New Vehicle Roundup: Fire Fleet Edition

The addition of a fire truck isn't exactly an everyday event. So when a new apparatus is approved for purchase and finally delivered to a fire department, this usually makes headlines. Check out this roundup of recent 2023 fire department purchases and additions. 

Maryland Fire Department Orders 23 Pierce Fire Apparatus

Pierce Manufacturing announced the Baltimore County Fire Department (BCoFD) in Maryland has placed an order for 23 custom Pierce fire apparatus. BCoFD will have taken delivery of 55 Pierce apparatus in total by the end of 2024. 

The most recent order includes ten Pierce Enforcer 750-gallon pumpers, six Enforcer 1,000-gallon pumpers, two Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Tillers, three Heavy-Duty Rescue engines, one Heavy-Duty Rescue Unit, one Heavy-Duty Rescue Hazmat Unit, and one Freightliner tanker. 

Baltimore County Fire Department’s new fire apparatus replace aging units which no longer meet the needs of the department and will help improve tactics in emergency response situations. All new fire apparatus feature a new black-over-red paint color scheme, a visible representation to the community that BCoFD is working to keep them safe.

The Baltimore County Fire Department serves a population of nearly 850,000 people and responds to approximately 150,000 incidents annually. The department has more than 1,000 sworn and civilian personnel based at 25 career and 29 volunteer fire companies. 

California City Approves Acquisition of Two Additional Fire Engines

California’s Manteca City Council voted in favor of purchasing two Type 1 fire engines from Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. for approximately $2,000,000 to be funded in the future. 

The city noted that several fire engines are at, or nearing, the end of their useful life and, therefore, are no longer reliably available to respond to calls for assistance. 

The Type 1 fire engine purchases will allow two of the oldest units to be replaced, allowing one to go to reserve and one to go to surplus. The resolution included that replacing fire engines on a regular fire vehicle replacement cycle would increase operator and community safety. 

The city will receive an $11,000 discount for ordering two fire engines at a time.

Fire Truck Arrives After Two-Year Delay

An Ontario, Canada fire department has finally taken hold of its newest apparatus after a two-year delay. Sarnia Fire Rescue received its new Ladder 4 that will be operating out of Station 4. The new ladder truck has a shorter wheelbase for better maneuverability while still maintaining a long reach.

When the 78-foot truck was first ordered from Florida in 2021, the cost was $1.5 million. Chief Bryan Van Gaver said since then, the truck has seen five price increases, according to blackburnnews.com. 

In February, the new truck arrived which, according to the news outlet, replaced an existing one that had served for 13 years in total - 6 years in service and 7 in reserve - and had reached the end of its useful life.

Illinois City Adds New Fire Engine and Ladder Truck

The City of Springfield, Illinois, together with its Springfield Fire Department, announced the addition of a brand-new fire engine and a new ladder truck to the fleet. Both have arrived and will be serving the Springfield residents in the next few weeks.

The Springfield Fire Department is recognized as ISO Class 1. 

These new apparatuses will be designated as Truck 1 and Engine 1. After an initial parade, Truck 1 will return to the City of Springfield Fleet Garage to have specialized equipment and tools added. Both will then be entered into service and reside at Fire Station 1, which is located downtown on 9th Street and Capitol Avenue, by the end of the month.