APPLETON, WI—Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has sold a Pierce® Saber® custom pumper equipped with a Ford 6.7-liter V8 turbo diesel power train to the Lafayette County (MS) Fire Department, home of the University of Mississippi. The availability of the Ford power train on the Pierce Saber chassis was announced fewer than 30 days ago. The vehicle will be delivered in mid-2018.
“With the recently announced availability of Ford’s proven V8 turbo diesel, we are opening up Pierce Saber custom apparatus to a new segment of budget-conscious fire departments,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Now, there’s a new option for departments on a tight budget to move up to the quality of a Pierce custom chassis. We’re very encouraged by the interest expressed from many parts of the country in such a short period of time.”
“We are transitioning our fleet to custom apparatus as a way to enhance our emergency response capabilities, and many members of our department are already familiar with the quality and reliability of Pierce Saber vehicles,” said Wes Anderson, fire coordinator for the Lafayette County Fire Department. “The availability of the Ford power train brought the Pierce Saber into our price range—and that was a big selling point for us. It also helped that a couple of our volunteer firefighters own heavy-duty Ford commercial vehicles with a similar engine and they think highly of it.
“We had the opportunity to spend a day with the Saber demo vehicle. Our firefighters drove it through the community and conducted informal time trials to compare it to our other custom pumper,” added Anderson. “We tested it without any equipment or water, and then with a full 1,000 gallons on board. The firefighters who drove it and rode in it were impressed.”
The integration, testing, and validation of the Ford power train into a Pierce custom chassis was led by Roush—a leader in motorsports and high-performance passenger vehicles. The Ford V-8 turbo diesel power train generates nearly the equivalent amount of horsepower to the rear wheels as larger and heavier engines commonly offered in this class. In addition, the Ford service network backs the power train, which is covered by a 5-year/100,000-mile warranty. “The comprehensive warranty—and the availability of local mechanics—was a big factor for us,” Anderson explained. “To service some other engine brands, we’d have to travel more than an hour for support.”
The fire apparatus purchased by Lafayette County features a 1,250-gpm single-stage pump, a 1,000-gallon water tank, a Control Zone™ pump panel, and seating for six firefighters. Other features include lowered crosslays, a full complement of ground ladders,