A new fire engine that will enhance public safety in District 5 was put into service at Station 52 in Pine Grove on Monday.

The new apparatus represents a more than half-million dollar investment in public safety. Following the current standard, the new Sutphen Corporation Monarch will result in increased reliability, added features and lower maintenance costs as it replaces an older model in service since 2007 and 150,000 miles on its odometer.

“Public safety is always an important priority for our residents. Having the best equipment, best training and best facilities for our first-responders is a long-standing commitment by the County Commission and one I support completely,” said Ricky Booth, the District 5 County Commissioner, where the new engine is based. “District 5 residents can rest easy knowing that these life-saving resources are being deployed in the community so that our first-responders are ready for any and all emergencies.”

Osceola Fire Rescue displayed the time-honored traditions of the fire service with a “Push-Back” ceremony. The first part of the ceremony involved washing, then drying off the new engine. Firefighters then pushed the new vehicle into the firehouse, a practice that dates back to the 19th century when horses could not properly back into the station with the wagon attached.

“I want to thank the Osceola Board of County Commissioners for their continued support of public safety,” said Chief Larry Collier. “By replacing aging apparatus in a timely manner with the best equipment possible, our firefighters will be better equipped to protect Osceola County residents and visitors.”

Continued Priority: Investing in Public Safety

In recent years, Osceola County has invested $10.3 million in new fire station properties and $22.1 million in replacement stations and a dedicated fire training facility, as well as annual commitments of $1.3 million in apparatus replacement and $200,000-300,000 in tool and equipment replacement.

Pasco County Fire Rescue has ordered two highly customized Frontline Communications vehicles including a C-45 Velocity® mobile decontamination unit and a C-45X-2 Velocity mobile rehabilitation unit.

APPLETON, Wis. (August 2, 2021) – Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today that it has secured a purchase order for two highly customized vehicles from Pasco County Fire Rescue in Florida including a C-45 Velocity® mobile decontamination (decon) unit, and a C-45X-2 Velocity mobile rehabilitation (rehab) unit. These specialized vehicles will provide critical support at structural fires and long-duration deployments to aid with the removal of harmful carcinogens from gear and equipment. Additionally, they will provide respite to avoid overexertion from heat and weather with access to fluids, energy snacks, medical evaluations, and more.

Industry standard is to issue every firefighter two sets of turnout gear, so after one is soiled, it can be bagged and stored on the truck, with another set available in the event the crew needs to go immediately to another scene. According to Chief of Pasco County Fire Rescue, Scott Cassin, the cost and storage of two sets of gear was prohibitive and a challenge they aimed to solve.

“We turned our sights to selecting purpose-built vehicles that would handle the on-site decontamination of gear and rehabilitation needs our dedicated team of firefighters require during complex structural fires or long-duration deployments,” said Chief Cassin. “We worked with Frontline Communications to design a custom decon unit that is an industry first configuration and will help us save time and energy cleaning equipment. We also collaborated with Frontline Communications on the design of a custom rehab unit that will provide necessary aid. Our biggest return on investment is knowing we are protecting our firefighters from as many risks as possible.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Additionally, the physical and emotional demands of the job put firefighters at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, which are responsible for 45-percent of on-duty deaths. Mobile decon and rehab units help manage carcinogen exposure and offer a reprieve by providing vital on-site decontamination and recovery resources for firefighters at a fire scene.

Pasco County Fire Rescue’s new vehicles feature:

C-45 Velocity Mobile Decontamination Unit

• Pierce® Velocity® chassis
• Cummins 450 hp engine
• Command Zone™ electrical system
• Two Meiko decontamination wash units designed for structure fire decontamination. The units are supported by dual 100-gallon water tanks and storage bins
• Onboard generator (Lima-Mac 40kW PTO-driven generator for Meiko decon equipment)
• Four custom swing-out tool boards
• Dual-side hose bibs with an on-board water pump and 100-feet of heavy-duty hose on an electric reel

C-45X-2 Velocity Mobile Rehabilitation Unit

• Pierce Velocity chassis
• Cummins 450 hp engine
• Command Zone™ electrical system
• Bauer SCBA 6,000 PSI compressor and fill station with three additional air cylinders to supply breathing air for air tanks
• Two lavatories on the front side of the body accessible from either side
• Onboard generator (20kW diesel generator for rehabilitation elements, communication gear, and other

All videos/photos via Tony Greco

As FDIC International 2021 gets going, check out the videos below of its setup. Then, below that, see some photos of the action.