January 2008
Apparatus Ideas
by Bob Barraclough
Hummels Wharf Gets Most Impressive Rigs
The Hummels Wharf Fire Department, nestled along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, is home to three of the finest pieces of fire apparatus I have ever seen. Two of them are Crimson Fire pumpers, and the third is a 2007 Semo tanker, but that’s a whole separate story in itself.
For now, let’s look at the latest two engines. Both 2007 Crimson Fire units are built on Spartan cabs and chassis, which were sold by Kaza Fire Equipment of Ebensburg, Pa. Hummels Wharf firefighters have really outdone themselves with the stuff they carry on the engines and the way they’ve arranged it for easy and safe access.
Engine 7-1 is considered the first-due engine for the department, and it has a larger (1,000-gallon) tank than Engine 7-2, which is the department’s rescue engine with a 500-gallon tank, an air cascade system and more preconnected extrication tools.
Both units are equipped with 2,000-gpm Hale pumps with CAFSPRO 5.0 compressed air foam systems and auto foam tank fill systems. The on-board foam storage systems include 40 gallons of 3 percent Universal Gold I Class B foam and 50 gallons of Class A foam.
In the dunnage area of each unit is a TFT 2,000-gpm, remote-controlled nozzle and a Will-Burt light tower. The compartments above the pump panel contain Stokes baskets, backboards, brooms and stepladders. The running board hose wells have 30 feet of 3-inch hose in the pop-up storage areas.
On Engine 7-2’s front bumper preconnected Amkus spreader and cutters on 100-foot reels are carried, as well as Amkus rams, chains and related accessories. The engine also has a 100-foot reel of hose for air supply, a 130-foot reel of electric cord and two Sawzalls mounted under the bumper’s protective hood. Users
will also find a tool bag filled with assorted hand tools.
The bumper also has a 1,000-gpm preconnected bumper turret with CAF capability. Another pumper can also supply the unit.
Engine 7-1’s front bumper is similarly equipped, but it has only one preconnected Amkus tool.
The engineer’s compartment on both units has storage for large diameter hose (LDH) adapters mounted on the door with smaller adapters mounted on sliding trays. Along the back wall is a unique set of 44-inch-long, 6-inch-diameter hard sleeves with a low-level strainer for drafting from a portable tank. These are much safer and quicker to deploy than 10-foot long hard suctions from the top of the truck.
This area also includes assorted nozzles including Vindicator air aspirating nozzles, TFT automatic nozzles, 2.5-inch and 1.5-inch cellar nozzles with 4-foot hose and shut-offs, a Navy fog nozzle, and a smooth bore nozzle.
SCBA Bottle Storage
There’s a bunch of miscellaneous tools and supplies, including sprinkler heads, silicone spray, de-icing spray, wasp spray, “Liquid Wrench,” gated wyes, a calculator, a white message board, air chucks, spanners and hydrant wrench, controls for both the light tower and the TFT deck gun, driver’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), 40 feet of 3-inch line and a 50-foot roll of 3-inch line and a LDH hose clamp. Whew! Look’s like if you need it, it is there.
Engine 7-2, the rescue engine, has a 6,000-psi breathing air cascade system with four 6,000-psi bottles, a two-bottle fill station and storage for 10 spare SCBA bottles.
At the rear of both trucks, all hose has been securely fasten to the vehicle. Information about the hose length, diameter and use for each hose load has been affixed to the roll-up door.
On the rescue engine, the rear compartment contains a pre-connected Amkus spreader supplied by a 100-foot reel. It also has an Amkus cutter and a 60-inch ram as well as a junction box with 110/240-volts on a 150-foot cord reel.
Even the interior of the cabs are will equipped with extinguishers, hand lights, a thermal camera, a water cooler/refrig-erator, a microwave and assorted refreshments including soup, energy bars, snacks, hot chocolate coffee and even popcorn. Both engines carry automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).
With most of the equipment supplied, the cost of each truck was about $610,000.
If you are a regular reader of my columns, you know I am a strong proponent of keeping the “troops” off the top of the trucks. This department has really supported this program with the remote-controlled deluge guns and light towers, foam tanks with auto-fill systems and almost all the equipment available without climbing.
Hummels Wharf is located in Snyder County on routes 11 and 15, about 38 miles north of Harrisburg. It’s a typical small town in a state that has over 2,500 departments, the vast majority of which are served by volunteer firefighters.
The Hummels Wharf Fire Department covers approximately 16 square miles and a population of 4,000 citizens with over 20 active officers and firefighters. Chief Jeff Buckley and Deputy Chief Jack Grove ably lead it.
A big “tip of the helmet” to both Chief Buckley and Deputy Chief Grove for specifying great trucks as well as to Crimson Fire and Kaza Fire Equipment for producing and delivering these superb pieces of equipment.
My wish for 2008 is that more departments would make the effort and take the time to identify their needs, see what is available and specify trucks that will safely meet their requirements.
Bob Barraclough is a 40-year veteran of the fire service and fire manufacturing industry. He’s Chief Columnist and Editorial Director for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazine and a 20-year member of the NFPA 1901 Fire Apparatus Standards Committee. A principal organizer the annual FDSOA Apparatus Specification Symposium, he is also a past president of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association. Barraclough also serves as a consultant to Rosenbauer America and Akron Brass, and is often called upon as an expert witness in litigation involving fire industry products. His career includes executive positions at Hale Fire Pumps, National Foam, Span Instruments and Class One. He also served as vice president of sales for E-ONE. Bob may be reached directly at RJBarra@aol.com.
Spartan Chassis is the basis for both engines 7-1 and 7-2. The raised roof in the back seat area helps crewmembers enter and exit cab without hitting the roof. Engine 7-2 is 31.5 inches long with a wheelbase of 196 inches with an excellent turning radius. (Fire Apparatus Photo by Bob Barraclough)
The Hummels Wharf engines have a compartment dedicated to entry equipment, including lights.