By Alan M. Petrillo

Rosenbauer is developing a new “e” platform for its Panther ARFF (aircraft rescue and firefighting) truck that uses similar components with its current Panther ARFF truck and its RTX electric pumper.

“The major difference between the two is that the requirements for an ARFF truck are much more stringent in terms of performance,” says Philipp Platzl, Rosenbauer’s global product manager airport vehicles. “In the process of electrifying the current Panther generation, there’s no major difference in most of the systems, where it has the same cabin concept, axles, and pumping systems. We want to deliver a truck that can be charged up to 300-kilwowatts which are emission free.”

Duane Kann, Rosenbauer’s ARFF regional sales manager, says the Panther electric will have an Energy Backup System onboard, powered by a diesel engine like an APU (auxiliary power unit), that can be used as a booster to increase or extend energy in the entire system. “The Energy Backup System automatically engages when the battery is low enough to need the charge, but the truck is still always powered by batteries.”

The Panther electric will be built on the Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 chassis and cab that currently has tubular chassis frame rails, a high performance coil spring suspension, differential locks on the axles, with a fully-loaded top speed of approximately 70-mph and a fully-loaded acceleration of zero to 50-mph in 35 seconds. Kann notes, “The Panther electric will exceed both of these parameters, especially if the EBU (Energy Backup System) is engaged by the driver for an added power boost.”

The Panther electric will have a Rosenbauer N80 2,100-gallon per minute (gpm) pump, a 3,170-gallon water tank, a 400-gallon foam tank, a 500-pound dry chemical and/or Halotron system, a Rosenbauer RM35 turret with HydroChem, a single or twin-agent booster reel, preconnected hand lines, a windshield deluge system, and an automatic foam selection of 1% through 9%.

Panther electric 6×6 options will include a 6-kW to 15-kW power generator, multiple scene lighting configurations, an auxiliary air compressor,  tire pressure monitoring system, various slide-out shelves, a high pressure water pump, driver enhanced vision systems, a rear steer and an Electronic Stability Control system.

Kann says Rosenbauer plans on building a small number of Panther Electric ARFF trucks that will be partnered with key customers around the world.

By Alan M. Petrillo

Fire Station 6, the oldest active fire station of the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department, had been built in 1949 in the heart of the city’s most prominent historic district.

Its relatively small size of 5,400 square feet severely limited the accommodation of modern fire apparatus as well as personnel accommodations, so the city decided to replace it with a new structure, hiring Stewart Cooper Newell Architects (SCN) to design and build the new Fire Station 6 on the same site.

“The station was outdated for our needs,” says James Poole, Raleigh’s division chief. “And to complicate the building of a new station was the fact the property was only one-sixth of an acre, a large oak tree on the back of the site had to be protected, and there was a large underground cistern at the back of the parking lot.”

Ken Newell, principal at SCN, says, “The original station was a tiny, two-story structure on an extremely tight site with a very sloped grade change. It was in a nice neighborhood of old historic homes and the neighbors were anxious about what the scale of the new building might be. We didn’t want it to overpower the area homes, so we picked up on some of the external elements of those homes and incorporated them into our design.”

Newell notes that SCN designed true arches over the apparatus bay doors to fit the neighborhood detailing, as well as the area masonry and roof forms. “We also were able to salvage some materials from the original fire station,” he says. “We took some brick, wood flooring, original hardware and signage, and a fire pole and incorporated a lot of those materials in the lobby of the new station. The original fire pole was set up in the lobby to be a museum piece as well.”

Jody Jackson, SCN project manager, says the new station is a two-story structure for which SCN earned a Silver LEED certification. “There is 15 feet of grade change from the front of the station to the back because we had to build it into the side of a hill and maintain a lot of the grade, so the building is two stories at the front and three stories at the back. The lower section holds a lot of the structure’s mechanical spaces.”

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He notes that the new station’s windows and arches are features that emulate some of the architecture in the nearby residential section, while exterior colors are similar to those of businesses in the area. “We introduced a herringbone pattern to the bricking, with arched brick around the door arches,” Jackson says. “And we installed terra cotta tile on the mansard roof that also emulates the neighborhood roofs.”

