By Chris Mc Loone

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Deputy Commissioner Robert Corrigan and Battalion Chief Jim Mueller, of the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department, to talk about its new Spartan ER pumper order and recently delivered tractor-drawn aerials. The Spartan ER order brings the department back to Campbell Supply Company, a dealer the department has had a relationship with for some time, going back to when Philadelphia purchased a number of American LaFrance engines and TDAs. Philadelphia’s front-line apparatus includes rigs from various manufacturers including KME, American LaFrance, Freightliner. The Spartan ER order is part of Corrigan’s five-year plan to upgrade the Philadelphia Fire Department’s apparatus fleet so no front-line vehicle will be over 10 years old and no reserve vehicle will be over 20 years old. The first two Spartan ER rigs are in production and department representatives recently paid a visit to the factory to check on their progress. new spartan

.@Spartan_ER for @PhillyFireDept to pump for 1st time; lighted handrail for @IAFF22 safety. @PhillyFireNews pic.twitter.com/tDSuypR2i3

— Robert Corrigan (@PFDDepCommish) March 22, 2016

Some features of the new pumpers are tried and true for the department, and some are new to the fire department but reflect current trends. According to Corrigan, the design of the trucks is a collaborative effort and many features are based on firefighter feedback. One example is the hosebed design on the new rigs. Based on firefighter input, the hosebeds on the new rigs will be very low—40 inches above the tailboard. Other features reflect a return to what the department knows has worked. One example is the return of a mounted deck gun on the rigs to give company officers the option of quickly leading off with a blitz or exterior attack. Mueller cites another example, which is returning to a short front bumper and no front intake. Part of the reason for this is an issue faced by many fire departments in old cities: being able to maneuver fire trucks on tight streets. The rigs will also feature lower ground ladder storage and LED backlit exterior grab rails. The pumpers will feature Waterous 1,500-gpm two stage pumps and 500-gallon tanks, a staple across the city’s pumper fleet. All handlines deploy from the rear of the truck—no crosslays—and all city rigs carry two hard sleeves.

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