More than two dozen New Jersey firefighters are suing five fire truck manufacturers and a siren maker alleging the noise from the emergency vehicles' sirens have lead to an "irreversible" loss of hearing.

The lawsuit was removed from state Superior Court and filed in federal court in Newark on Dec. 4 on behalf of 34 current or former firefighters in Elizabeth, Linden, Bayonne, Union, Ridgewood, Kearny, Cranford and West New York. The suit names American LaFrance LLC, Kovatch Mobile Equipments Corp., Mack Trucks Inc., Pierce Manufacturing Inc. and Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC, as well as the siren maker Federal Signal Corp.

The lawsuit alleges the firefighters, who were each employed by the departments for decades, "have suffered irreversible hearing loss and a permanent decrease of their hearing" making them unable "to enjoy life's pleasures."

According to the suit, the fire truck manufacturers failed to test and develop crew cabs or install after-market modifications that would allow for safe sound levels for the firefighters while responding to calls in fire department vehicles, including pump and ladder trucks and paramedic vehicles.

The suit further alleges Federal Signal Corp. knew or should have known the sirens were "inherently dangerous" to a human's hearing and failed to develop a safe product.

Each firefighter is seeking $150,000 in damages as well as court costs associated with the suit. 

For more information, view www.nj.com

The Charlton (NY) Volunteer Fire Department has taken delivery of a 2015 HME, Inc. rescue-pumper. Built on an 1871-W chassis with an MFDxl cab and 12-inch raised roof, the fire truck is powered by a 450-hp Cummins ISL9 engine, has an Allison 3000EVS transmission, and Spicer 1760 drivelines. A Federal Q2B siren is recess-mounted in the cab grille. The extended bumper houses dual stutter tone air horns and a Cast Products siren speaker. The 47-inch heated pump enclosure features a 1,250-gpm Hale Q-Flo Plus combined with HME Hydra Technology™, three speedlays, a Hale FoamLogix 3.3 Class B foam system, and a side-mounted stainless steel pump panel. Additionally, the truck has seating for a crew of six, a backup camera, a ProMariner battery charger with a Kussmaul auto eject, a 12-volt Kussmaul Auto Air compressor, On-Spot automatic tire chains, a TFT monitor, and an interior LED lighting package. The stainless steel body features 176 cubic feet of compartment storage space with trays, shelves, and toolboards throughout, an 80-cubic-foot hosebed, 1,614-gallon polypropylene water tank with through-tank-ladder storage, a six-inch jet dump, roll-up doors, coffin compartments, FRC LED quartz and scene lighting, and a Whelen emergency lightning package.

Salesman: Glenn Davis

Dealer: Lake Regions Fire Apparatus, Inc.

Dealer Location: West Ossipee, NH 

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police said someone shot a fire truck on the city's south side on Friday.

A Savannah Fire Public information officer said the four firefighters present during the shooting were not seriously hurt.

Keller said the firefighters were returning to their station just before 6 p.m. when a bullet shattered the fire truck's windshield.

Two firefighters were hit with shattered glass, but did not require medical treatment.

The bullet struck the driver's side of the windshield, then ricocheted against the inside of the windshield, landing on the dashboard.

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police are investigating the shooting.

For more information, view www.wjcl.com