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Apparatus News
More than three years ago, the company formed a committee to research the replacement of the 1990 rescue vehicle which was due for replacement in 2004 according to the Manheim Township Capital Fire Equipment Schedule. After much research on types and costs of rescue vehicles, the committee focused on a combination aerial-rescue unit. In June the company approved the construction specification of the new truck and signed a contract with Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton Wisconsin to construct the new truck.
Delivery of the new Truck 24 is expected in the spring of 2006. The new unit will carry more fire fighting equipment and more rescue equipment than the current rescue and truck combined. It will exceed equipment standards established by the Lancaster County Fire Chief’s Association for truck and rescue units. It will have 13% more cubic feet of storage space than what is carried on both our current rescue vehicle and ladder truck combined. The increased space will enable the new unit to provide more rescue options than our current resuce vehicle, while not compromising our fire fighting capabilities.
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Cab Prior to Painting
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Another benefit to the new rescue-truck is the lesser amount of space needed to turn the unit around and maneuver. The new Truck 24 will have a turning radius of 28’ 8” which is 36% less than what is needed by the current ladder truck. This increased maneuverability will be especially useful at our apartment and commercial complexes where parking lots are designed for cars, not fire trucks.The aerial device of the new unit is a 100’ ladder. At the end of the ladder will be a device capable of flowing 1,000 gallons of water per minute. The unit will carry numerous portable extension ladders totaling over 207 feet, 40 feet more than the current ladder truck. The new unit will also carry several rescue and ventilation saws, smoke ejectors and ventilation fans, rope rescue equipment, and specialized firefighter rescue equipment.
The rescue capability of the new vehicle will include two new motors to power hydraulic rescue tools including five pre-connected tools that allow for prompt initiation of service. More than 100 pieces of stabilization equipment will be used to fortify unsecured vehicles. A 12,000 pound winch, which is not currently carried on any Eden equipment, will be installed on the front bumper. Additional air bags will also be carried, increasing our capability to lift a total of 378 tons! Delivery for the new, one of a kind apparatus in the area is expected Spring of 2006.
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In early 2002, an Apparatus Replacement Committee was formed to begin working on the design and specification of a replacement for the company’s current rescue unit, designated Rescue 24. This unit was initially scheduled for replacement in 2004; that deadline was then pushed back to 2006 because of the building renovation project completed in 2003. Rescue 24, purchased in 1990, carries the Hurst “Jaws of Life” and other specialized rescue equipment that are used at vehicle crashes and incidents where persons are trapped inside their vehicles. Rescue 24 also responds to structure fires and carries firefighting equipment including breathing apparatus, fans, portable lighting, hand tools, saws, and fire extinguishers. Over the fifteen-year life of the current Rescue 24, it has annually been one of the busiest rescue units in Lancaster County.
In July of 2004, after several years of work, the Committee developed equipment requirements compartment design to enhance our current rescue capabilities. The committee determined that a replacement rescue unit would cost in excess of $600,000. The company was also scheduled to replace Truck 24 in 2009 with an estimated replacement cost exceeding $1,000,000.
Faced with these facts and limited funding, the committee recommended that the future of rescue services at Eden be re-evaluated. Specifically, the committee suggested that research be conducted on the feasibility of eliminating a dedicated rescue unit and combining rescue services as part of a new aerial ladder unit. Not only would this achieve a cost savings by eliminating a front line unit, it would also eliminate duplicate equipment that results from Rescue 24 providing both fire and rescue services.
The committee undertook an eleven month effort to determine the feasibility of the proposed concept. A detailed compartment analysis was performed to evaluate the equipment carrying capability of two very different aerial unit designs: a rear-mount ladder tower similar in design to the current Truck 24 or a tractor-drawn aerial unit, more commonly known to the public as a “hook and ladder” truck.
The committee presented a side-by-side comparison of the rear-mount ladder tower and a tractor-drawn aerial unit. The committee believed the combination unit matched the company’s financial ability by reducing anticipated debt and annual loan payments while still providing needed services. The combination unit also eliminated duplication of equipment including: air packs, rescue saws, radio equipment, ventilation fans, portable lighting, ladders, rope rescue equipment, hand tools, and laptop computers.
On June 13, 2005, the membership voted to approve the purchase of a 100’ tractor-drawn aerial unit to replace the current 1990 rescue and the 1994 ladder tower. This unit will be built by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton Wisconsin. The unit will be serviced locally by Glick Fire Equipment in Smoketown. The final price of this unit was $889,000. The unit will be financed through a variety of sources including the resale of the current Rescue 24 and Truck 24; a donation from the Manheim Township Commissioners; and funds from our annual fund drive.
In the long run the new vehicle will save the community hundreds of thousands of dollars by not having to replace two large fire vehicles.
Thank you to Chief Kane, Firefighter Bachman, and the crew that worked late into the night to get this article posted.
***Please check weekly for updates***
© 2001-2006 Eden Fire Company
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