A 24-year-old Yakima (WA) man was arrested on myriad charges—suspicion of first-degree assault, harassment, unlawful possession of a firearm, eluding, resisting arrest, hit and run, and reckless endangerment—Saturday after a police chase ended with the suspect crashing into a fire apparatus, reports yakimaherald.com.

It all started on Thursday, when police were called to the man’s residence for reports that he hit a family member, according to the report. The suspect was gone by the time police arrived, but a victim’s description led to police officials finding the car Saturday late afternoon.

When officers attempted to stop the suspect around 4:30 p.m. at West Nob Hill Boulevard and South Third Avenue, he fled, the report says.

A brief chase south on South First Street ensued, but the suspect got away. However, it was soon thereafter that the suspect hit a Yakima Fire Department engine near the intersection of East Nob Boulevard and South Eight Street and ran, the report says.

The suspect was eventually chased down and brought into custody. Police officials found his vehicle nearby, as well as an illegally owned pistol that was tossed from the car during the chase. Court officials set his bail at $60,000 Monday, the report says.

Video via NBC10 Philadelphia’s YouTube page

Every year firefighters from the Reliance (NJ) Fire Department tour Pilesgrove, spreading holiday cheer with Santa on the back of a fire engine.

This year’s parade took a strange turn, however, when Santa spotted smoke coming from the eaves of a house they were passing.

In an instant, Santa donned his gear and the crew went to work extinguishing a fire and averting a Christmas disaster for a family of four.

BRANDON, SD – December 21, 2021 – Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group^®, and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus is pleased to announce Philadelphia Fire Department has taken delivery of a new Spartan Emergency Response Custom Pumper, as well as a new Ladder Tower^™ 100’ Tractor-Drawn Aerial (TDA).

Sold by Spartan’s authorized dealer, Campbell Supply, these vehicles are part of a multi-unit order that includes eight Spartan Emergency Response Custom Pumpers, five Tractor-Drawn Aerials (TDAs) and three Spartan Custom Foam Pumpers. All three vehicle configurations were built on the Spartan Metro Star^® cab/chassis.

Ladder Tower’s 100′ TDA’s are designed for busy departments like Philadelphia, which call for a compact, highly maneuverable design, abundant equipment, and ladder storage, a short 14’ outrigger spread and excellent visibility for the tiller driver’s position. For increased safety, all interior grab handles and rails were painted safety yellow and the ladders have an enhanced light package on the rear for highway operations. 

Key features of the Ladder Tower 100’ TDA include:

• 10’11” overall travel height
• Overall length of 55” 6”
• Short wheelbase trailer for tight urban streets
• A 500 lb. dry/ 250 lb. wet ladder tip load
• Two (2) H-style outriggers with a narrow 14’ spread
• 266 feet of ground ladder storage
• Cummins^® X12 500 HP engine
• Generous compartment space
• 10 KW Harrison generator
• Enhanced rear light package for added safety

Philadelphia’s eight Spartan Emergency Response Custom Pumpers are configured with a short 28’ overall length and narrow 96” wide body for advanced stability and maneuverability. All apparatus on the order are equipped with the Spartan Advanced Protection System^® (APS), the industry’s leading comprehensive safety enhancement package, as well as the only safety system featuring side-impact protection.

“We decided to make some changes including reducing two feet from the overall length of the pumpers, relocating the booster reel, lowering the height of the body for added stability, and reintroducing the front intake,” said Lt. Christopher Wynne of Philadelphia Fire Department. 

Key features of these pumpers include:

• Spartan Metro Star cab with 10” raised roof
• Cummins L9 450-hp engine
• Advanced Climate Control System
• Wheelbase 171”
• Waterous CMU 1500-gpm pump
• 500 gallon water tank
• Right side ground ladder rack
• Low hose bed body configuration (64” from the ground)
• Custom wheel well storage

The Spartan Custom Foam Pumpers are equipped with 400 gallons of class B foam and will serve the city’s chemical plants, rail system and port that experiences large influxes of oil and chemicals. Key features of the custom foam pumpers include: 

• Spartan Metro Star cab with 10” raised roof 
• Cummins L9 450-hp engine 
• 500 gallon water tank 
• FRC Acumax Foam System Direct Injection  

• Waterous CMU 1500-gpm pump 
• Low hose bed  
• Short overall length of 29’ 11” 
• Crossslays  
• Front bumper intake  

“We are honored to have the continued trust and confidence of the Philadelphia Fire Department in Spartan fire apparatus,” said Chris Wade, Director of Sales, Spartan Emergency Response. “The tiller line certainly has a long history of maneuverability and service in the city’s challenging streets. We look forward to many years of our apparatus supporting the Philadelph

Rural Metro Fire – Knox County (TN) recently dedicated and put in service a pair of apparatus that will serve the Powell and Halls Communities.

“Hey Halls and North Knox County, we have a Christmas Present for you!” Rural Metro writes on Facebook. “Built for you by Ferrara Fire Apparatus, they will be placed into service after getting their equipment and tools loaded on-board.

“Your new Halls Engine 230 made her debut at the Halls Christmas Parade tonight, along with the current engine, and our restored ‘Parade Truck’ from the ‘70s.”