APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                            June, 2025

THREE PLAINFIELDS; THREE COUNTIES

In the Raritan Valley Region there are three Plainfields. The first is the City of Plainfield, which is in Union County. It is nicknamed the “Queen City”, serving as both the regional hub for Central New Jersey and a bedroom suburb of the New York Metropolitan area. The other two are boroughs, namely North Plainfield, which is in Somerset County and South Plainfield, which is in Middlesex County. Plainfield has always been the busiest in fire activity and operates three stations. They are a career department. North Plainfield is a career department and operates out of a single station. It provides EMS to the borough and to Greenbrook. Their EMTs are not firefighters in the borough, although some are volunteer firefighters where they reside. South Plainfield is fully volunteer, operating out of one station. This month’s photos feature Plainfield’s Truck 1, a 2023 E-ONE Typhoon 95-foot platform, North Plainfield’s Truck 501, a 2023 E-ONE Typhoon quint and Rescue 502, a 2024 Ford/Demers, MXP150 Type 1 ambulance and South Plainfield’ s Engine 4, a 2023 E-ONE Cyclone pumper with 50-foot boom. Other photos this month include Merck Labs Unit 3, a 2022 Ford/Utilimaster gear van, which transports firefighting gear to an emergency scene while the members of the fire brigade (Merck employees) respond from their work places Hillside’s R-2, a 2024 Dodge Ram/P.L. Custom Classic ambulance and Rahway Emergency Squad’s A-874, a 2024 Chevrolet G4500/P.L. Custom Type III Medallion ambulance.

In apparatus news, the Aura VFC in Elk Township (Gloucester County) has ordered a mini pumper built by Marco Equipment Sales. Features include a Ford F-550, 4x4, four-door chassis, 750-gpm Waterous PTO pump with rear-mount panel, 300-gallon water tank and enclosed suction hose and ground ladders. It was sold by New Jersey Emergency Vehicles.

The NJ Sports & Exposition Authority has ordered an E-ONE Typhoon HP 100 quint for The Meadowlands (Bergen County). It will have a1500-gpm pump and 470-gallon water tank. Also on order is a Typhoon pumper 1500/780 with Cummins X 12, 455 hp diesel engine. In Ocean County, Seaside Park has ordered an E-ONE Typhoon HR 100 quint with 1500-gpm pump and 470-gallon water tank. Mt. Tabor in Parsippany (Morris County) has received an E-ONE Typhoon pumper. Kearny (Hudson County) has ordered an E-ONE Typhoon Metro 100 aerial ladder.

In Salem County, Salem City has given their former Engine 6-1, a 1999 E-ONE Cyclone 1250/500 to Elsinboro, replacing a 1987 Duplex/Grumman which Elsinboro had purchased from Runnemede (Camden County).

Jersey City (Hudson County) has purchased a 1993 Seagrave pumper formerly of Oakland (Bergen County) to use as a spare engine and is in the process of purchasing a Pierce pumper from Iselin Chemical FC in Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County), also to use as a spare engine. This pumper is white and will be repainted red for Jersey City.

A reader reports that three Acela Montero flood trucks have been ordered. One is for Camden and the others for Ocean City (Cape May County).

Campbell Supply Co., LLC has delivered to Fairview (Bergen County) a Spartan ER Star pumper to FC .3. Specs include a Metro Star MFD chassis with 10-inch raised roof cab, Waterous CMU 1500-gpm pump and 500-gallon water tank.

Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce Orders: in Bergen County, an Enforcer heavy duty rescue pumper for Maywood and an Enforcer 100-foot aerial ladder (no pump or tank) for Englewood; for Hopewell District 1 (Mercer County), an Enforcer Ascendant 107-foot aerial ladder; for Clark (Union County), an Enforcer 100-foot Ascendant mid-mount tower and for Bernards/Liberty Corner (Somerset County), an Enforcer pumper. Pierce deliveries include in Morris County, a stock International 3000-gallon tanker to Kinnelon and a Velocity 100-foot Ascendant mid-mount tower to Montville District 2 (Towaco). Brick Fire District 2/Laurelton received an Enforcer pumper (Ocean County) and Wall Township Fire District 2/Glendola received an Enforcer pumper (Monmouth County).

Defender Emergency Products reports that they have delivered a Rosenbauer FX heavy rescue on a Freightliner M2, two-door chassis to the Bound Brook FD (Somerset County).    

Mid Atlantic Fire Apparatus and Roster Group reports that the Willow Grove VFC in Pittsgrove Township (Salem County) is making a final inspection of their KME Panther 1500/750/50 rescue pumper, which will be heading to the dealers by the end of the month.