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By Bill Adams

"Mini Pumpers, Part 1: How Well Do They Really Work?" (September 2014) described the experiences of two fire departments with mini pumpers purchased in the 1980s.

It appears the fire service is giving mini pumpers a second look. Why? What's new? What are people purchasing? I asked apparatus manufacturers of all sizes. Their answers to some specific questions follow.

Are mini pumpers becoming popular?

Mike DuFrane, vice president, Florida Products Government Sales, Pierce Manufacturing: "Mini pumpers have an inherent size advantage over larger apparatus. We continue to see growth in mini pumper sales."

Trapper Meadors, sales engineer, Precision Fire Apparatus: "Mini pumpers can fit into very specific roles that a lot of departments have yet to see a need for. However, once the need is realized, they're perfect fits."

Mike Watts, national sales manager, Toyne Fire Apparatus: "Yes. They are finding a new purpose in the fire service."

Jim Kirvida, president, CustomFIRE: "There seems to be considerable interest, mostly for short-staffed duty crews."

Grady North, product manager, E-ONE: "The mini pumper concept is showing renewed interest."

Doug Kelley, mini pumper product manager, KME: "Yes, and growing. However, they're still a very small portion of the market overall. As a reference, there are fewer than 150 mini pumpers sold each year vs. about 2,500 to 3,000 full-size pumpers."

Joe Messmer, president, Summit Fire Apparatus: "Yes. We are finding fire departments want smaller trucks with a bigger punch. They are looking for more agile apparatus with four-wheel drive."

Are fire departments looking to accomplish specific missions with mini pumper purchases?

Kelley: "The educated customer is trying to take advantage of the mini's smaller size combined with the all-wheel-drive capability for tasks similar to accessing the backside of structures, such as garden apartments, with a master stream device; using the truck as a manifold truck up long driveways where larger trucks have a hard time accessing; using the all-wheel drive in disaster situations where roads may be partially blocked; and using the truck to access incidents in hard-to-reach locations, especially in heavy traffic or small streets."

Messmer: "They're looking for smaller trucks that weigh less and can get into tighter spots. Some departments are attempting to reduce the wear and tear on larger, more expensive apparatus to stretch the budget a little further."

Dufrane: "Departments responsible for protecting hard-to-reach areas where they can't get a traditional pumper or tanker through narrow, unpaved roads find the maneuverability of mini pumpers is an advantage. Pierce is seeing some being used as "first-out" vehicles instead of traditional pumpers. Departments with emergency medical service (EMS) responsibilities can run them with their emergency medical technicians on board."

Kirvida: "Initial response for both EMS and fire calls."

Meadors: "Smaller departments experiencing an influx of new, younger members are wanting a small unit people can feel more co

Peterson Manufacturing LumenX® LED line features a four-inch round strobe light and a six-inch oval strobe. Both models are rated for use as directional flashing warning devices on Class 1 and 2 emergency, maintenance, and service vehicles. The LED strobes feature white-diode LEDs and breakthrough optics. The new lens design illuminates the entire lens fully and evenly without hotspots or dead zones regardless of viewing angle. The LumenX LED Strobes feature: 73 quad flashes per minute, brightness that exceeds SAE J595 Class 1 specs, 12- and 24-volt compatibility, AMP-compatible weatherproof receptacle for corrosion protection, and grommet- and flange mounts available for all models. www.pmlights.com, 816-765-2000

Kussmaul Auto Charge 1000, with Parasitic Load Compensation (PLC), is a compact, microprocessor-controlled, completely automatic, single-channel battery charger designed for vehicles with a single battery system. The PLC charger is designed to withstand the shock and vibration encountered by vehicle-mounted equipment. This new parasitic load compensation feature is designed especially to meet the heavy-duty requirements of emergency vehicles. This charger has three remote indicator options. Option 1 is the standard, 10-element, single-bar-graph display. Option 2 is the Auto Charge Deluxe Status Indicator. This indicator has a digital voltage and ampere display, a five-segment bar graph display to indicate the output current, and four LEDs to show the condition of the batteries. Option 3 is the Watertight Auto Charge Deluxe Status Center. This is the same indicator as option 2, but the indicator is housed in a watertight bezel. The bezel is available in six different colors: red, white, blue, yellow, gray, and black. www.kussmaul.com, 800-346-0857

