Maugansville (MD) Walk-in Rescue Is Built on a Mack by 4 Guys

Later, it operated with a 1980 GMC step van for rescue operations, which was replaced in 1999 with a Pierce Arrow walk-around rescue with a 16-foot box.

The fire company’s first-due response area consists of 25 square miles that has a railroad line, an airport, an interstate, feed mills, warehousing for Amazon and other businesses, farms, and single-family dwellings. The department is also second due for Hagerstown, MD; Greencastle, PA; and a mountainous region in the area.

Maugansville Chief Mark Miller says the latest squad apparatus took about five years from inception to delivery.

“Prior to my becoming fire chief, the past chief and apparatus committee presented a squad specification to our membership,” Miller says. “Then, when I became chief, we met with the various fire apparatus builders just to research what was out there. We then made changes and presented them to our membership.”

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The first consideration for the firefighters was to design an apparatus that would meet the Washington County Heavy Rescue Standard, according to Miller, who adds the second consideration was the particular needs of the department. “We laid things out for ease of operations and importance,” Miller says. “Tools and equipment that are not used a lot were put on shelves higher up on the body.”

Miller says the department chose the Mack Granite because of costs. Initially, the members considered a custom cab and chassis, but the budget didn’t allow that expense. The members also considered other cabs and chassis, but the decision for Mack was made because a Mack powertrain factory touches the department’s first-due area and a few members are employed by the cab and chassis maker, the chief says.

“We were able to get a discount on the chassis and cab,” Miller says. “Our fire company has a 1970s Mack tanker previous, so we were familiar with Mack and know they produce a strong chassis.”

To pay for the new apparatus, the members of the fire company were creative, organizing a series of fundraisers like bingo and a chicken barbecue, Miller says, noting that the county also gave the company money and funds were used from an apparatus capital reserve fund as well.

Once the funding had been secured, the members asked several vendors to present proposals, Miller says, noting the fire company met with all of them at the same time and gave them all the same specification.

“We told them all the selection would be by the following: technical specifications, service, warranty, and finally the cost,” Miller says. “Several (vendors) didn’t submit a bid and others didn’t meet the other selection factors. 4 Guys was the eventual winner, which we were happy with.”

The fire company went with a 25-foot walk-in body, a lot longer than the previous squad, Miller says, noting that decision gave the firefighters more compartment space, three preconnected hydraulic and battery-powered rescue tools for extrication work, and a portable winch with four receiver point.

The new squad also features better scene lighting all around and a mini refrigerator for drinking water, Miller explains.

“Dealing with 4 Guys went well,” Miller says, adding the few minor supply chain issues were quickly resolved. “The company was great to deal with. Their local dealer, Commonwealth Fire Equipment, met all of our needs as well. The squad turned out really well for us in the end. It has good quality and workmanship, and it meets all of our expectations.”

A great deal of planning went into the design and spec writing process for this squad. The apparatus committee did their homework to design what would work in their first-due area and their county response area.

They took cost into consideration and made concessions to design a vehicle that would be proactive for their firefighters to operate on the fireground and emergency scene well into the future. The bigger vehicle with added compartment space will serve them well into the future.

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.