South Bend, IN (September 1, 2022) – A pair of Toyne Tailored Apparatus is a welcomed sight for Southwest Central Fire Territory (SWCFT) firefighters in South Bend, Indiana. Their latest Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender delivery concludes a multi-apparatus buildup for the department in 2022. Toyne is proud to have been a part of SWCFT’s modernization efforts. 

Established in 2008 with the merger of two departments, SWCFT protects a 75-square-mile area comprising unincorporated Centre and Portage townships, as well as most of unincorporated Greene township. They operate out of two stations with 19 full-time and 14 paid on-call firefighters.

Earlier this year, the department had received its first new Toyne apparatus: a fully customized pumper. This Toyne Pumper replaced an older engine and now carries the designation “Engine 41” and is stationed with SWCFT’s Squad 41 at their Fillmore Road Station.

Similarly, their Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender will replace an older apparatus in their fleet. These new additions greatly enhance the department’s ability to take the call.

“It’s been a pleasure to work closely with the Southwest Central Fire Territory for each of their Toyne deliveries over the last year,” said Bill Bird, Toyne Product Support Coordinator. “We are very proud of this new partnership, as they are an admirable department with great dedication and unwavering support to the residents they serve.”

SWCFT’s pumper tanker/tender lives up to its name, equipped with a 3,000-gallon UPF tank and 1,000-GPM Hale MBP pump. For additional scene support, crews can rapidly deploy a 3,000-gallon Syntex portable tank by utilizing the apparatus’ Zico Hydraulic porta tank rack. Firefighters can also control an electric dump chute on the rear and one on each side of the apparatus.

Toyne mounted the custom body on a two-door Freightliner SD114 6×4 chassis. Under the hood is a 450-HP Cummins ISL9 engine with an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. The apparatus has custom lettering and stripping. For lighting, the pumper tanker/tender has Whelen warning lighting, FRC LED 900-Q65 scene lighting, and ILI LED strip compartment lighting.

This apparatus was sold to SWCFT by The Fire Company, an authorized Toyne dealer in Allendale, Michigan.

For a look into the build of this Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender, delve deeper into the September Featured Delivery page. You’ll find a photo gallery, an in-depth apparatus highlight video, and delivery information about the department’s pumper tanker/tender.

On behalf of FDIC and Clarion Fire & Rescue Group, I am sad to share the news that Lila Mae Gillespie passed away peacefully and surrounded with love on August 30, 2022. Lila entered the first responder market as the owner of a communications company serving the first responder industry.  A change of direction ensued, and Lila joined the FDIC team, where she was gainfully employed from 1995 until her retirement in 2012. As Lila was originally an exhibitor at FDIC, she was a strong advocate for the exhibitors throughout her career. With retirement, Lila no longer did the day-to-day work; however, Lila’s love for the fire service, FDIC, and all those associated with the industry kept her closely connected to her FDIC family and coming back to help with FDIC year after year, until the pandemic hit. Lila was kind, loving, and hard-working with a giving heart and always reminded us to smile.  She was a friend and mentor to so many throughout the years. 

Lila was also loved by the manufacturing community, most especially as a driving force and founding member of the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA).  Lila volunteered her time and talents to FEMSA for more than 30 years. She was valuable in the reformation of FEMSA in the late 1980s, serving as a director on the Board in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1995 and as the secretary/treasurer from 1990-1994. Lila resigned from the FEMSA Board in late 1995 to take on her new role as FDIC Exhibits Manager. Lila continued her support of FEMSA on behalf of FDIC through her attendance at annual meetings and committee work, most notably as a member of the Nominating Committee from 2002-2005 and later as committee chair from 2006-2011, recruiting new members and candidates for the Board.

Lila was a volunteer at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, North Carolina, until Hurricane Florence hit. She was a very active member of Saint Paul Catholic Church, where she worked as a Tobit Minister, Eucharistic Minister, and the children for Faith Formation, RCIA, and even worked in the office one day a week. In addition to faithfully working at Saint Paul, she was an active member of the USCG Aux. Lila was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

She is survived by her husband Edward J; children Robert Pietrangelo, Susan Betz (Tom), Ed “Hoot” Gillespie (Marie), Teresa Ryan (Steve), and Cookie. Lila has 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30 AM at St. Paul Catholic Church in New Bern on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. A Funeral Mass will follow beginning at 11:30 AM. The family will hold a Memorial Mass in Cape May, New Jersey, in mid-October.

In lieu of flowers, Lila would love donations to be made to Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, 1000 W. Lycoming Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140.

Our deepest condolences to Ed and the entire Gillespie family. Rest in eternal peace and forevermore in God’s love, dear friend!

Regretfully,

Eric Schlett

Sr. VP Clarion Fire & Rescue

The Berlin (NH) Fire Department has received a $620,000 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) to replace a tired pumper, according to a report published by The Berlin Sun.

The department and the fire chief worked for three years to get the grant to replace the 1979 pumper currently in service in Berlin, the newspaper reported, noting that the 43-year-old apparatus has been out of service for extended periods of time and has required costly repairs to keep it in service.

Berlin is also seeking funds to replace a 1995 aerial, according to the paper, that also mentioned the newest piece of equipment is a 2006 engine.

Berlin got $167,952 two years ago from the federal grant program to replace breathing apparatus, according to the report.

E-ONE—Crosby (TX) Volunteer Fire Department pumper. Cyclone long cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; 30-gallon foam cell; FoamPro 2002 Class A foam system; Will-Burt Night Scan Chief NS2.3-500-4 LED light tower; Harrison 8-kW generator. Dealer: David Bessolo, Lone Star Emergency Group, Houston, TX.

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