Jackson says new Fire Station 6 is 14,990 square feet, with the ground floor holding two double-deep, back-in apparatus bays that have a Plymovent exhaust removal system, a separate decon area, and a turnout gear storage room. Separated by a yellow zone corridor, the living/working section of the ground floor has men’s and women’s toilet facilities, a radio report room, storage are

Sutphen—Sugar Grove (IL) Fire Protection District top-controls pumper. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon water tank. Dealer: Ben Brown, Legacy Fire Apparatus, Shorewood, IL. (Photo by author)

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The Biloxi Fire Department added three new pumpers recently, wxxv25.com reported.

The new engines were manufactured in Wisconsin and driven to Alabama to their service center, the report said.

Some of the department’s trucks are coming up on their 20-year mark and will be replaced. The new engines will cover Woolmarket and the North Biloxi area, according to the report.

One of the new ones, Engine 7, is dedicated to Biloxi High School, the report said. It will be housed at the station, but will be used for all the football games and EMT services. Instead of putting the original department’s badge on the engine, it has an arrowhead for the Biloxi High Indians.

After the engines are serviced, the department plans to invite the public to come view them, the report said.

Donald W. Meyers
Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.
(TNS)

Mar. 29—A Yakima man who crashed into a fire engine during a police chase is heading to federal prison.

James Duane Deckard, 25, was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. He pleaded guilty in November to the charge, which factors in his prior conviction for third-degree domestic-violence assault and his methamphetamine addiction.

The sentence was below the 57-month minimum recommended under federal sentencing guidelines, but prosecutors and Deckard’s attorney said the sentence would allow him to get treatment for his addiction as well as receive a GED certificate and get job training.

Deckard was arrested following a police chase on Dec. 18, 2021.

Yakima police were called to Deckard’s West Mead Avenue home Dec. 16 after his girlfriend said he hit her 4-year-old son’s wrist, according to a YPD probable cause affidavit.

Deckard had left by the time police arrived, the affidavit said, but the woman described the incident and prior threats, including pointing a gun at her. Deckard has a 2018 prior felony conviction for third-degree assault for strangling his girlfriend, and is barred from possessing guns and ammunition.

Police located Deckard’s vehicle on Dec. 18 and tried to stop him at West Nob Hill Boulevard and South Third Avenue, the affidavit said, but Deckard sped off through residential neighborhoods.

Police broke off their pursuit after losing sight of Deckard when he nearly caused a collision at the West Nob Hill Boulevard overpass.

Police again found Deckard’s vehicle at East Nob Hill Boulevard and South Eighth Street, where he hit a fire engine, the affidavit said. Deckard was arrested after a foot chase.

Deckard’s girlfriend, who was in the car, said he tossed something out the window at Raymond Park, the affidavit said. Officers found a pistol that matched the description of Deckard’s firearm, and his DNA was found on it, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Police also found almost 40 pounds of marijuana stuffed in the vehicle’s dashboard, as well as a digital scale, pistol magazines, ammunition, a holster, the affidavit said, along with gold and collectible coins.

While in jail, Deckard called his girlfriend and family members several times trying to get her to change her testimony, the affidavit said.

Deckard pleaded guilty in July to third-degree assault and witness tampering in Yakima County Superior Court, while federal prosecutors filed the firearms charge against him.

Reach Donald W. Meyers at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com.

___

(c)2023 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)

Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dust is gathering on the hood of Medic 2, a 2019 Ford F-550 the Hingham Fire Department bought three years ago for $355,000, Boston25news.com reported. A fire official said the ambulance hasn’t moved since January because Ford doesn’t have the parts to fix it.

The Abington Fire Department is in a similar situation. Its 2019 Ford F-F50 ambulance has been out of commission since October, in need of a new engine after suffering “catastrophic engine failure” but unable to be fixed due to supply chain issues, the report said.

CNN reported Ford ended September with between 40,000 and 45,000 unfinished large trucks and SUVs because the company didn’t have all the parts. The company’s U.S. sales dropped 10 percent in October because of the supply chain issues, CNN said.

For updates on this developing story, please go to Boston25news.com.

Muskegon Heights (MI) Fire Chief Christopher J. Dean posted the following news release on Facebook March 20:

With much excitement today, we took delivery of our new fire engine from Rosenbauer Group and Emergency Vehicles Plus! We are thankful for the hard work and careful consideration given to this purchase by City Council. This critical purchase enhances our aging fleet and enables us to continue to provide a high level of service to the community.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will train and prepare the new unit for service. You may occasionally see the new engine on the streets while we prepare it for emergencies. This critical step assures our staff is ready when the engine is fully in service.

