When the Central County Fire and Rescue (CCFR) District chose to upgrade its fleet, it chose Pierce for a three-vehicle pumper order. One of the apparatus was given a special paint scheme and now serves as a rolling tribute to veterans of all military branches.
“Our department has been a long-time Pierce customer, so when it was time to upgrade our fleet, having Pierce build our new engines was a no brainer for our truck committee,” says Bryan Steinmeyer, assistant chief of operations. “Our committee consists of two firefighter representatives and an assistant chief.”
“Our committee decided to go with the longer Dash cab and chassis this time around and to also make three engines rescue pumpers as well,” he says. “By designing and specing these out this way, it gave us much more compartment space not only for our current needs but for future tool additions.”
The committee decided to increase the tank capacities by 50 gallons on the new engines and add Will-Burt light towers to each, he says.
The hose complements include 1,000 feet of 5-inch supply line, 800 feet of 2½-inch line, two lines of 200 feet of 1¾-inch hose, a 200-foot lay of 2½-inch line, 150 feet of 1¾-inch trash line in the front bumper, and 200 feet of 1-inch booster line.
The pumpers carry a full set of Genesis battery-operated extrication tools as well as electric-powered fans and hand tools, Steinmeyer says, noting that all of the department’s hydraulic rescue tools were placed on the reserve pumper.
While the prebuild conference was held at a local hotel because of the COVID pandemic, the committee did get to travel to the factory in Appleton, WI, for final inspection.
“The factory was pretty impressive,” says Jason Meinershagen, CCFR’s deputy chief and public information officer. “All of the employees were extremely helpful, answering all of our questions on the line while working. They all took time to stop and explain what they were doing while working on the three engines.”
Meinershagen also offers praise for the local sales reps at MacQueen Emergency, whom he called instrumental throughout the whole purchasing process.
And, aside from the usual spec and design process, Meinershagen says there’s “a big back story to this order.”
About a year into the process, with the construction of the three new pumpers well underway, the department had a last-minute idea to paint one of them with an American flag.
The firefighters were inspired to make the change because of the loss of a local man who was killed in an enemy attack during the noncombat evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021, during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The fallen soldier was Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz from Saint Peters, MO, covered by Station 5, where one of the engines was headed. It was during the services to honor his life and his ultimate sacrifice that the idea to dedicate a truck in his honor was conceived.
“Our entire community was in shock and mourning the death of a local hero, and we knew we wanted to do something to honor him,” says Meinershagen. “Our fire district is very supportive of our veterans, so we quickly knew it was not enough to dedicate a fire truck to just one man. We wanted to do something that touched the heart of every patriot in our community.”
The result was something never before created: the American Veteran Fire Truck. Initially referred to as “the flag truck,” the original idea of painting the truck with an American flag theme grew to incorporate multiple elements of military service and sacrifice, including the MIA/POW theme and the emblems for every military branch.
In the saddest of ways, the timing was ironic. When CCFR representatives first pitched the idea to Pierce, they discovered that two of the three trucks they purchased were already in the process of being painted, and the third truck was scheduled to move into the paint room the next day. A decision had to be made right then. To move forward with the idea would mean pulling the truck off the production line and risking delays while a new paint design was approved.
1 The Pierce PUC Dash for the Central County Fire District. (Photo courtesy of Pierce Mfg.)
| Central County SpecificationsPierce Dash CF cab and chassis, PUC rescue bodyOverall height: 10 feet 6 inchesDetroit Diesel DD13 470 hp, Allison EVS 4000 transmissionTak-4 independent front suspensionPierce Command Zone electronicsHusky 3 foam systemPierce PUC 1,500-gpm pump650-gallon water tank, 40-gallon foam cellWill-Burt light tower |
2 A side view with dedication paint and artwork. (Photos 2-5 courtesy of MacQueen Emergency.)
3 The rear showing the low hosebed and booster line and slide-in ladder rack.
4 The officer’s side showing large compartments.
5 The driver’s side with the compartment layout and PUC pump panel.
| Central County Fire and Rescue is one of the largest fire districts in Missouri, covering 72 square miles with a population of 90,000. The department has 84 paid firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/EMTs and fire inspectors operating out of six stations. The district has a large area of farmland not served by hydrants as well as populated areas with strip shopping centers, residences, and a large Amazon distribution center as well as light industrial areas. |
As news of the decision to pull the truck off the line to design a new paint scheme made the rounds among Pierce employees, it caught the attention of Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing.
“This CCFR pumper tells a story, and a photo of this type of vehicle will be hung on my wall at home when I retire,” says Johnson. “It’s so humbling to be a part of dedicating this truck to the American veteran.”
The day firefighters from CCFR performed the final inspection also proved to be consequential in the symbolism of the new pumper. It was the 80th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor which inspired an impromptu ceremony at the Appleton factory to recognize the day that will live in infamy. While there, the CCFR firefighters personally thanked every employee who played a role in the design, construction, and painting of the American Veteran Fire Truck and presented a unique challenge coin commemorating the fire truck along with a personalized letter of appreciation to nearly 280 Pierce employees.
In part, the letter read, “Our mission here at CCFR is ‘Working Together, Supporting Our Community,’ and we know of no greater or more honorable way to support our community than to support the veterans who live among us. Whether they served in wartime or in peacetime, on American soil or in distant lands, every American veteran deserves the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation, regardless of political or religious affiliation. The American Veteran Fire Truck you have designed and built is a testament to the pride we have in our nation and the love we share for the veterans who have given so much.”
The residents and taxpayers of CCFR’s fire district did not incur any additional cost for the painting of this truck. The difference in cost for this paint scheme over the current paint scheme was donated by an anonymous donor.
“Every truck tells a story, and this one certainly stands out,” says Meinershagen. “This truck is a rolling tribute to every American who has the distinguished honor of calling themselves an American veteran, and we are proud to work with Pierce Manufacturing in presenting this fire truck to our community in the coming months.”
Aside from designing three unique pieces of firefighting apparatus, the CCFR district really gave back to the community by designing a unique paint scheme honoring their veterans in their communities and really all veterans that serve this country.
They designed three new rescue engines considering the future needs of their fire district with having more compartment space for future use as well as present needs.
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.
