P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. (PLCB) is pleased to announce the addition of Heritage Fire Equipment of Columbus, OH to its growing family of dealers. This partnership will strengthen the presence of PLCB in the Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia marketplace.  

Harry Sutphen, Owner, Heritage Fire Equipment, said that they “are excited to partner with PL Custom and expand our product offerings with a trusted name in emergency vehicles. With nearly 80 years of experience, PL Custom is a family-owned company supporting first responders with a deep-rooted commitment to quality and integrity. This partnership strengthens our ability to provide the communities we serve with customized ambulance solutions backed by decades of proven reliability and innovation.”

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Chad Newsome, National Sales Manager of P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc., echoed Harry’s sentiments. “The Heritage team is fundamentally aligned with what we believe in here at PL, which is to bring emergency vehicles to customers that are, at their very core, durable, reliable, and serviceable products. With our 80^th Anniversary kicking off in 2026, now was the absolute right time to partner with such a wonderful group of people at Heritage.”

P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. has been in business since 1946 and has been owned by the Smock family since 1970. This Manasquan, NJ based company sells through a network of 17 independent dealers covering 27 states and the District of Columbia. PL Custom Emergency Vehicle and Rescue 1 are the manufacturing divisions of the corporation and are proud to maintain a strong reputation as a customer focused designer and manufacturer of ambulances and rescue vehicles. PLCB continues to grow at a consistent pace, happy to be able to add partners who share our long-term vision for high quality products, outstanding customer service, and smart and sustainable growth. We are small by design, family-owned, and rich in heritage and tradition.

The post P.L. Custom Body and Equipment Co., Inc. Adds Heritage Fire Equipment appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.

COMPILED BY RON HEAL

delivery of the month

MIDWEST FIRE—Frederick County Fire Department, Winchester, VA, two pumper-tankers. Freightliner 114 SD cabs and chassis; Detroit DD13 450-hp engines; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pumps; APR polypropylene 3,000-gallon water tanks; Zico electric “Tip Down” portable tank carriers with 3,000-gallon portable tanks; Akron Brass model 3430 monitors; Ward No Smoke filtration systems. Dealer: Brett Jensen, Midwest Fire, Luverne, MN.

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KME—Freetown (MA) Fire Department pumper. Severe Service cab and chassis with 8-inch raised roof; Cummins L9 400-hp engine; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; Duo-Safety and Little Giant ground ladders. Dealer: Colbey Fournier, Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus, Westport, MA.

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PIERCE—Omaha (NE) Fire Rescue aerial platform. Enforcer cab and chassis; Paccar MX13 510-hp engine; 100-foot platform aerial; TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension; total height of the unit is just under 11 feet to fit in the fire station with an 11-foot door. Dealer: Todd Clyne, MacQueen Emergency, Omaha, NE.

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E-ONE—Sharonville (OH) Fire Department HP 78 aerial ladder quint. Cyclone 100-inch-wide cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 500-gallon polypropylene water tank; 78-foot rear-mount aerial ladder; wireless controlled Akron StreamMaster monitor; FireTech scene lighting package. Dealer: Kevin Kleman, Vogelpohl Fire Equipment, Erlanger, KY.

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ROSENBAUER—Springfield (OH) Fire Department two pumpers. Commander cabs and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engines; Hale Qmax 1,500-gpm pumps; 750-gallon polypropylene water tanks. Dealer: All American Fire, Canton, OH. (Photo by Paul Barrett.)

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SMEAL—Sanger (TX) Fire Department 100-foot midmount platform quint. Spartan Gladiator EMFD cab and chassis with 5-inch raised roof; Cummins X15 605-hp engine; Waterous CSUC20 2,000-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; Harrison 10-kW generator. Dealer: Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Houston, TX.

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FERRARA—Bossier City (LA) Fire Department tanker. Freightliner M2-112 two-door cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Darley JMP 500-gpm pump; 3,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; pump controls mounted in cab console with front bumper turret joystick control; two 90-degree side spray head nozzles bumper mounted. Dealer: BFA Fire & Rescue, Prairieville, LA.

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Jake Hutchison
Chico Enterprise-Record, Calif.
(TNS)

CHICO — PJ Helicopters’ UH-60 Blackhawk was the shining centerpiece at the Chico Airport on Thursday and Cal Fire-Butte County and PG&E joined together to formally announce that the helicopter would once again be aiding in firefighting efforts this summer.

Earlier this year, the Butte County Board of Supervisors approved the re-up of a contract between the two entities that would secure the helicopter, which is contracted by PG&E for use by Cal Fire-Butte County. Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund said the helicopter provided substantial support during wildfires in 2024.

“It flew over 65 flight hours here, mostly in Butte County, delivered over 352,000 gallons of water on 11 incidents in Butte County including the first aircraft to fly on the Thompson FIre in Oroville, which was about this time last year, as well as 23 days assigned to the Park Fire in Butte and Tehama counties,” Sjolund said.

Cal Fire-Butte County Chief Garrett Sjolund, left, speaks about the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and the partnership between Butte County and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. as Joe Wilson, regional vice president for PG&E’s North Valley and Sierra Region stands in front of the helicopter during a press conference Thursday, June 26, 2025 on the tarmac at the Chico Air Museum in Chico, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)

Nik Klenovits, PJ Helicopters utility pilot, opens the door to a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter Thursday, June 26, 2025 on the tarmac at the Chico Air Museum in Chico, California. The Blackhawk is being used during the summer months to fight wildfires. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)

Sjolund said the Blackhawk will take flight again this summer during what is expected to be a high-risk season.

“This summer we’re not seeing anything different than we have in the past seasons,” Sjolund said. “A very dry and hot summer is anticipated with heavy fuel crops. We anticipate seeing some fires here in Butte County and this aircraft will play a very important role.”

PG&E contracts with various companies around California for helicopter services and provides them to jurisdictions that face a heavier fire threat during the summer months.

Joe Wilson, PG&E vice president of the North Valley and Sierra Region, said the helicopter is meant to both aid firefighters by dropping water as well as potentially shorten response times by having another air attack vehicle on the roster.

A PJ Helicopters UH-60 Blackhawk contracted with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. helicopter sits on the tarmac at the Chico Air Museum as the utility and Cal Fire-Butte County hold a press conference to exhibit the Blackhawk helicopter Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Chico, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)

“We have these utility aircraft that we use in the off season for heavy lift operations, but during the fire season, we’re deploying them i