Grace Toohey – Los Angeles Times
A man was arrested early Monday after police say he stole a Long Beach Fire Department ambulance and drove away in it, officials said.

Los Angeles police officers stopped the ambulance just before 3 a.m. Monday, less than two miles from the San Pedro hospital where officials say the man stole the vehicle, said Officer Melissa Podany, an LAPD spokesperson.

The man, whom Podany identified as Fernandez Zuniga, had initially been brought to Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center for undisclosed treatment hours earlier, before he stole the ambulance, officials said. Podany said she did not know Zuniga’s age or when he was initially taken to the hospital.

Officers were able to quickly locate the stolen ambulance, arresting Zuniga on West 18th Street, Podany said. She said at least one officer sustained a minor injury while apprehending Zuniga with a “minor use of force.” She did not elaborate on what type of force was used.

No firefighters or paramedics were in the vehicle at the time it was stolen, said Capt. Jake Heflin, a spokesperson for the Long Beach Fire Department. He declined to say how Zuniga gained access to it but said the agency’s team was transferring their patient into the hospital when the ambulance was taken from the outside bay.

“Unfortunately, our vehicle sustained some minor front-end damage and some scratches,” Heflin said. He said all personnel and gear were accounted for.

Zuniga was booked on a suspicion of grand theft auto, Podany said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

©2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

RACINE, Wis., March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The unique needs of specialty vehicles like fire and emergency service vehicles must be met for the full benefit of zero-emission transportation solutions to be realized. To that end, Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD, “Modine”), a leader in thermal management technology and solutions, today announced an expansion of its partnership with REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG) and its fire apparatus manufacturing brands E-ONE, KME, Ferrara and Spartan Emergency Response. Modine will supply its EVantage™ thermal management systems for the Vector™, the first North American-style all-electric fire truck.

Each Vector fire truck will be equipped with the complete suite of Modine thermal management systems, including the EVantage Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS), Electronics Cooling Package (ECP), and cabin heating and cooling circuits. These systems work together seamlessly to maintain optimal battery temperature, efficiently cool power electronics, and ensure passenger comfort in the cab, respectively.

“Strategic partnerships like the one with Modine help us minimize the environmental impact of our products by accelerating the use of alternative energy in the firefighting industry, and do so with reliable and cost-effective solutions for our customers,” said Roger Lackore, Senior Director of Product Development of REV Fire Group. “Modine’s technology is a valuable asset for the all-electric Vector, and we are proud to have them as a partner as we deliver the next generation of specialty vehicles for the customers and communities we serve.”

The all-electric Vector was introduced by REV Group in August 2021 to build on their commitment to green, energy-efficient technology. Equipped with 327 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of automotive-grade batteries, the truck provides a long electric pumping duration.

“As the demand for energy-efficient and sustainable vehicles continues to grow, our partnership with REV Group represents a significant opportunity to reduce tailpipe emissions in the firefighting industry while ensuring reliable operation of fire and emergency vehicles,” said Gina Maria Bonini, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Thermal Systems at Modine. “We wor

By Alan M. Petrillo

The “Bigger is better” trend is alive and well in the fire service. Lots of fire departments are choosing to outfit their new engines with larger fire pumps and bigger water tanks, compared to those being purchased five to 10 years ago.

Apparatus and pump makers acknowledge this trend toward larger water tanks and pumps on engines and say the reasons for such choices are varied.

Mark Brenneman, assistant sales manager for 4 Guys Fire Trucks, says that his company has seen an increase in size in pump capacity and tank gallonage on engines in recent years.

“The lines between pumpers and the pumper-tanker have blurred,” Brenneman observes. “The pump gpm (gallons per minute) on engines have increased significantly, and tank sizes have crept up too. Customers generally know what they want in terms of pump and tank sizes, so it’s up to the manufacturer to get them what they need.”

Brenneman checked the 4 Guys pumper data and found that 1,500-gpm pumps were the most popular size for engines, with the call for smaller 500-gpm to 1,000-gpm pumps sharply reduced. In terms of tanks, 4 Guys didn’t see a corresponding expansion into larger water tanks on engines, although Brenneman notes that may change in the near future. “ I’ve seen pumpers get progressively bigger,” he notes. “There are still smaller engines, but today’s small pumpers are bigger than those of previous days. Pumpers today are the size that tankers were 10 years ago.”

Joe Messmer, president of Summit Fire Apparatus, says his company has been installing Mac1 3,000-gpm module pumps on municipal pumpers, most with 1,000-gallon water tanks, for semi-rural fire departments in the past year. “With the supply chain shortages that are plaguing manufacturers, we looked into alternative pumps and came up with the Mac1,” Messmer says. “Mac1 also has a 1,250-gpm version if the department doesn’t need the higher gallonage. We do the pump end on the 3,000-gpm unit with stainless-steel plumbing so the pump doesn’t take up any more room than a cast iron pump would and also give it a savings in weight.”

Chris Kleinhuizen, systems engineer for Rosenbauer America, says Rosenbauer has been seeing much larger pumps on municipal pumpers. “Many departments are asking for larger pumps but are de-rating them to give them a longer life span,” Kleinhuizen says. “We also are seeing more water tanks sized around 1,000 gallons and up to 1,200 gallons. Staffing is one of the big issues with pump and tank sizes because many departments can’t roll two or three rigs, so they want to do it with one.”

Kleinhuizen notes that Rosenbauer also makes fire pumps and has several series available in the larger sizes. “We have the RN series; then the N110, which produces 2,500 gpm and is used on a lot of aerials; the N130 pump will give 3,500 gpm; and we just proofed the N200 pump that will produce 5,500 gpm,” he says.

Alex Hobday, sales engineer for Spencer Manufacturing Inc., says Spencer has been seeing more large tanks going on pumpers than large pumps. “More water means extending the useful time on the scene,” Hobday observes, “so many departments are turning to pumper-tanker style vehicles, turning two trucks into one.”

Hobday points to a pumper-rescue-tanker that Spencer built for the Angola (IN) Fire Department on a Spartan Metro Star ELFD chassis and cab with a 10-inch raised roof, carrying a Hale QMax-XS 1,500-gpm pump and an 1,800-gallon water tank. “This vehicle was built to allow the department to roll one apparatus on a first-due assignment and not need to rely on a tanker/tender following right behind it,” Hobday points out.

For the Saugatuck Township (MI) Fire District, Spencer built a pumper on a Spartan Metro Star MFD chassis and cab with a 10-inch raised roof, a Hale QMax 2,000-gpm pump, and a 1,600-gallon water tank. “This pumper w

E-ONE—Ouje-Bougoumou (Quebec, Canada) Fire Rescue Service rear-mount 75-foot aerial ladder quint. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 6,000-lpm pump; 1,890-liter polypropylene water tank; Akron Hi-Riser monitor with 1,250-gpm nozzle; Harrison 10-kW generator. AXIS Smart Truck technology; EZ Trac all-wheel-drive system. Dealer: David Ruel, Techno Feu 1200 Degrees, St. Francois-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada.

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