Day 1 of the first annual FAMA Fire Apparatus Symposium featured topics on specification writing, modern electrical systems, compartmentation, foam systems, and vehicle lighting (warning and scene) with speakers representing the companies that provide these systems to the fire service. But, from the beginning, organizers stressed that they wanted the sessions to be interactive because, as David Durstine, former FAMA board member and an emcee for the event, said, the instructors are learning as much from the attendees through the interaction as the attendees are from the speakers.

The day began with Durstine and Jason Witmier, current FAMA vice president and incoming president for 2026, welcoming attendees to the symposium, explaining the format, and again encouraging interaction.

Durstine and Larry Daniels, vice president of sales for the REV Fire Group, took the stage to lead the discussion on apparatus specification. Both stressed the importance of specifying fire apparatus for your region and the mission of the rigs. Durstine related his experiences as a young firefighter on a an apparatus purchasing committee (APC) and how those experiences helped shape future committees at his fire department. For example, the first APC he was appointed to did not have any officers from the company. Future committees did. The number of people on the committee changed as well, with an important recommendation to ensure there is an odd number of people for tie breaking.

Daniels stressed defining the needs for the apparatus and engaging the end users who will be using the rigs for, in some cases, the next 25 years. Decisions made now will affect firefighters for years to come.

Daniels also said that the most important trip an APC can make is to the preconstruction meeting. That is where the rig is finalized, and that is where any other changes that need to be made to the spec—the guide the manufacturer will use—can be made before incurring costs for the changes.

Modern electrical systems were next for participants. A brief history of multiplex systems was followed by definitions for common terms and a discussion on how multiplex systems work. Communication is via the controller area network (CAN) and there are a variety of different languages that companies use to communicate via CANs. This is important because the OEM’s CAN might not always communicate with the chassis manufacturer’s CAN in the case of commercial vs. custom chassis. Important to remember is that if you spec a rig with a commercial chassis, you may have two multiplex systems: one that comes with the commercial chassis and one for the body that the OEM features.

Maintenance is one advantage of a multiplex system because these systems are easier to troubleshoot. Multiplexed systems log faults that maintenance personnel can go back to identify where a problem has occurred—especially if it is an intermittent problem.

Compartment management was the next session and representatives from a variety of equipment mounting companies and compartment design companies shared insights on what is available for fire departments to keep their equipment secure and also what NFPA 1900 requires for securing equipment. Proper distribution or equipment was also discussed as well as weight requirements by the NFPA at the time of delivery and the requirement to weight rigs every year.

Foam has gotten a lot of attention lately, so it’s natural that the Symposium offered a session that covered foam itself and the variety of systems available to deliver this foam. Not only was a background on foam and foam systems offered but also a section on troubleshooting these systems and recommendations for running them properly.

Day one wrapped up with a conversation about lighting on emergency vehicles. The control systems available for lighting have become very sophisticated and some important points include how flexi

The Sanger (TX) Fire Department provides fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services (EMS) response to a 130-square-mile fire and EMS district in North Denton County, Texas, with 25 full-time and five part-time firefighters. The department runs a pumper, a pumper-tanker, two brush trucks, a rescue, and three advanced life support (ALS) ambulances out of one station. With the city of Sanger experiencing burgeoning growth, especially in multistory structures, the department decided it needed to add an aerial device to its fleet.

“Sanger is in the process of going through major growth in the area,” says Chief David Pennington. “Sanger has added multistory hotels, apartment complexes, and taxpayers where there are commercial businesses on the ground floor and apartments on the upper stories. We needed an aerial device that would give us good reach and be able to hit a four- or five-story building.”

Pennington says the department researched the various types of aerials available and decided that a platform would serve its needs better than a straight stick. “We have several warehouses and distribution centers of over a million square feet each, with lots of mechanical equipment on their roofs,” he points out. “Having an aerial with a platform is very helpful in putting our firefighters safely on a roof and bringing someone back in a Stokes basket on the platform.”

