CHARLOTTE, MI—Spartan Emergency Response, a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc., is introducing the latest addition to the Spartan Advanced Protection System®—Contaminant Containment and Management, an innovative solution set to help in the efforts to mitigate prolonged exposure to pollutants inside of fire truck cabs—at Fire Rescue International in Atlanta on August 7-10. Spartan’s Metro Star cab and chassis featuring the enhanced safety package will be on display among other Spartan Emergency Response vehicles. 

“Spartan Motors is driven to provide the most innovative safety solutions to help protect our first responders,” said Todd Fierro, president, Spartan Emergency Response. “The new Contaminant Containment and Management capability furthers our goals to minimize first responders’ exposure to harmful environmental pollutants. We look forward to fulfilling OEM orders for our latest safety innovation next year.” 

Adding Contaminant Containment and Management to the Spartan Advanced Protection System gives departments the option to select additional in-cab safety features that reduce exposure to contaminants, as first responders return from calls, often referred to as “Clean Cab” options. Spartan’s Contaminant Containment and Management offering features a High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (HEPA, 17 MERV), which can trap and remove nearly 100 percent of potentially harmful materials from combustion smoke, toxic particles, and other contaminants introduced to the interior of the cab. Additional options include a self-contained exterior compartment used to store SCBA packs, helmets, and other devices used on the fire scene that are easily accessible but stored separately from the truck’s cab. The interior of the cab is lined with a unique, and new to the industry, easy-to-clean smooth surface that minimizes pocket areas that hold debris, allowing for quicker high-quality wash-downs after every run. 

Alongside the Metro Star cab equipped with Contaminant Containment and Management, Spartan will display several aerial devices, ladder platforms, and pumper trucks at the conference, including: 

• 100-foot midmount platform demo unit
• IPS-NXT demo unit
• 105-foot rear-mount ladder for Vincennes Township, Indiana
• S-180 pumper for Waco, North Carolina

“Spartan has led the way in safety for years with the launch of the Spartan Advanced Protection System. From industry-first driver and passenger air bag positions to smart restraints, outboard sensors, and 360 degree cameras, and flat floors, we’re proud to add contaminant containment to the list of safety provisions that make Spartan’s cabs some of the safest in the industry,” said Fierro.

For more information, visit https://emergencyresponse.spartanmotors.com/cleancab/.

Beatrice has decided to move forward with purchasing land for the new fire station after conducting environmental testing, reports Beatrice Daily Sun.

After the land is purchased, additional testing will be done to determine the size and location of the contaminated dirt that would be removed and replaced.

The new Beatrice Fire and Rescue facility is estimated to be around 14,000 square feet, compared to 6,000 square feet at the current station, and the projects entire cost is estimated at $9 million.

Arlington County is considering closing one fire station while opening another fire station, reports ARLnow.

A fire station was temporarily closed in October due to structural safety concerns and the crews relocated to other fire stations and now the fire station may become permanent.

A report from 2012 noted that the fire station is beloved by the community, but lacks the efficiency of other stations throughout the county.

Meanwhile, the county has begun scouting sites for a new fire station. No timeline or site has been identified.

Winchester’s new ladder truck, a 2019 Pierce Enforcer was purchased for $1,029,341 and outfitted with about $170,000 in equipment bought by station volunteers, reports The Winchester Star.

Winchester’s general fund, which serves as the city’s savings account, paid for the fire truck and City Hall will cover the insurance costs.

The custom-built vehicle has a ladder that extends 105 feet vertically or 100 feet horizontally, making it capable of eclipsing Winchester’s tallest buildings. The vehicle has a 505-horsepower diesel engine and carries five firefighters. 

Volunteers and career firefighters need to be trained to operate the apparatus, then the truck goes to Maryland for professional mounting of about $170,000 in new equipment bought by Rouss volunteers.