Holmatro ECO whisper mode minimizes noise and fuel consumption on three pump models in its Spider range. When operating a hydraulic rescue tool connected to one of these pumps, the engine speed automatically increases to maximum to ensure optimal equipment performance. When rescuers finish operating the tool, the engine reverts to ECO whisper mode, which keeps the pump running at a low idle speed. Not only does this reduce fuel consumption, which extends operation time, but the noise level also goes down. And because there's no need to switch off the pump in between operations, it's readily available for use again. The ECO whisper mode works in combination with CORE hoses up to 50 feet long. With the equipment connected and the pump running, users simply press the ECO button on the pump to activate and optimize this function for the rescue set they are working with. www.holmatro.com, 410-768-9662

KIMTEK Corporation FIRELITE® Transport FTUHP-400 series ultra-high-pressure (UHP) skid unit features the FoamPro® Turbo Stream® high-energy firefighting system offered by FRC Corporation. Powered by a Honda 13-hp gas motor with electric start, the skid unit delivers eight gpm at 1,400 psi. The patented foam concentration injector system allows a precise foam injection rate of between 0.3 and 3.0 percent, exceeding NFPA 1901 requirements. The FoamPro Turbo St

California

HME-Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection, rapid-attack truck. 1771-SFO custom HME cab and chassis; Cummins ISB6.7 360-hp engine; Hale RSD 1,500-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene tank; 20-gallon foam cell; Fire Research TurboFoam TFC126-030 direct foam proportioning system; Harrison MCR generator. Sold by Ken Lenz, HME Inc., Wyoming, MI. Delivery in March.

Florida

E-ONE-Dunedin Fire Department, pumper. Cyclone ll cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Hale RSD 1,500-gpm pump; 740-gallon tank; 40-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2001 single-agent foam system; Onan 15-kW generator. Sold by Nate Gilman, Hall-Mark Fire Apparatus, Ocala, FL. Delivery in June.

Illinois

E-ONE-Batavia Fire Department, pumper. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm tank; UPF Poly 780-gallon tank. Sold by Greg Hansen, Fire Service Inc., Naperville, IL. Delivery in February.

Alexis-Geneseo Fire Protection District, pumper-tanker. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CXS 1,500-gpm pump; Pro Poly 3,000-gallon polypropylene tank. Sold by Greg Landon, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL. Delivery in May

Alexis-Geneseo Fire Protection District, rescue. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; 18-foot walk-around rescue body; Will-Burt Night Scan Powerlite with six 1,500-watt FRC optimum lights. Sold by Greg Landon, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL. Delivery in May.

Pierce-Geneva Fire Department, pumper. Enforcer cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 400-hp engine; Waterous CMU 1,500-gpm two-stage pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank; 30-gallon foam cell; Akron 3126-125 Class B eductor foam system; Harrison 6-kW generator. Sold by Rick Berndt, Global Emergency Products, Aurora, IL. Delivery in May.

E-ONE-Glencoe Fire Department, pumper. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 2,000-gpm pump; UPF Poly 530-gallon tank; Harrison 5-kW generator. Sold by Greg Hansen, Fire Service Inc., Naperville, IL. Delivery in September.

E-ONE-Havana Fire Department, top mount pumper. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 350-hp engine; Hale Qflo 1,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 1,000-gallon tank. Sold by Craig Hamrick, Banner Fire Equipment, Roxana, IL. Delivery in August.

E-ONE-Hometown Fire Protection District, pumper. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins ISL 350-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 530-gallon tank. Sold by Greg Hansen, Fire Service Inc., St. John, IN. Delivery in September.

E-ONE-North Palos Fire Protection District, Palos Hills, pumper. Cyclone ll cab and chassis; Cummins ISX12 500-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 530-gallon tank. Sold by Greg Hansen, Fire Service Inc., St. John, IN. Delivery in September.

Pierce-Palos Fire Protection District, Palos Park, pumper. Saber cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Hale DSD 1,500-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon tank. Sold by John Kenna, Global Emergency Products, Aurora, IL. Delivery in June.

Alexis-Sheffield Fire Protection District, flatbed brush truck. Ford F-550-XL two-door 4x4 cab and chassis; Ford Triton 6.8-liter V-10 362-hp engine; Waterous PB18-3030C portable pump with 20-hp Honda gas engine; Pro Poly 300-gallon polypropylene tank; 12-gallon foam cell; Scotty around the pump foam inductor/mixer system. Sold by Stan Froelich, Alexis Fire Equipment, Alexis, IL, Delivery in February.

Iowa

Danko-McCallsburg Fire &First Responder Agency, quick-response flatbed unit. Ford F-350 cab and chassis; 6.2-liter 316-hp engine; Hale Max Stream HPX275-B35 240-gpm pump; UPF Defender 1 Poly tank; 12-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 1601 Class A foam system. Sold by Bruce Blum, Danko Emergency Equipment, Snyder, NE. Delivery in February.

Kentucky

Spartan ERV-