WYOMING, MN and SIOUX FALLS, SD—Rosenbauer Motors features Hendrickson RoadMaax 35K on the newly introduced 100’ Viper SA (Single Axle).

“The drivability and handling of the Commander are best-in-class,” said Rich Schalter, CEO of Rosenbauer Motors. “We partner with Hendrickson to enhance the ride experience and suspension reliability. The RoadMaax suspension provides our new 100’ Viper SA with the driving stability our customers expect from the Commander chassis.”

Rosenbauer’s 100’ Viper SA will be on-display in April 2019 at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) International in the Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Hall J at booth 5200.

Also at FDIC will be Rosenbauer’s recently unveiled new CleanAir air scrubber. Using two distinct processes, a particulate filter and an activated charcoal filter are used to remove harmful toxins.

Fans pull the air into the CleanAir scrubber to remove the larger airborne debris, such as soot from fires and diesel exhaust, through the HEPA filter. Rosenbauer’s CleanAir second line of defense is an activated carbon filter. Adsorption takes place as the activated carbon chemical changes the gaseous contaminants. Activated carbon is most effective at removing volatile organic compounds such as Polycyclic Aeromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH).

“While on-scene crews are absorbing VOCs on their person. Those gasses and chemicals are now inside the cab as they return to quarters, off-gassing takes place, even if their gear is stored properly in sealed bags outside of the apparatus,” said Rich Schalter, CEO of Rosenbauer Motors. “Until crew members are able to shower and change clothes, they are carrying VOCs and PM. Our CleanAir scrubber will help reduce the carcinogens our firefighters are breathing and absorbing while in their apparatus.”

Rosenbauer will display its CleanAir scrubber in April 2019 at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) International in the Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Hall J at booth 5200. 

For more information, visit www.rosenbaueramerica.com.

Sioux Falls, SD—Rosenbauer rolled-out their RDL (Rapid Deploy Light tower), an auto-deploying pneumatic LED scene light tower, at its annual dealer meeting in Sioux Falls, SD. Upon activation, a tower deploys to a height of eight-feet with the capability of extending up to 20-feet under manual control.

Two versions of the RDL will be available from Rosenbauer:

• RDL-S features four stationary 120v LED Whelen Pioneer light heads which illuminate 360°
• RDL-M features four adjustable 120v LED Whelen Pioneer light heads. Each light head is capable of moving up to 90° to align with two others to provide up to three light heads shining in one direction.

“Our RDL is a complement to our CleanLocker and the RDT system to help firefighters save time when they arrive on-scene,” explained Scott Oyen, CEO of Rosenbauer South Dakota. “As the apparatus arrives, the FOA or officer would activate the entire CleanLocker system for quick access to clean turnout gear and for RDT to deploy rescue tools and equipment at the rear of the apparatus. Its’ all about being efficient on-scene.”

Rosenbauer will display the RDL-M on-display in April 2019 at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) International in the Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Hall J at booth 5200.

For more information, visit www.rosenbaueramerica.com.

By Bill Adams

The Raisin Squad’s morning coffee started out quiet. Everyone took their meds; hearing aids were in place; most brought their reading glasse;s and half used soap and water in lieu of just aftershave. Coffee was hot, life was good. Then, everything went downhill. When there’s nothing new to jabber about, geezers rehash old stuff—whether or not we know anything about it. This time, the topic was deluge sets, and to stoke the fires, I slipped in friction losses. We were jawboning about the prepiped deluge sets that can be removed and used with a separate base as a portable. Most of us haven’t operated a pump in many years, but that doesn’t preclude us from becoming instant experts. I found a 30-year-old operational manual for the particular deluge set we were talking about and, just to make things interesting, I’d ask a couple questions each morning. It was fun, and it worked for a while until they got aggravated. Their collective comments are in italics.

* Why is a prepiped master stream on a pumper called a deck gun but called a deluge set or a portable monitor when on the ground? Who cares? What difference does it make? Maybe the two names cost more.

* If a deluge set has 25-psi friction loss when flowing 1,250 gpm and 15-psi friction loss when flowing 1,000 gpm or less, does a pump operator have to calculate that in his discharge pressure? Just flow one gallonage and you don’t have to worry about it.

* Why does the deck gun have a maximum flow of 1,250 gpm when mounted on the rig but when used as a portable it is rated at 1,000 gpm when supplied by a 5-inch line and only 800 gpm when supplied through the two 2½-inch inlets? Ask the fool that sold them. Oh, that was you, wasn’t it? Never mind.

* Why buy an automatic nozzle that flows from 300 to 1,250 gpm if you’re only going to flow a single gallonage? Ask the chief. Its above my pay grade.

* Why put quad stacked tips on a deluge set if you don’t teach everyone what each one flows? Do you really think anybody knows how much they flow? Who cares? Besides, they’re chrome and they look good. Ask the training officer.

* Does the pump’s discharge pressure have to change when you change tip sizes? Don’t change tips, and there isn’t a problem. Ask the lieutenants—it’ll be fun to watch them squirm.

* Why would you change the gun’s tip size on the fireground? I don’t know. Why would you?

* What straight tip reaches the farthest? If you park close enough to the fire, you don’t have to worry about it.

* What’s more efficient: pumping a master stream’s straight tip at 50-psi or 70-psi nozzle pressure? I think it’s time for you to go home.

A couple of days later, most of us forgot what we were talking about. Another morning, the gang was watching a fire on the morning news that showed a local department’s rig painted black over red. They went tilt. Why black? I thought they were supposed to be white over red. I saw one with a blue top. That ain’t nothing; I’ve seen white over green! What the hell is this world coming to? Does blue cost more? They’re supposed to be all red. Do two-tone paint jobs put fires out faster?

The following week one geezer brought up the quad stacked tips again, bemoaning that drivers can’t even remember how much to pump into various size preconnects let alone what each deck gun tip is supposed to flow. Why you foolish old coot—that problem was s