He adds that the department also thought that a midmount aerial platform would work best in fitting into the city’s narrow downtown streets, would have a lower cab height compared with a rear-mount aerial platform, and would allow for a greater scrub area because of its five-section aerial instead of a rear-mount’s four-section aerial. Pennington notes that after taking all those factors into consideration, Sanger Fire went to Smeal Fire Apparatus for a 100-foot midmount aerial platform quint.

Brian Cudaback, apparatus sales director for Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists Inc., who sold the rig to Sanger, says the Smeal HD100 aerial platform quint is built on a Spartan Gladiator extended medium four-door (EMFD) cab a

The Lingohocken (PA) Fire Company announced recently that it had purchased a 2014 Pierce Arrow XT PUC rescue-pumper from the Falls Township Fire Company No. 1.

“Over the past few years, our apparatus committee has worked hard to formulate an apparatus replacement plan, which included replacing Rescue 35, a 1997 E-ONE Cyclone,” the department said in a Facebook post. “In exploring a multitude of options, the committee identified an advantageous opportunity to purchase the current Rescue 30 from Falls Township Fire Company No. 1.”

After considering the prices and build times of a brand new custom-built fire apparatus, the company felt that this purchase was the best financial and logistical decision while simultaneously meeting its operational needs, and most importantly, the needs of the community it protects.

This new apparatus will provide many improved safety features and additional capabilities. For instance, the current Rescue 35 is not equipped with a pump or tank water. This new apparatus will maintain all the rescue capabilities of the department’s current truck, while also giving it fire suppression capability with its 750-gallon tank and 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump.

Lingohocken will take delivery November 1st with the goal of an early 2026 in-service date following paint, equipment mounting, driver training, etc.

“We would like to thank the community and local government leaders for your continued support of our organization,” the department said.

Falls Township Fire Company No. 1 had this to say about the rescue-pumper going to Lingohocken:

“In late 2019, the Falls Township Fire Company No. 1 purchased this rescue-pumper from our neighbors at Edgely Fire Company (Ten House). The truck has spent the last five and a half years serving the residents, businesses, and visitors of Falls Township and surrounding municipalities.

“We are thankful for the partnership with Lingohocken Fire Company, and look forward to seeing this piece of apparatus continue to serve another community.”

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In a recent episode of the Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment podcast, Chris Mc Loone sat down with Safe Fleet’s Director of Education and Technology, Jason Witmier, to discuss the educational resources Safe Fleet provides for the fire service. The program includes tools and programs designed to improve firefighter knowledge and operational safety.

The goal is education first—helping firefighters understand how nozzles, pumps, foam systems, lighting, and other apparatus components actually function in real fireground scenarios. Safe Fleet’s team, which includes about 15 specialists, travels nationwide conducting training that emphasize sound firefighting tactics and maintenance best practices. They offer objective, side-by-side comparisons with competitors’ products and willingly recommend alternatives if Safe Fleet’s gear doesn’t fit a department’s needs.

Two cornerstone resources within the Safe Fleet training platform are the “Brass Tacks Hard Facts” video series and rigrecon.com. Brass Tacks Hard Facts, launched in 2016 and now preparing its fourth season, covers a broad range of practical topics—from nozzle evaluation and hose loads to firefighting tactics and hydraulic ventilation. With over 100 episodes featuring highly respected fire service veterans and authors as instructors, the series serves as an accessible library of real-world knowledge. Firefighters can watch these short, focused videos during downtime and apply lessons directly to their operations.

Rig Recon targets apparatus maintenance and component selection. It offers unbiased product guides and comparison charts covering popular equipment options such as deck guns, valves, lighting, and electric vs. manual controls. Rig Recon also hosts troubleshooting and maintenance videos to empower firefighters to handle minor repairs and preventative care on their own, helping keep rigs in the field longer.

Safe Flee’s regional network of experienced fire service professionals engages directly with departments to deliver tailored education and product demos. Each regional specialist carries a truck equipped with a broad mix of Safe Fleet products. Whether it’s conducting a “Know Your Flow” class to measure actual hose and nozzle performance on-scene or arranging deep dives on foam system sizing, door maintenance, or lighting, Witmier says these regionals bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application.

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