In 1900, when a local boat shop burned, several fire departments in the area responded. However, because of the response time for local fire companies to respond, it underscored the need for fire protection in the harbor area of Halesite, NY, as it was called at that time.
The area was a remote part of Huntington and an informal group of residents formed the Harbor Fire Brigade. While it may have been ill-equipped and minimally organized, it was considered the forerunner of the Halesite (NY) Fire Department.
Before the close of 1900, the need for formal fire protection was recognized and local residents sprang into action. The need for a separate truck and hose apparatus was called for by a local newspaper. It wasn’t long after that the Halesite Fire Department was formed in 1901.
The Halesite Fire Department of today has kept up with the times in purchasing fire apparatus to meet its needs. Ex-Chief and Commissioner Andrew Magerle says, “Our department generally replaces apparatus in the 20- to 25-year timeframe. It might go a little longer based on our budget.”
Magerle says the department started planning to replace its 1995 and 1998 E-ONE pumpers about two and a half years ago. “Our department needed more compartment space and, with the switch to battery power extrication equipment, fans, hand tools, etc., we needed the extra space. It is something that most departments are doing around the country.
Halesite’s response district is diverse, according to Magerle, who notes that the department protects Huntington Harbor with its many boats, boatyards, yacht clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, schools, and properties. The district is about one square mile and has a population of 2,500 residents.
“Our committee looked at all the local fire department deliveries and the manufacturers in our area,” Magerle says. “Since we went with the Houston-Galveston Area Council program for our purchasing, we could basically choose the manufacturer we wanted. We decided to go with Spartan EV and its local dealer, Hendrickson Fire Rescue Equipment.”
Halesite firefighters worked with Hendrickson and Spartan EV in 2014 when the department purchased a new heavy rescue and the department was happy with the manufacturer, the dealership, and the purchase, Magerle says, noting that it made the department’s decision to go back to the same dealer much easier. “They really worked with us in the design of both pumpers,” he says.
1 Halesite (NY) 2021 Spartan EV Engine 221 1750/500. (Photos by author.)
2 Halesite (NY) 2021 Spartan EV Engine 228 1750/500.
3 Low hosebed. Electric ladder rack with suction sleeve.
4 Driver’s side equipment compartments with sliding drawers, forcible entry tools.
5 Simple side-mount pump panel.
6 Extended front bumpers with trash line and swivel front suction.
| Spartan EV EnginesSpartan Gladiator ChassisSpartan Advanced Protection System; 8-occupant cabLow hosebedSide- mount Q Max 1,750-gpm pump with 500-gallon poly tankCummins 450-hp engine with Allison EVS 4000 transmission |
The department made some changes to the 1995 and 1998 pumpers when it came time to buy the new ones. The firefighters decided to go with an 8-occupant cab, as opposed to the 10-person cab it had previously. It also decided to go with larger compartments and no generator since all the equipment works on a 12-volt system, including the HiViz scene lights and the ladder rack.
“While it’s all cosmetic, we went with a new color scheme for the two pumpers,” Magerle says. “While most departments are going with the black-over-red design, we decided to go with a red body and white-over-red cab design. It really makes the vehicles stand out as far as we are concerned.”
When it comes to the hose load, starting with the extended front bumpers, the new engines have 1¾-inch trashline; 150 feet of rubber booster hoseline over the bodies; and two crosslays each, one with 250 feet of 1¾-inch hose and a second with 100 feet of the same size. Off the back of the pumpers, each unit has 250 feet of 1¾-inch, 250 feet of 2½-inch, and 500 feet of 2½-inch dead load; 250 feet of 1¾-inch preconnected; 300 feet of 3-inch hose; and 1,200 feet of 5-inch large-diameter hose.
“The low hosebeds proved to be useful for our firefighters to stretch lines off the back of the apparatus,” Magerle says. “There is virtually no strain pulling lines and also repacking hose and it proves to be safer all around.”
Halesite’s fire apparatus purchasing committee traveled to the Spartan factory in May 2021 for the final inspection of the two engines and found no major problems. “They really built the two pumpers to our specs as planned,” he said. “So far the training of our members went as planned and they are both operating as expected.”
The Halesite Fire Department planned well for the dual purchase. It designed these twin pumpers for its response district’s needs. Downsizing cabs is something that is taking place for the most part around the country because of low membership and response.
Also, with battery-powered equipment such as fans, extrication tools, hand tools, and LED emergency lighting drawing less power, the need for a generator was eliminated, which saved the district money and also space on the vehicles.
The extra compartment space gained was not just for present needs but future needs as well.
Think out of the box when planning for a new apparatus purchase. You might be saving money if your fire district can afford the purchase of two pieces of apparatus at the same time instead of waiting two or three years for a second piece. Delivery times are starting to go way up with supply chain problems. This is something we never had to worry about in the past but it is now food for thought.
When designing a new vehicle, are you planning for the future, not just replacing what you already have with no room for future equipment and hose? If you are proactive in your thinking, like the Halesite Fire Department, you won’t have to worry about getting what you really need for your response district.
BOB VACCARO has more than 40 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol, and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. He is a life member of the IAFC.
