Savannah, Chatham County (GA) Police issued the following statement Wednesday:

HIGHWAY 204 ACCIDENT

“The Chatham County Police Department is continuing its investigation into an accident that resulted in multiple injuries and closed a portion of Highway 204 for several hours today.

“At approximately 10:15 a.m., investigators say a dump truck traveling eastbound on Highway 204 went through the intersection at Gateway Boulevard, and crossed into oncoming traffic. The dump truck struck a sedan, and then hit a Chatham Emergency Services fire truck waiting at a stop light head-on. The dump truck then struck a transit van.

“Five people – including two firefighters – were transported to the hospital. All of the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.

“Highway 204 around the Gateway/I-95 area was completely shut down so emergency vehicles could access the scene, and then one lane in each direction remained closed for approximately three hours while the investigation continued and the accident scene was cleared.

“The investigation into the accident is continuing, and a decision on any potential charges against the driver of the dump truck is pending.”

Our new Tanker 56, assigned to the Franklin Fire Station in #Reisterstown, will be placed in service within weeks. Our first career tanker in many years carries 3,000 gal of water for use when additional water is needed in areas not served by hydrants. Crews are training now. EA pic.twitter.com/aflGlBWnLR

— Baltimore County Fire Department (@BaltCoFire) January 11, 2023

The Baltimore County Fire Department announced on social media Wednesday that it has received a new tanker that will be placed in service within weeks.

Rosenbauer America is extremely proud to announce the successful testing and certification of its new N200 carbon fiber, high-flow industrial pump. This is the most powerful, high-flow pump Rosenbauer has ever produced and is officially certified at 5,750 GPM.

In June 2021, Rosenbauer America won the award to build the city of San Francisco’s newest concept combination hose tender + super pumpers. San Francisco’s specification required the trucks to sustain 5,500 GPM and be equipped with water-relay capabilities to extend the city’s water hydrant system in disaster situations. This apparatus is designed to allow the fire department to reliably protect the city and to supplement the current aging underground hydrant system. The truck’s specifications also included specific layout requirements to accommodate specialized firefighting equipment and hose compliment.

Rosenbauer partners with KASE Pumping Systems: Rosenbauer partnered with KASE Pumping Systems near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to custom engineer this advanced pumping solution to meet the city’s apparatus application requirements.

• Chris Kleinhuizen, Chief Engineer-Body Production for Rosenbauer Minnesota shared that, “KASE is the proven leader in carbon fiber, submersible pumps and custom engineered fluid transfer solutions. They specialize in corrosion-proof water transfer, emergency apparatus and other industry leading applications.”
• Chris later said that, “KASE was the natural choice as an innovation partner for this application to compliment Rosenbauer’s over 150 years of leading pump and apparatus manufacturing experience”.
• Rosenbauer and KASE signed a ten-year exclusive agreement to offer this industry leading, technologically advanced solution.
• The Rosenbauer N200 high-flow pump was rigorously tested in the most extreme conditions to ensure the specification and application met the requirements for the City of San Francisco. This included extreme-condition cold water testing in the Mississippi River. Chris Kleinhuizen was joined by Ben Sabel (St. Croix Falls Firefighter and Rosenbauer pumps supervisor), John Johnson (Oakdale, MN Firefighter and Rosenbauer Pumps Assembly Specialist), and Matt Hawkins (Rosenbauer Test Pit Supervisor) to successfully complete the certification and final testing requirements.

Rosenbauer N200 high-flow pump certified at 5,750 GPM: The Rosenbauer N200 high-flow pump is proudly certified at 5,750 GPM or comfortably operate +250 GPM over the required specification.

• In addition to the successful pumping capabilities, the Rosenbauer custom gearbox allows the apparatus to properly operate at 1400 RPM. This allows the Rosenbauer N200 pump to function much quietervvs. traditional municipal pumpers while still pumping nearly three times higher flow for this specialized, industrial application. A quieter fireground offers improved safety and communication for crews to operate.
• The San Francisco hose tender or super pumper is fully capable of reaching 6,500 GPM that will be certified in future tests.

Chris later went on to say, “We are really excited to deliver this new apparatus to the city of San Francisco, a strategic new customer for us. Rosenbauer is proud to report that San Francisco has since awarded Rosenbauer two additional apparatu

On Jan. 5, firefighters from the Northern Pendleton Fire Department attended a training and fitting for new masks and air packs from a $153,190 grant, falmouthoutlook.com reported. 

The grant provides 20 complete air packs, 20 spare tanks, and 30 masks, plus training and fitting for the new equipment, the report said. The firefighters will each have their own mask fitted for them.

This Assistance to Firefighters grant (through FEMA), which had an additional $91,000 match from Northern Pendleton, was much needed. The current air packs are 10-12 years old with battery packs that have become obsolete, the report said.