APU CLARIFICATIONS

"Auxiliary Power Units Making Inroads on Fire Apparatus" by Alan M. Petrillo (June 2014) was a very nice article, and these units can certainly be a wonderful addition to a piece of equipment. I have a couple of points of clarification on the topic.

First, main engine idling, which would generate added wear and tear, would actually result in the need to service or rebuild the engine more frequently-not just a need for more frequent maintenance. Taking those big engines apart costs a lot of money.

Second, the actual diesel fuel usage for an 8-kW genset is actually one quart when idling, two quarts at half load, and four quarts at full load. So, there is not a full gallon savings per hour over the main engine-which would need around 1¼ gallons idling-unless one would be just idling the little engine as well, which of course does not make any sense. There would be no need to operate it at all.

John Fischer
Engine Consultant
Palatine, Illinois

SITTING AND DREAMING

One of the best things about being an engineer is that you can sit and dream for days and honestly say you were working. Engineers do love to solve problems, and a lot of that involves sitting and dreaming of solutions. But, the best solutions always come from engineers who thoroughly understand the problem. That is where the fire service needs to engage manufacturers more aggressively. We need to reach out to the radio guys and show them just how hard it is to operate a portable with gloves and an SCBA. But, we also need to be wary of over-engineered solutions that don't address the root cause of a problem. A wireless GPS accountability turnout coat that simultaneously monitors firefighters vital signs is of no use to an overweight crew who doesn't know what a left hand search pattern is. Likewise, an apparatus covered with chevrons and flashing lights is of no use when a motorist is looking at his smartphone instead of the road. Perhaps some of the problems we need to solve have roots that lie far below the fire service. In any case, I will continue sitting and dreaming and enjoying your editorials.

Christopher Bors
Chief
McKinley Fire Company, Elkins Park, Pennsylvnia

E-ONE has announced a strategic distribution agreement with Super Group Trading, a supplier of customized fleet solutions headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"E-ONE began its presence in South Africa in 1976 and has successfully delivered hundreds of E-ONE first responder trucks since then," says Sam Itani, vice president, international and government sales for E-ONE. "Our partnership with Super Group represents a pooling of the expertise of two major firms in an effort to improve the presence of our brand and after-sales service in Southern Africa."

Super Group Trading will represent E-ONE in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Kenya.

"Fire rescue vehicles play a vital role in protecting and rescuing our communities from fire and other hazardous situations," says Kamogelo Mmutlana, executive director, Super Group Holdings. "Super Group's partnership with E-ONE allows us to promote and sell their products and services within sub-Sahara Africa, including Kenya. We are excited to help E-ONE grow its presence in Africa."

PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. has announced plans to host its second annual Pierce 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin, on September 6, 2014, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Last year, Pierce's inaugural stair climb at Lambeau Field-with nearly 600 participants-was among the largest first-time stair climb events in the country. Memorial stair climb events are in tribute to the 343 firefighters who gave their lives during the tragic events at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. All funds raised benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the families of fallen firefighters.

"We were overwhelmed by the response to Pierce's first 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb and, as a company and a community, we've made a commitment to continue as well as expand and promote the event in 2014," says Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president fire and emergency.

The Pierce 2014 Memorial Stair Climb is a memorial event, not a timed race, and participants can climb to any desired level. An adult or a guardian must accompany minors who participate. The cost is $30, and preregistered participants will receive an official event T-shirt. More information is available at www.piercemfg.com/climb.

ELKHART BRASS has promoted Ken Riches to director of quality and continuous improvement. His new responsibilities will focus on helping Elkhart Brass produce the highest quality products possible by closely evaluating manufacturing processes. His experience as the new product development manager at Elkhart has provided Riches with the background to fully analyze everything pertaining to end products from design to materials, assembly, and shipping of final product.

AVON PROTECTION's Deltair™, a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) designed for the fire service industry, has been recognized with the GOLD Industrial Designers Society of America International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for research relating to Deltair product development. Avon's Deltair design team developed a product that provides features and benefits that are important to the firefighting community using a comple

Sutphen-Columbus (OH) Division of Fire, pumper. Custom cab and chassis; Cummins ISX11.9 425-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene tank; Ziamatic electric ladder rack; Voyager camera system; Whelen LED upper and lower warning light packages. $558,734. Dealer: Harry Sutphen, Columbus, OH.

E-ONE-Westchester (IL) Fire Department, 21-foot walk-around heavy rescue. Typhoon X cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; 200-pound speedy dry hopper; air bag storage; tool air reel; two underbody storage compartments; roll-out tool boards; Onan 25-kW generator. $475,000. Dealer: Shawn Junker, Fire Service Inc., St. John, IN. (Photo courtesy of Jim Adams.)

Pierce-Port Washington (WI) Fire Department, walk-in heavy rescue. Arrow XT cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; TAK-4 independent front suspension; Onan 35-kW generator; cab-mounted Will-Burt NS 2.3-6000 light tower; body-mounted Will-Burt 5.4-17 6000 vertical light tower; breathing air cascade system with four 6,000-psi bottles and SpaceSaver 100A vertical fill station. $650,000. Dealer: Brett Krueger, Reliant Fire Apparatus Inc., Slinger, WI. (Photo by Mark Stampfl.)

KME-Mount Laurel Township (NJ) Fire Department, 103-foot rear-mount aerial quint. Severe Service cab and chassis; Cummins ISX12 500-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; UPF Poly 500-gallon tank; Side Stacker hosebed; Akron Stream Master deck pipe. $791,751. Dealer: Skip Stinger, 1st Priority, Manchester, NJ. (Photo by Dennis C. Sharpe.)

Rosenbauer-Citizens Fire Co. #2, Charles Town, WV, pumper. Commander R711 series cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CXVC 200 1,250-gpm single-stage pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank; Holmatro CORE Technology extrication tools; Will-Burt Night Scan Chief Power-Lite telescoping light tower. $498,000. Dealer: Greg Price, All American Fire Equipment, Ona, WV. (Photo by Dennis C. Sharpe.)

HME-Epping (NH) Fire Department, 3,000-gallon top-mount tanker-pumper. 1871 Spectr custom chassis; Cummins ISX12 500-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; polypropylene water tank. $574,608. Dealer: Glenn Davis, Lakes Region Fire Apparatus Inc., West Ossipee, NH.

Ferrara-Lake Jackson (TX) Fire Department, 3,000-gallon tanker. Igniter cab and chassis; Cummins ISX12 500-hp engine; UPF Poly tank; Hale RSD 1,250-gpm PTO pump with full pump-and roll-capability; Elkhart Cobra EXM electric monitor; Zico Quic-Lift portable tank lift; Will-Burt Night Scan 2.3 light tower. $570,000. Dealer: Ronny Allen, Hall motors, Tyler, TX.

Spartan ERV-San Francisco (CA) Fire Department, 10 pumpers. Metro Star cabs and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engines; Hale Qtwo 1,750-gpm pumps; UPF Poly 500-gallon tanks; severe duty bumper extensions; aluminum fire bodies. $453,288 each. Dealer: Dan Burch, Hi-Tech Fire Apparatus, Oakdale, CA.

Toyne-