Monday, March 27 marked the grand opening of San Antonio’s newest fire station, foxsanantonio.com reported.

The new Fire Station 24 is located on Austin Highway, not far from Perrin Beitel. It represents a major upgrade from the previous station, which was built back in 1950, according to the report.

Fire Station 24 can accommodate more personnel, with plenty of modern technology to meet the needs of the growing community, the report said.

Thanks to a generous donor, the Tolar Volunteer Fire Department is building a second fire station, to be in the southern part of its 154-square-mile coverage area, hcnews.com reported.

A fire official said the location for the new station is near the intersection of Paluxy Highway and Prairie Creek Lane. He said the fire department purchased the land and that the $250,000, given by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, will go toward the building and infrastructure, the report said.

The money may not be enough to complete the building, but it should cover enough of the costs to enable the fire department to occupy it, the report said.

Tolar’s main fire station at 9005 West U.S. Highway 377 has seven bays. The new fire station will have three bays, according to the report.

A Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department official announced plans to purchase a new fire truck during the March 27 St. Clair Township Trustees meeting, reviewonline.com reported.

The contract for the new custom truck, which is estimated to take anywhere from 36 to 40 months to build, has been signed, according to the report. Estimated price of the new truck is more than $800,000. The price includes $60,000 in equipment for the truck.

The new truck will replace truck 32, which will be 30 years old by the time the new truck arrives, the report said.

The fire department is the recipient of a $10,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources forestry grant, which will be used to purchase a slide in skid unit for the brush truck and materials for four six-inch dry hydrants. The grant only covers materials so the department will be responsible for the installations. The department must come up with the $11,000 grant match.

The fire official also told the trustees that the department is preparing to submit to insurance a claim for approximately $85,000 for equipment such as air packs and gear that need to be replaced due to the department responding to the train derailment in East Palestine, the report said.

By Mike Ciampo

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) has a deep heritage of pride and traditions. Firehouses throughout the city are decorated by the members with plaques, stained glass, large paintings or murals, and company logos that are made of wood, metal, or a resin. These logos were often put on fire apparatus by the units themselves. In a way to honor their dedication to service and duty, the department allows the companies to submit their unit’s patch or logo to be put on fire apparatus. The area on the upper portion of the crew cab, between the front and rear doors carries these emblems. In this manner, there is a standard size and uniformity to the process. Not only does this look very professional, it also allows units to have their own uniqueness and to display their logos. Some units have also added tributes to the fallen firefighters of their houses to honor their selfless service, while others have adorned their rigs with emblems, stickers or stripes to describe their alarm district. Throughout the city, you’ll run into unique designs and logos, created and displayed by the membership with pride and honor.

Photo Series 1

The Bronx Bombers Engine Company 68—The Highbridge Section of The Bronx

Engine Company 68 and Ladder Company 49, “The House on the Hill,” are first due to Yankee Stadium. They have a history of pinstriping their rigs in the design of the New York Yankees’ uniforms. These additions to the rig are done by the members themselves with some added details.

Keeping It Safe Robert Tutterow

Before getting into the issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and firefighting foam, I wish to pay a brief tribute to the late Chief Bobby Halton.

 

Chief Halton unexpectedly passed on ahead of us just prior to Christmas this past year. He was editor in chief of Fire Engineering and vice president of education and training for Clarion Fire & Rescue—best known for the annual FDIC International in Indianapolis. For those of you fortunate enough to attend FDIC, you always knew that Bobby would deliver a keynote address that was the most passionate and energizing speech you would ever experience. He was a true patriot in every sense of the word and loved firefighters. Thank you, Chief Bobby Halton, for your contributions to our noble profession.

As Chief Halton was always an advocate for firefighter health and safety, having battled cancer himself, it seems appropriate that this column address a key health concern facing today’s fire service—PFAS and firefighting foam. PFAS is known as the “forever” chemical because it takes many decades, if not centuries, to break down. It is a known health hazard to all forms of life. There are thousands of these “forever” PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. As you have likely heard, they are in the materials used to make our firefighting coats and pants. [The National Fire Protection Association technical committee for personal protective equipment (PPE) has a task group working aggressively to develop a revision to existing standards to eliminate PFAS. As of now, PFAS-free PPE has major durability problems to overcome.] However, they are most prominent in firefighting foam, and consequent exposures are greater to the firefighter and for soil and ground water contamination.

