Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has built a walk-around rescue for York Center (IL) Fire Protection District to replace the agency’s heavily-used earlier Pierce rescue.
Richard Sanborn Jr., York Center’s chief, says the department’s older Pierce rescue got so much use that the rig started having maintenance issues. “Our rescue is the only heavy rescue squad in a 10-mile radius, and our pumper-tender (tanker) is the only one in a 20-mile radius,” Sanborn points out, “and they both are on automatic mutual aid with neighboring fire departments, so they get a lot of use.” Besides the new heavy rescue and the pumper-tender, York Center also runs two front line engines, and two ALS (advanced life support) ambulances out of a single station.
Bill Proft, Pierce Manufacturing’s business unit director for rescue products, says the new heavy rescue is built on an Enforcer™ chassis with an 84-inch long cab and 24-inch raised roof and a correspondingly tall 20-1/2-foot non-walk-in body. The cab has seating for four firefighters, with the crew area having two rear-facing firefighter seats, and the rear wall holding cabinets that are accessible from both inside and outside the cab.
Sanborn notes that the department wanted a completely clean cab concept on their new rescue. “There is no turnout gear or SCBAs (self contained breathing apparatus) in the cab,” he says. “The tall compartments behind the cab hold the firefighters’ turnout gear and SCBA packs. If gear is contaminated at a scene, it is bagged and taken back to the station for decon.”
Proft says the heavy rescue is powered by a 525-horsepower (hp) Detroit Diesel DD13 engine, and has a TAK-4® independent front suspension and a spring rear suspension. Wheelbase on the rig is 234 inches, overall length is 36 feet 11-3/4-inches, and overall height is 11 feet 2 inches.
The staircase at the rear to the coffin compartments at the top of the vehicle is composed of three individual compartments, B2, B3, and B4, instead of a traditional lift-up staircase, Proft notes. “The B2 compartment is set up to carry a Stokes basket; the B3 compartment holds a 24-foot, two-section extension ladder, a 14-foot roof ladder, a 10-foot attic ladder and pike poles; and the B4 compartment has a Little Giant ladder on a backboard rack,” he says.
Bret Mowery, York Center’s deputy chief, points out, “We wanted the rescue to be a self-sufficient as possible, and while we don’t have any water on it, we have an engine complement of ladders that can be thrown if needed, and also because the rescue squad often serves as a rapid intervention team (RIT) unit.”
Mowery notes that the driver’s side compartments carry rescue tools, including HURST Jaws of Life® eDraulic™ hydraulic rescue tools, and Rescue 42 tools. The officer’s side compartments, he says, hold various hand tools, saws, fire extinguishers, and the air cascade system. “The four coffin compartments on top hold equipment that we don’t use often, like vacuums, extra oil dry, sewage pumps, technical rescue equipment, hazardous materials bins, and one hour SCBA bottles,” he says. Also on top of the rig is a Will-Burt Chief LED light tower.
Proft says the rescue carries a SpaceSaver two-bottle SCBA refill station, and that four ASME air vessels are stored upright over the frame rails in the middle of the truck, instead of horizontally as is usually done. Access to the ASME bottles is through the top of the truck. Nine spare SCBA bottles are stored in the LS4 compartment, he adds.
The rig has a Onan 30-kW generator, and lighting on the truck includes Whelen LED emergency lighting, a Whelen Freedom LED light bar, and Whelen LED scene and flood lights.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Ariz.-based journalist, the author of three novels and five non-fiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board. He served 22 years with Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including the position of chief.
