West Albany (NY) Fire Department is an all-Pierce department, so when it came time to purchase a new engine, it turned again to Pierce Manufacturing.
Dan Sullivan, West Albany’s chief, says that the department protects 3,000 residences in a 2-1/2-square-mile fire district with the new pumper, a 2007 Pierce Quantum pumper, and a 2016 Pierce Arrow XT walk-in heavy rescue that’s also the hazardous materials response unit for the Town of Colonie and all of Albany County.
“This new Pierce pumper, which is built on a Velocity® chassis, has a larger cab with a very nice, modern layout and greater visibility for the driver and officer,” Sullivan says. “We like the top-mount layout because it keeps the operator off the road and gives him 360-degree visibility on a fire scene.”
Rob Lewis, apparatus sales facility manager for Firematic Supply Company, who sold the engine to West Albany, says the pumper has Pierce’s widest cab which will seat six firefighters, five of them in Pierce PS6 SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) seats. “There are two cabinets over the top of the rear-facing seats,” Lewis notes, “as well as storage compartments covered by netting on the doghouse. The cab also has electric fold-down steps.”
Aaron Zak, product specialist lead for fire suppression at Pierce Manufacturing, points out the West Albany pumper is powered by a 510-horsepower (hp) PACCAR MX-13 diesel engine, and an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission, with a Command Zone™ electrical system, a TAK-4® independent front suspension, and a leaf spring rear suspension. The rig has a 233-inch wheelbase, a 35-foot, 4-inch overall length, and an 11-foot overall height.
Curt Benedetto, past chief and commissioner at West Albany, says the new pumper has a Waterous 1,500-gallon per minute (gpm) pump, a 500-gallon water tank, and 30-gallon Class A and B foam cells. “All our engines have external foam eductors,” he says, “and no onboard foam systems.” He adds the pumper has a Task Force Tips Radius 1,500-gpm monitor with telescoping adjustment, along with a 1,250-gpm nozzle and a set of straight tips, as well as a 6-kW Harrison hydraulic generator, and a Will-Burt Sirion light tower.
Sullivan says that West Albany uses Mercedes Textile hose on its pumpers “because they’re very maneuverable, and we get a tremendous flow from them.” He says the pumper has two speed lays under the pump panel, with the top speed lay holding 50 feet of 1-3/4-inch hose that’s extended with 100 feet of 1-1/2-inch hose attached, while the second speed lay holds 225 feet of 2-inch hose. Behind the top of the pump panel is a cross lay of 225 feet of 2-1/4-inch ID (inside diameter) hose. “All of our hand lines have flow meters on them so we can solve any issues at the pump panel,” he observes.
He notes the hose bed holds 1,000 feet of 5-inch LDH (large diameter hose), 600 feet of 3-inch hose with a Task Force Tips Blitzfire nozzle, and 400-feet of 1-3/4-inch hose preconnected in the hose bed as a garden lay, along with a 3-inch discharge at the rear. The engine’s extended front bumper has a 5-inch front suction, 100-feet of 1-3/4-inch hose in a hose well, and 25-feet of 5-inch LDH preconnected in a tray. Lighting on the front of the pumper includes a Roto Ray light and two Mars lights.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Arizona-based journalist, the author of three novels and five nonfiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Editorial Advisory Board. He served 22 years with the Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including in the position of chief.
