Saturday, November 21, 2009

Fresno Apparatus get Police Escort 

By Carrie Cleaveland

On June 20, the Fresno, Calif., fire and police departments increased enforcement of the law requiring motorist to pull to the right for emergency vehicles....

Federal Signal to Sell E-One 

Federal Signal Corp. will sell E-One to American Industrial Partners for approximately $20 million....

Recent Apparatus Deliveries 

Whenever a department writes the specifications for a new apparatus, part of the process should be to look at the apparatus being delivered to other departments around the country. What are they specifying? Why did they select a particular chassis or component? How do they feel about their choices now that the apparatus are in service?...

New Apparatus are Wider 

Did you know that many new apparatus are as much as 4 inches wider than older models? For some departments, the extra width can cause clearance problems in stations with narrow apparatus bays and doors....

Waterbury Adds Shop Truck to Maintenance Program 

The Waterbury (Conn.) Fire Department recently received a new shop truck to help keep its vehicle fleet running with minimum downtime....

Removable Box Carries Specialized Gear 

Many departments occasionally need specialized tools, equipment and clothing, but don’t have enough compartment space to carry them every day. One solution is to use a removable box that can be mounted on the apparatus quickly....

Whelen Introduces LED Brow Light 

The new Whelen Pioneer LED floodlight is designed for use as a brow light on the upper front edge of custom cabs....

Havis-Shields Upgrades Web Site 

Havis-Shields has upgraded its Web site with new search features and content. The site covers the company’s entire line of lighting and console products....

Darley Cobra CAFS Fits Initial-Attack Pumpers 

The Odin Foam division of Darley introduced its new Cobra CAFS module at FDIC in April. The new unit meets all the NFPA 1901 initial-attack pumper requirements for both water flows and compressed-air foam flows....

Pierce Has Stock Trucks to Fit All Needs 

At Pierce, the phrase “stock trucks” goes beyond the usual one-size-fits-all category....

Sutphen Introduces Commercial Chassis Models 

Sutphen announced it will offer a custom-quality body on an International 4400 commercial chassis for customers that want an economical yet dependable apparatus....

CustomFIRE MetroFlex Offers Unique Features 

The MetroFlex pumper from Custom Fire Apparatus was designed to give firefighters more cab room, better pump access and a wider choice of pumps and pump panel locations....

Sutphen Adds Distributor for Northeast 

Sutphen Corp. announced that Five Star Fire is its new distributor for Connecticut and western Massachusetts....

Understanding Pump Performance 

By Chris Cavette, Senior Editor

When fire departments think of pump performance, they usually focus on the flow and pressure ratings stamped on the pump plate. That’s only part of the story....

Amp Eaters 

By Chris Cavette, Senior Editor

Vehicle electrical loads are like vehicle weights. Some departments keep adding individual components one after another and are surprised when the resulting total is so high. Some departments don’t even consider electrical loads and end up having problems....