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By Eli Dupslaff

It goes without saying that every town is different, and with that, the needs that emergency services must meet differ greatly. The importance of a fire apparatus that meets those needs cannot be understated.

The Fairview (NY) Fire District protects 4.5 square miles in the cities of Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park along the Hudson River in upstate New York. Its service area features steep grades, areas without hydrants, and a high concentration of garden-style apartment buildings. Last year, the district took delivery of its new Ladder 1, which was custom built to address these challenges after an extensive planning process.

Deputy Chief Robert Ridley shares some insight into how Fairview approached customizing and spec’ing a new apparatus. Ridley has been in the fire service for 25 years and has been with the district since 2007. Before helping spec its new ladder, Ridley was involved with the build process for one of the department’s engines and two ambulances.

FORMING A TRUCK COMMITTEE

Traditionally, when Fairview needed a new apparatus, a committee was formed without an apparatus replacement strategy—a pattern Ridley wants to disrupt. “One of the directives that I’ve started as a deputy chief is to actually form a committee on an apparatus replacement plan because it’s an area where we had a weakness, strategically planning,” he explains. Since the apparatus market is changing, a once-in-a-while committee with no continuity is not beneficial to his department’s future. There are multiple aspects that must be considered before a purchase is even in the cards. “We want to make sure that our people understand that it’s not just like, ‘OK, we’re going to build a ladder truck, cool, this is fun.’ But, here’s where the money is coming from, and these are the grants that we have to look out for,” he says. Ridley explains that Fairview was able to purchase its new ladder with help from a State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant and New York State Assemblywoman Didi Barrett.

1 Fairview Fire District’s Ladder 1 set up on a downhill grade. (Photos courtesy of Robert Ridley.)

Eight years ago, the fire commissioners for the district, who follow National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines for the lifespan of apparatus (15 years for engines and 20 for ladders), formed an apparatus committee to replace the district’s aging ladder truck—a process that was not always smooth. “It was a huge committee at first, which wasn’t beneficial because there were so many hands in the pot,” Ridley says. “Through attrition, we were able to get the committee down to three people, working with oversight from the chief and a commissioner, and we were able to move forward and get things done.” Ridley says he values objectivity, a level head, and mechanical aptitude in the members of a truck committee. “For fire apparatus design in general, you have to look at the needs of the citizens you’re serving and what you need that piece of apparatus to do. A lot of times, especially in the fire service, people become emotionally attached to an item or a product. You cannot be emotionally attached to what you’re purchasing. You can be emotionally attached to the job because you want to be dedicated to delivering the best service. You want to make sure that whatever you’re designing will be able to save a life,” Ridley explains. “The apparatus needs to stabilize an incident and protect property. A member has to have a level head and be able to take the emotions out of it.”

Having someone with a strong mechanical aptitude is important to the department as well. With the unique challenges in the department’s service area, c