescue stations, hazmat teams, search and rescue operations, and other special units. It is easily customizable and allows for continuous monitoring of training sessions through the system's video cameras and command center.

• HALL-MARK FIRE APPARATUS, INC. delivered an E-ONE Typhoon Pumper to Alachua County (FL) Fire Rescue (ACFR). ACFR covers more than 600 square miles, including the city of Alachua; the towns of Waldo, Archer, and Hawthorne; and all other areas in Alachua County. The Typhoon Pumper features an E-ONE Typhoon four-door cab, seating for six, a four-door cab, Navistar 350-hp engine, Whelen LED emergency lighting, ROM roll-up doors, Allison 3000 EVS transmission, Waterous 1,250-gpm two-stage pump, officer's side ladder tunnel, and UPF 780-gallon Poly water tank.

• NAVISTAR launched its heavy-duty International WorkStar vocational truck, equipped with a 13-liter engine with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology. The International WorkStar truck is designed for heavy loads and includes two variations: the 7600 set-back axle and the 7600 set-forward axle. Both models have a 113-inch bumper to back-of-cab, huck-bolted frame, crossmember system, panoramic windshield, and Diamond Logic® electrical system. Available features include a high-visibility hood, various axle configurations, and engine options.

• PL CUSTOM EMERGENCY VEHICLES of Manasquan, New Jersey, and DPC Emergency Equipment of Marydel, Delaware, announced a multiyear contract to supply ambulances to the Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department EMS. PL Custom will provide medium duty Titan ambulances on Freightliner extended cab M2 chassis. Each vehicle includes PL Custom's "Medic in Mind" layout that allows attendants to remain safely seated during patient care while they access equipment, supplies, and function switches. The vehicles' customized features include PL Custom's centrally-ducted climate control system, a V-MUX multiplex electrical system, a left-side squad bench, and a Stryker PowerLIFT cot system.

• PIERCE MANUFACTURING opened its doors to the Appleton, Wisconsin, community on July 13, 2013, for its first ever open house in the company's 100-year history. According to Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing, the company was embracing the community that has embraced Pierce for 100 years. "This is the first time that we have opened our doors to the community, to the public, and to the world at large," said Johnson. "We have people from over 30 states, one American territory, and two foreign countries registered to participate in this open house today." Pierce estimates that more than 12,000 attended the 100th anniversary festivities, which kicked off with a parade of more than 60 fire apparatus driving by the company's headquarters. Inside, new Pierce trucks were on display as well as a Pierce history display, and visitors could take self-guided tours of the facility to see the build process of a fire truck and talk to experts in each area. Wisconsin's Governor, the honorable Scott Walker, followed Johnson and noted how important Pierce has been to not only Wisconsin but globally as well. "With a couple thousand strong in terms of employees, as Governor I appreciate your presence in Appleton. I appreciate it as part of the larger group with Oskhosk Corporation. I appreciate it not only in jobs created but also the economic impact here and around the globe," said Walker.

For the kids, there was a coloring contest, a bean bag toss, fire extinguisher demonstrations, a fire safety house, face painting and tattoos, power wheels and a pedal car course, and an opportunity to hear the story of "Pierce the Pumper."

The open house was followed by a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb on July 14 at historic Lambeau Field attended by 561 climbers.

Navistar Exiting Loose Engine Business

Samantha Inzalaco

Navistar International will soon exit the loose engine business in North America, according to Manager of Communications Elissa Maurer, which leaves the fire service fewer engine manufacturers to choose from.

The decision stems from Navistar's Drive to Deliver turnaround plan that evaluates the company's return on investment capital (ROIC) of its North America operators. The ROIC approach evaluates each area of business so the company can move forward on the correct path: to sell, fix, or close each business sector. "Our Drive to Deliver turnaround plan judges a business's ability to provide the correct ROIC. This analysis included the loose engine business and resulted in the decision," Maurer says.

This program resulted in numerous other changes within Navistar, Maurer explains. "We have suspended the production of our 15-liter engine; closed our Garland, Texas, plant; and subleased approximately 25 percent of our Alabama facility to Freightcar America."

In any industry, such a drastic change is bound to affect consumers as well as similar producers. Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment columnist Chris Koop feels Navistar's decision directly eliminates engine options for end users and creates even less competition in the loose engine marketplace.

"Not too long ago there were four major engine manufacturers available for commercial truck and fire service: Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel, Cummins, and Navistar. The fire service is now down to only one engine choice," Koop says.

Caterpillar exited the market four years ago, and now Navistar is leaving the loose engine business behind as well. Since Detroit has an exclusive deal with Pierce Manufacturing, unless consumers are buying strictly from Pierce they are limited to one engine manufacturer-Cummins.

Cummins unveiled its engine line for 2013 at the 2013 Fire Department Instructors Conference. It is offering customers a complete range of clean-diesel engines from 260 to 600 hp, including the ISX15, ISX12, ISL9 and ISB6.7 engines. Navistar's Commercial chassis still offers Maxxforce engines for departments that spec commercial chassis for their apparatus.

According to Maurer, Navistar also sold its stake in its truck and engine joint ventures with Mahindra. Navistar recently sold its Workhorse Custom Chassis to AMP Holding Inc. and its recreational vehicle business to Allied Specialty Vehicles.