APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                                  February, 2024

BACK TO OCEAN COUNTY

The last time we reported on Ocean County, we stated that there were more vehicles than we had room for. So, this month we are featuring the ones we did not use, as well as others photographed since. The Pine Beach E-ONE MV-8 mini not shown in this month’s column will be in next month’s Little Big Guys feature. However, another MV-8 mini from the Manitou Park FC in Berkeley Township is featured in this month’s column. The Little Big Guys feature this month has nevertheless an Ocean County vehicle, namely one of Seaside Park’s water rescue trucks. Other apparatus in this column includes Pine Beach’s 1998 International 4700/Firecab rescue and their 2009 Spartan/Ferrara pumper. Firecab was in business from out of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania from 1982 to 2000. Also from Beachwood is their Truck 1635, a Rosenbauer Commander quint, Seaside Park’s new HME Ahrens Fox pumper, and from Whiting in Manchester Township, their Duplex/Boardman pumper and AMG brush/tanker (formerly from Lakehurst).

In apparatus news, the Goshen VFC in Middle Township (Cape May County) did their final inspection of their new Engine 74, a Ford F-550 4x4/Darley with Darley CAFS. It is 1500/300/30. Also, Brooklawn Boro in Camden County received a Ford/Knapheide utility. The Hope FC in Allentown & Upper Freehold Township received a donation of a 1990 Mack R/4 Guys 1000/3500 tanker from the Morganville FC in Marlboro Township. It is an additional apparatus added to their roster.

In dealer news, Emergency Equipment Sales & Service reported to us about some developments. In their words, they are making great strides in providing quality ambulance sales and service. With new additions to their already impressive inventory, they now offer more options to meet customer’s needs. This includes the FR Pioneer II Type II ambulance on the Dodge Promaster 2500 chassis with standard features of (10) 15.5 inch deep cabinets, all aluminum and LED lit, 3,000 watt full sine inverter, eight 110V dual outlets with 4 USB ports, Tri-mode LEC cabin lighting, locking meds safe, deep cycle backup battery, no-idle HVAV system, advanced electrical system, digital main O2 system with auto shutoff, easy load main tank, rear flip-up step auto-eject shore power, 35,000 lumen emergency lights and 6-point restraints. They also have a new item, which is an in-house design and independently built 2024 Ford Transit T250, equipped with the latest technology and features for EMS.

FF1 reports that Summit’s (Union County) new Ferrara Cinder pumper will be leaving the Louisiana plant about the time of the deadline of this column. It has an extended cab, seating for four and EMS cabinets in the rear facing seat positions. Other specs include a Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 1750 pump, 750-gallon water tank and a low hose bed. Lafayette Township (Sussex County’s) Fouts FB-94 custom pumper will also be delivered in January. Specs include a Spartan FC-94 chassis with seating for six, Cummins L9, 380 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 1500-gpm pump, 1000-gallon water tank and full height rescue compartments on the driver and officer sides. They have received the following Ferrara orders: for East Orange (Essex County), four Cinder pumpers. Specs include extended medium cabs, with seating for six, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engines, Hale Qmax 1500-gpm pump, 750-gallon poly “L” shaped water tank for low hose bed and Alco-Lite 10, 14 and 24-foot ladders. Also on order is a Cinder walk-around heavy rescue with extended medium cab with seating for six, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine and 20-foot body with seven upper body compartments. For Mendham Boro (Morris County), a Cinder heavy rescue pumper. Specs include a long cab with seating for six, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax-XS 2000-gpm pump, Idex SAM pump control system with driver/officer screens and wireless tablet, 750-gallon poly water tank, extended body with driver/officer side full height and 28-inch-deep compartments and Alco-Lite 10, 14 and 24-foot ladders.

Defender Emergency Products reports two Medix RP90 Type III ambulance deliveries on Ford E-350 chassis. One is to Cooper University EMS in Camden. It has a Safety Vision camera, Whelen lighting package, WIFI capabilities and a 12-volt inverter. The other is to the North Bergen EMS (Hudson County), and has a full graphics package, full camera system and a Ferno Stat Track cot system.  

Absolute Fire Protection has received the following E-ONE orders: for North Plainfield (Somerset County), a Typhoon 1500/500 Metro 100 RM quint with 100-foot ladder; for Teaneck (Bergen County), a Cyclone 1500/780 squad pumper with Fire tech scene lighting and for Monroe Township District 1 (Middlesex County) a Cyclone 2250/1000/30 with “L” shaped water tank. They have delivered the 50-foot Boom to South Plainfield (Middlesex County). Newark’s Typhoon rescue is delivered, but is having some upfitting performed and is not yet in service (Essex County). The Herbertsville VFC in Brick Township (Ocean County) has ordered a Seagrave Marauder 2000/500/25 pumper.

Campbell Supply Co., LLC has delivered the Spartan ER Metro Star pumper to Woodstown in Pilesgrove Township (Salem County), and they did a rechassis of a Freightliner M2-106 under a 1999 Amtech support Unit in the West Belmar FC in Wall Township (Monmouth County). They are prepping a pumper for Washington Township (Gloucester County), and received an order from Margate City (Atlantic County) for a Spartan ER, S-180 pumper on a Metro Star LFD chassis with 10-inch raised roof cab. It will have a Hale DSD 1500-gpm pump and 750-gallon water tank. It will be powered by a Cummins L9, 400 hp diesel engine.

Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce orders: for union Township (Union County), a stock Enforcer 100-foot mid-mount tower, for Franklin District 1, Quakertown (Hunterdon County), a stock Freightliner M2, 3000 BXT tanker, for Manalapan District 1, Gordons Corner (Monmouth County) two Enforcer pumpers, and for Elmwood Park (Bergen County) an Enforcer pumper. Burlington County ordered a Freightliner M2, 45-foot command unit through Frontline Communications. Pierce deliveries include to Gloucester Township, Chews Landing (Camden County) a stock Enforcer 100-foot mid-mount tower, to the City of Passaic (Passaic County) an Enforcer pumper, and to the Port Authority of NY & NJ (Essex County), an Arrow XT PUC pumper.