By Alan M. Petrillo
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has built a walk-around rescue for York Center (IL) Fire Protection District to replace the agency’s heavily-used earlier Pierce rescue.
Richard Sanborn Jr., York Center’s chief, says the department’s older Pierce rescue got so much use that the rig started having maintenance issues. “Our rescue is the only heavy rescue squad in a 10-mile radius, and our pumper-tender (tanker) is the only one in a 20-mile radius,” Sanborn points out, “and they both are on automatic mutual aid with neighboring fire departments, so they get a lot of use.” Besides the new heavy rescue and the pumper-tender, York Center also runs two front line engines, and two ALS (advanced life support) ambulances out of a single station.
Bill Proft, Pierce Manufacturing’s business unit director for rescue products, says the new heavy rescue is built on an Enforcer™ chassis with an 84-inch long cab and 24-inch raised roof and a correspondingly tall 20-1/2-foot non-walk-in body. The cab has seating for four firefighters, with the crew area having two rear-facing firefighter seats, and the rear wall holding cabinets that are accessible from both inside and outside the cab.
Sanborn notes that the department wanted a completely clean cab concept on their new rescue. “There is no turnout gear or SCBAs (self contained breathing apparatus) in the cab,” he says. “The tall compartments behind the cab hold the firefighters’ turnout gear and SCBA packs. If gear is contaminated at a scene, it is bagged and taken back to the station for decon.”
The new York Center rescue truck is powered by a Detroit Diesel DD13 engine, and has a TAK-4 independent front suspension.
Proft says the heavy rescue is powered by a 525-horsepower (hp) Detroit Diesel DD13 engine, and has a TAK-4® independent front suspension and a spring rear suspension. Wheelbase on the rig is 234 inches, overall length is 36 feet 11-3/4-inches, and overall height is 11 feet 2 inches.
The rear staircase on the heavy rescue is composed of three individual compartments that hold an assortment of