Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department has had E-ONE build it two HP95 midmount aerial platforms to complement the straight stick aerials and other platforms it has in its truck fleet.
Scott Wardell, Phoenix’s logistics chief, says a few years ago when the department was looking to purchase a couple of single rear-axle rearmount aerial ladders, it checked out E-ONE, Pierce Manufacturing, and Rosenbauer, and after a visit to Boston (MA) Fire Department where its truck operators were able to ride along on Boston’s aerials, it became sold on E-ONE single-rear axle ladders, purchasing two of them which the department put in service as Ladder 9 and Ladder 20.
Next, Phoenix needed to replace midmount aerial ladder platforms, so the department checked out the rigs offered by the same three manufacturers as the aerial ladders. “We looked at the Pierce midmount platform, and then the Rosenbauer,” Wardell says, “and talked to departments in Florida who use E-ONE’s midmount platforms. Then we went to neighboring Glendale (AZ) Fire Department who use an E-ONE aerial platform, and liked what we saw. E-ONE was willing to meet our platform spec and the rigs they built are now in service as Ladder 11 and Ladder 37.”
Justin Rice, E-ONE’s North American aerial sales manager, says the aerials that Phoenix purchased are HP95 midmount platforms built on Typhoon chassis and cabs with seating for six firefighters in H.O. Bostrom seats, set up as traditional trucks with no pumps or water tanks. Rice says the aerial platforms have a 255-inch wheelbase, a 46-foot, 9-inches overall length, a 10-foot, 11-inch overall height, and a 24-inch-shortened rear body to make the rigs more maneuverable.
The HP95 midmounts are powered by Cummins X15 diesel engines, and Allison 4000 EVS automatic transmissions, have Dana D-2200W 22,800-pound front axles, Meritor RT-50-160 54,000-pound rear axles, E-ONE integrated torque boxes, and 95-foot aerial ladders with a 1,000-pound tip load dry and 500-pounds wet. The midmount aerials have a 2.5:1 structural factor, an 18-foot outrigger spread at the midship, 11-feet, 2-inches spread at the rear, with short-jacking bringing the midship spread to 13-feet.
Rice notes that alley jacking and short jacking are standard on the E-ONE midmount, and that Phoenix’s rigs have advanced deluxe aerial controls, an E-ONE auto-leveling system, an enlarged aerial turntable console, and custom hose boxes, ladder racks, and a saw scabbard on the platform.
Mark Julien, fire apparatus salesman at H&E Equipment Services, who sold the midmount platforms to Phoenix, says the department wanted to carry a lot of equipment so the bodies had to be modified. “The trucks have a 2,500-pound equipment allowance with 350-cubic feet of compartmentation, and a custom shelving package,” Julien says. “The ladder tunnel holds 166 feet of ground ladders, along with storage for a backboard and long-handled tools. The trucks have two custom 4-inch hose cross lays of 100-feet each under the aerial for quick deployment of supply line for the trucks.
Julien points out that inside the crew cab is a custom air-conditioning system with programmable interlocks to keep the cab cool, a HEPA air purification system, a RollTek air bag system, and non-SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) vinyl seats. “The midmounts have Whelen LED emergency lighting, and Hi Viz Fire Tech LED scene lighting,” he adds.
Wardell says that Phoenix carries Holmatro hosed hydraulic tools on its aerial ladders and platforms, and on the new platforms, Paratech and Holmatro rescue struts for vehicle stabilization, as well as ventilation fans, battery-powered saws, and other rescue equipment. “Each of our ladders is married with a ladder tender, a Freightliner chassis with a box on the back that carries extraction tools and other rescue equipment, a three-section 28-foot ladder, and the same set of saws and rescue tools as the aerials. “We also can call on our three squads, which are heavy rescues set up to handle tech rescue and hazardous materials incidents,” he says.
Phoenix Fire Department covers a 520-square-mile district with 1.5 million residents from 58 fire stations staffed by 493 paid full-time firefighters operating 65 engines, 14 trucks, 3 squads (heavy rescues), 6 tenders (tankers), 15 wildland engines, 5 ARFF (aircraft fire and rescue) trucks, and 36 ALS (advanced life support) ambulances.
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.
