Modern firefighting vehicles are fitted to perform a wide range of tasks, of which the most important is battling major fire. They come with pumps, hydraulic ladders, tanks that can hold roughly 400 to 500 gallons of water--enough to put out a vehicle fire--and a slew of other equipment. They also have enough space to transport up to eight firefighters.

Yet fighting actual fire makes up only a small portion of a firefighter's job. Of the 31.9 million calls routed to all U.S. fire departments in 2013, only 1.2 million (or about 4 percent) were fire-related, according to the latest data from the National Fire Protection Association. Most of the time they're attending to other emergencies, including road accidents -- the very ones city street designers try to prevent, as Mother Nature Network points out. Still others take on "eclectic" roles.

Overall, America is behind the curve when it comes to rethinking the fire truck. As Lloyd Alter writes at Mother Nature Network, Europe, where street lanes tend to be tighter, has a line of compact fire trucks that perform the same tasks as those in the U.S. but are far more maneuverable. Watch as two fire engines--one from the U.S. and the other from Europe--drive around an obstacle of cones:

For more information, view www.citylab.com

APPLETON, WI—Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, has announced an order for six Pierce® Dash® CF custom fire and emergency vehicles from the Central County Fire & Rescue Fire Protection District (CCFR) in Saint Peters, Missouri. The order represents a full fleet replacement of Pierce vehicles that have served the department since 2002. The fire truck purchase includes five pumpers and one aerial platform, and all will be delivered in late 2016.

“We’re very excited that CCFR has once again selected Pierce, and has chosen the innovative Pierce Dash CF custom chassis for this complete fleet replacement order,” says Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of the Fire & Emergency segment and Pierce Manufacturing.  “CCFR’s decision to stay with Pierce and go with the Dash CF apparatus speaks volumes about our products, our people and the team at Schuhmacher Fire Equipment.”

“Each of our fire stations will receive a new Pierce Dash CF apparatus, and these new vehicles will improve our performance and emergency response capabilities, while enhancing firefighter safety,” says Brian Ochs, CCFR assistant fire chief and member of a nine-person apparatus committee. “We really like the Dash CF’s open cab configuration—that’s the big thing that interested our committee. You have an open area for the engineer, the captain, and far more room for firefighters. It’s an incredible cab.”

The Pierce Dash CF fire apparatus features a tilting cab-forward design that repositions the engine rearward and down low between the frame rails, with an open interior configuration that helps firefighters better prepare when arriving on scene. The vehicle increases driver and officer interior cab space, improves visibility and serviceability, and features a compact easy-to-maneuver wheelbase.

Each of the five identical pumpers will feature a Detroit DD13 470-hp engine, TAK-4® independent front suspension, side roll and frontal impact protection systems, and the all-new Command Zone™ multiplex system. The vehicles also will include 1,500-gpm Pierce PUC pumps, 600-gallon water tanks, Husky™ 12 dual-agent foam systems, and low-mounted crosslays. 

“The Dash CF is a compact truck with a shorter, more maneuverable wheelbase, and yet can carry as much or even more equipment than our previous apparatus,” adds Chief Ochs. “Plus, the ergonomics are excellent, with everything lower to the ground so firefighters don’t have to climb up onto a truck to reach equipment or hose.”

The Dash CF 100-foot aerial platform will be equipped with a DD13 525-hp engine, TAK-4 independent front suspension, and side roll and fron

CLEVELAND, OH—Brass Knuckle® safety products from Safety Today Inc. introduces the SmartShell™ BKCR4599, a heavy-duty protective glove offering wide-ranging protection for extreme jobs. The BKCR4599 is a category jumper providing heavy-duty cut resistance, light oil and moisture resistance, non-tacky slip resistance, and shock-absorbing impact protection. Providing a broad spectrum of protection, the BKCR4599 is a high-end mechanic’s glove that delivers ANSI level 4 cut resistance in a very breathable, durable, and flexible glove.

On the palm and fingers, the BKCR4599 offers three layers of protection. The liner is an ultra-high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) and spandex composite that delivers heavy-duty cut resistance without bulk. Bonded to that first layer is a gray polyurethane (PU) fabric topped with a grippy nitrile surface; a barrier to light-oil or other light-liquid penetration. In critical areas of the palm, padding provides impact resistance. Finally, the back of the hand is loaded with sonically welded thermoplastic rubber (TPR) padding that easily counters workplace pounding and abrasion.

The BKCR4599 glove is suitable for a wide variety of industries.

For more information, visit www.safetytoday.com.

Fulshear (TX) Fire Department, 100-foot rear-mount aerial quint. Gladiator cab and chassis; Cummins ISX550-hp engine; Waterous CSU 2,000-gpm pump.