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The current dilemma facing the fire service is what to do with existing foam as viable PFAS-free foams are entering the market. The only way to dispose of foam containing PFAS is through incineration at a temperature of at least 1,000°C. This is something fire departments are not equipped to do, but there are companies that are developing systems (both fixed and portable) to incinerate foam.

So, what should fire departments do? First and foremost, never release it into the environment. The biggest fear of the “forever” chemical contamination is getting it into the ground water. Hopefully, there are no departments that will just dump it down a storm drain or into a sanitary sewer. Move as quickly as possible to acquire PFAS-free foam so you do not have to use PFAS foam in an emergency incident. You might say, “We’ll just set up training evolutions and use up our inventory of foam that way.” Do not try to get rid of your PFAS foam by using it for training. The possibility of soil/water contamination, in addition to firefighter exposure, is an unnecessary

Danko—Lincoln County (MO) Fire Rescue rescue. Ford Super Duty F-550 crew cab and chassis; Power Stroke 6.7L 4V OHV V8 Turbo Diesel 330-hp engine; Waterous 2515 75-gpm pump; 12-foot rescue body; UPF Poly 300-gallon water tank; 12-gallon foam cell; Scotty 4171 around-the-pump single-agent foam system; TFT EF1 front turret monitor. Dealer: Steve Borts, Danko Emergency Equipment, Snyder, NE.

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Emily Andersen
The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
(TNS)

Mar. 28—CEDAR RAPIDS — Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems, have become increasingly popular tools used by police departments and fire departments in Eastern Iowa.

The drones are used for everything from tracking suspects or missing people to investigating bomb threats to helping firefighters see through smoke when fighting a fire.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, for example, used a drone earlier this month to pinpoint the location of a smoldering fire after a grain elevator exploded at the Archer Daniels Midland plant in southwest Cedar Rapids.

The Decorah Fire Department in northeast Iowa has been using drones since 2014 — longer than most departments in the state.

At the time, the city had to get a special certificate to own and pilot a drone because the Federal Aviation Administration hadn’t yet created the remote pilot certification process.

Now, all drone pilots must be certified under the FAA’s small unmanned aircraft systems rule (part 107). Drone pilots in law enforcement and public safety often have additional training on how to use the drones appropriately in their work.

River rescues

One reason Decorah firefighters wanted a drone was because of the numerous river rescue calls the department receives about people tubing and canoeing the Upper Iowa River, which lows through the city.

The drones have drastically decreased response times to those calls, according to Zach Kerndt, one of the department’s four drone pilots.

The drones “give us a much better idea of where people are, generally, because the information we receive from our dispatch center is very vague,” he said.

“The information we usually get is, they put in at this spot or this bridge, and they’re getting out at this bridge, and they’re somewhere in between.

“Having a drone really cuts down on the man-hours it takes to find someone because we can find them with the drone … and come up with a plan,” Kerndt said.

The department has two drones, which are used about 20 times a year, Kerndt said.

The drones also are used during fires and in missing person cases.

Since the drones have infrared cameras, they can see through smoke in a fire and can help firefighters on an aerial truck better aim water on what’s burning.

Linn County

In law enforcement, the devices are often used to help officers get a clear picture from above of a crime scene or crash scene.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has four drones — two large ones, two small ones — and nine trained pilots, according to Lt. Dave Beuter.

“It’s a real-time depiction of the scene, of the environment, whether there’s snow on the ground, whether the trees have leaves on them,” Beuter said.

“Especially with criminal investigations, it’s nice to have those images from the drone,” he said. “You can go up in the air, even like 10 feet up in the air, and do an angle shot back into whatever you’re looking at. It’s a lot better depiction of what’s seen than what just a simple photograph does.”

The Sheriff’s Office started using the drones in 2017, after Beuter and another lieutenant won a drone at a conference and then sought out training so they could use it.

The Iowa State Patrol started using drones in 2020, when it bought 10 drones. It now has 21 drones, which it primarily uses for crash reconstruction, according to the patrol’s public information officer

Cedar Rapids

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