By Mike Ciampo
Union Township, New Jersey, which sits due west and not far from Newark Liberty International Airport, is comprised of residential, commercial and industrial areas. The area is a close commute for residents into New York City or to downtown Newark, New Jersey, via major roadways or by rail.
Union’s downtown construction is booming with new mid-rise residential buildings bringing more residents into the area. New Jersey Transit runs commuting and freight trains through the town and major highways such as: Interstate 78, The Garden State Parkway, and NJ State Routes 22 and 82 run through the community. These roadways are often the scene of major extrications and hazardous material incidents due to the cargo being shipped daily via the routes.
The Union Fire Department is a career department that operates four shifts out of three firehouses. It is responsible for fire, rescue, emergency medical service, and fire prevention duties for the community and at Kean University.
Currently, Union Fire operates the following apparatus:
Fire Headquarters
- Engine 1 is a 2018 Pierce Enforcer
- Squad 1 is a 2024 Pierce Enforcer (described below)
- Rescue 1 is a 2013 Dodge Ram/Wheeled Coach Ambulance
- Special Operations Unit is a 2000 American LaFrance 3D rescue body
- Rescue boat double stack trailer with two Avon inflatable and one Zodiac Boat
Station 2
- Engine 2 is a 2015 Pierce Velocity
- Ladder 2 is a 2019 Pierce Arrow 107-foot Ascendant rear-mount aerial ladder
- Rescue 2 is a 2020 Ford PL Custom ambulance
Station 3
- Engine 3 is a 2020 Pierce Arrow
- Truck 3 is a 2024 Ascendant 100-foot aerial platform
- Rescue 3 is a 2017 Dodge Ram/Custom Works Ambulance
The department also responds with the Urban Area Security Initiative and the Neptune Water and Foam Task Force when requested.
With the increase of residential units and the department’s need to provide the best service to the residents and travelers on the roadways, the department recently upgraded its rescue capabilities with the addition of a new heavy duty rescue apparatus. The unit is designated as Squad Company 1 running out of fire headquarters.
Squad 1 is a 2024 Pierce Enforcer chassis with a 10-inch raised roof heavy duty PUC rescue apparatus. The tilt cab has seating for five firefighters. The non-walk-in body is 21 feet 5 inches long with Amdor and Gortite roll-up compartment doors. There are four large coffin compartments mounted on top of the apparatus for additional storage. A rear access ladder mounted to the back of the apparatus provides access to the storage areas. Along the upper portion of the body are swivel hoist rings and rescue eyes for use in rope/rigging rescue operations. There are also two under-body compartments, with one located on each side of the rig.
The front extended bumper has a winch mounted in the center with a 2.5-inch discharge and trash line hose trough. There are two recessed air horns and a Federal Q2B siren mounted on top.
The rig is painted red with two thin blue stripes and one wide white reflective stripe running along the lower portion of the cab and then transitioning upward on the rescue body to the rear of the rig. The rear of the apparatus has the DOT chevron reflective striping.
The squad is powered by a Cummins X12 525-hp engine with an Allison EVS 4500P automatic transmission. It also features a command zone electrical system with TAK-4 independent front suspension and rear air suspension.
Due to operations on the highways, where water may be limited, the department carries water on all its apparatus. Squad 1 is equipped with a Pierce PUC midship 1,500-gpm pump and a 300-gallon water tank. Sitting on the upper portion of the apparatus is a Harrison 20-kW hydraulic generator and a Will-Burt Nightscan Chief light tower which enhances operations in periods of darkness.
The lighting package on the rig is quite extensive with many of them being Whelen products. On the cab’s roof sit three Freedom IV 23-inch light bars and two Pioneer PH2 LED spot/flood visor lights. Other Whelen lights include PCH2 scene lights, M9 LED rear zone lights and a TANF85 LED traffic advisor mounted in the rear treadplate on the apparatus.
In the roll-up compartment below the treadplate sits the ladder storage trough. Squad 1 carries a 24-foot extension ladder, 14-foot roof ladder, 12-foot Fresno ladder and a Little Giant utility ladder. In addition to this equipment there are two pull-out trays, the bottom tray carries two grip hoists, a longer tray carries struts and extensions. Also stored here is the unit’s Stokes basket, long 4×4 and 6×6 wood shores and tripod storage is in this compartment.
Another lighting feature to enhance judging the length of the apparatus while driving is Britax LED rubber arm marker lights mounted to the lower rear sides of the apparatus. Speaking of the driver’s experience, Retrac heated and remote-control mirrors with a convex portion are feature on the apparatus to assist while driving the rig. In addition, a back-up camera is mounted to the rear of the rig to assist while backing up the apparatus.
Looking at the overall set-up and equipment storage areas on the rig, one can see a great deal of work went into formatting the apparatus. Although the rig carries the basic extrication and air bag equipment for vehicle accidents, the assortment of tools carried on the apparatus can deal with what’s needed for a building collapse and even to a man stuck in a machine. Squad Company 1 should be able to serve the citizens and travelers through Union for years to come with pride and professionalism.
Michael N. Ciampo is a 39-year veteran of the fire service and a retired Lieutenant from the Fire Department of New York. Previously he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is an instructor for FDIC International HOT program. He wrote the Ladders and Ventilation chapters for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter 1 & 2 and the Bread-and-Butter Portable Ladders DVD. He writes the back page column On Fire in Fire Engineering and is featured in Training Minutes truck company videos on FireEngineering.com. Recently he wrote the textbook Tower Ladders, Tactics, Tips & Tales available at mikeciampo.com
