Mercedes to launch the most advanced 2” attack line that delivers 210-300 GPM flows with 30% less weight – offering an alternative to the challenges of the 2.5” hose.

MARCH 28, 2022, MONTREAL QC, CANADA – Mercedes Textiles Ltd. has announced the launch of the newest innovation in fire hose – a 2” attack hose that delivers 2.5” flows with up to 30% less weight for superior maneuverability and handling: the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM.

Engineered to address the tactical challenges of the 2.5” attack line, the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM offers a more manageable size and weight, while still achieving 210-300 GPM with increased flexibility, high kink resistance, and low friction loss – all combined with Mercedes Textiles’ proven strength and durability.

“At Mercedes Textiles, we design innovative products that answer the challenges of the modern fire service, pushing the boundaries of performance”, said Bob Richardson, President of Mercedes Textiles. “We look to firefighters to tell us what they need so that we can engineer products that evolve alongside progressive firefighting tactics. We developed the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM specifically to address current realities of the fireground.”

Realities that Captain Franklin “Linn” Baxa experiences daily with Buckhannon Fire Department in West Virginia. “We are a low-manpower fire department. We only recently went to three people per shift, backfilled by volunteers. Everything we do is with minimal manpower. In order to achieve the GPM we wanted – a lot of water – followed by a manageable nozzle reaction for a single firefighter, we went with the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM,” explains Cpt Baxa. “There is a big difference between this 2” and our previous 2.5” hose. The KrakenEXO SUPER IITM gives you more water in a fire hose that suits our departments staffing levels. We’re pumping our 200’ at 110PSI; it knocked nozzle reaction down to 96lbs. So much easier to work with!”

Compared to a standard 2.5” hose, KrakenEXO SUPER IITM is up to 40lbs lighter per 50’ and up to 160lbs less over 200’, which makes a substantial difference when placing the line into operation. With a 2.125” internal diameter, it is also more ergonomic – easier to grip, hold on to, and maneuever. It is especially applicable for operations where larger flows are required, but low manpower is a reality.

“Limited staffing is a common challenge in the fire service, across all of North America. Combined with the reality of bigger, faster-burning fires that require bigger GPMs, we see the 2.5” line deployed often, adding further challenges related to weight, maneuverability, and speed,” explains Jamie Emblem, Mercedes’ Northeast Regional Sales. “At Mercedes Textiles, we’re always looking to provide new, more efficient and effective ways to get water on the fire. That’s exactly what the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM does – lets the frontline ‘fight the fire, not the hose’.”

The KrakenEXO SUPER IITM officially launches at FDIC on April 28th at the Mercedes Textiles Ltd. booth (4950/51). National Fire Radio hosts will be onsite for a product reveal and live sessions, including interviews with industry experts like Lt. Ray McCormack (FDNY retired).

Preview the KrakenEXO SUPER IITM in action at www.mercedestextiles.com/SUPER2. Stay tuned for more at launch.

Have you ever wanted to cruise around town in a fire truck? Or roll up to Thanksgiving dinner with 750 gallons of water in the tank, just in case? Or make an entrance that will not be soon forgotten? So did Henry Cesari—and because of his curiosity, you can actually do it.

While perusing eBay, multiple auctions for used fire trucks under $20,000 came up. Cesari’s interest was piqued, and he got to wondering about the legality of driving a fire apparatus and did some research. He put together on his website some helpful tips on the endeavor.

“Restoring and driving one of these big rigs would be so cool,” he writes. “But legally driving a used fire truck on the street can be complicated: you have to meet local guidelines to pass inspection, and you might even need to change the type of driver’s license you have.”

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He adds that many government vehicles are regulated—but not fire trucks. However, operating a fire truck on public streets may require:

-Deactivating or removing lights and sirens,
-Removing any safety equipment that protrudes into oncoming traffic,
-Removing the fire department name/town.

Cesari adds that most full-size fire trucks (anything with a gross vehicle weight above 24,000 pounds; any vehicle with air brakes) require a commercial driver’s license.

“Fire trucks are very much commercial vehicles,” he writes. “And cutting through city intersections in one of these requires special training and skill. It’s not surprising that many large fire trucks require a commercial driver’s license to operate.”

Also, you’ll most likely need a larger garage.

An Anne Arundel County fire boat sank Monday in the Chesapeake Bay near Gibson Island.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department was working with other agencies to recover the boat.

Four personnel were on board the boat at about 4 p.m. when it reported it was without power and taking on water.

All personnel on the boat were rescued and are safe, with an assist from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police. Gale warnings were up on the Chesapeake on Monday.

Fire Boat Incident: All personnel have been rescued and are in good health. Fire Department personnel are actively working with local resources to recover the boat from the water in a safe manner at this time. Thank you to all who assisted in the rescue of our fire personnel. pic.twitter.com/DM5c3pwgvl

— Anne Arundel County Fire Department (@AACoFD) March 28, 2022

By Alan M. Petrillo

Two years ago, the Carthage Fire Department added a second station to its fire protection district, necessitating an additional engine that the department wanted to set up as a rescue-pumper. The department had purchased a pumper from Ferrara Fire Apparatus in 2012, and it decided to go back to Ferrara for a new pumper for its fleet.

Ryan Huntley, Carthage Fire Department’s chief, says the department has 26 paid full-time firefighters that cover the city of Carthage and a rural area totaling 165 square miles, running about 2,100 calls a year. “Station 1 was built in 1980 on the north end of the city, and the new rig is now first out at that station,” Huntley says. “Our second station is on the south end of the city, where we run the 2012 Ferrara pumper. Our coverage area includes a dynamite plant, a crushed limestone mining company, and a lot of commercial and residential structures surrounded by highways, where we see a lot of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs).”

The rescue-pumper that Ferrara built for Carthage is on a Ferrara Cinder chassis and cab with a rescue-style body and high side compartments on both sides, says Jim Stover, regional sales manager for Ferrara. Wheelbase on the rescue-pumper is 188 inches, overall length is 32 feet 7-1/4 inches, and overall height is 9 feet 5-1/4 inches.

Scott Shelton, owner of Fire Master Fire Equipment, who sold the rescue-pumper to Carthage, notes that the rig is powered by a 450-horsepower (hp) Cummins L9 diesel engine, and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission, and carries a 1,500-gallon-per-minute (gpm) Waterous CSU pump, a 1,000-gallon water tank,  a 20-gallon foam tank, and an Akron Brass Company 95-gpm foam eductor system. “It has the Ferrara rescue-style body with high side compartments on both sides of the body,” Shelton points out, “and covered ladder storage from a rear compartment that holds a two-section 24-foot extension ladder, a 14-foot roof ladder, a 10-foot attic ladder, two 10-foot-by-6-inch lengths of hard suction hose, and two pike pole tubes.”

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