APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                                August, 2024

VEHICLES FROM PASSAIC COUNTY

     This month we visit Passaic County, Namely Paterson, the City of Passaic and Clifton.  I have just a brief mention of Paterson.  I have been photographing fire apparatus for 50 years.  When I started, the Paterson Fire Department had 12 engine companies.  They actually had an Engine 13 but there was one number missing among the other 12.  That number escapes me. They  had a large mixture of apparatus makes among their firefighting fleet.  Those makes included Mack, Pirsch,  American LaFrance, Spartan/E-ONE, E-ONE custom, Seagrave, Saulsbury, Rescue 1, FWD, Snorkel, Pierce, Sutphen and RD Murray.. Today the pumper fleet is down to 7 engine companies and they are all manufactured by Ferrara Fire Apparatus plus there are I believe two spares plus  a rescue and a RAC unit (see  the June, 2022 column.)  There is also currently a High Water rescue truck designated as Squad 6A.  This is an Acela Monterra with a General Truck body.  The original Squad 6 is now assigned to Engine 2.  The photo will be shown in a future column with the “Squad 6” lettering.  In the photos this month are Paterson Engines’ 1, 4,  present Squad 6 and Squad 6A.  There are seven fire stations and one has fire headquarters.

In Passaic their newest engine is a Pierce Enforcer at Engine 2.  Passaic at one time had six engine companies and they now have four. Many years ago I am told they had all Ahrens Fox pumpers.  Since I have been photographing they have had Mack, Beck, Pierce Seagrave (X-Hawthorne), LTI and Spartan ER pumpers. Passaic operates out of two super houses one of which has fire headquarters.  Lastly in Clifton are two P.L. Custom ambulances on Ford E-450 Type III chassis.  Clifton operates three ambulances.  In the photos are EMS 2 and EMS 6.  EMS 2 is at the station with Truck 3 and EMS 6 was at Engine 4’s station as a spare.

     Asbury Park (Monmouth County) has received their Seagrave 95 foot Aerialscope. It has a Marauder chassis, Cummins X12, 500 hp diesel engine, stainless steel body, TFT Monsoon electric monitor and FRC scene lighting.  On the Seagrave website is a delivery of three Marauder top mount pumpers for Fort Lee (Bergen County.)  Specs include black paint scheme, 220.5 inch wheelbase, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, 18 inch extended front bumper with discharge, Waterous CMU 2000 gpm pump, 750 gallon water tank, stainless steel body , Hannay booster reel over pump and FRC scene lighting..  Stillwater Township (Sussex County) has done a final inspection on their rescue pumper.  Specs include a Marauder chassis  with 141 inch stainless steel cab, 209 inch wheelbase , 10 inch raised roof and 25 inch cab access compartments.  Also, it has a Cummins X12 500 hp diesel engine,  24 inch front bumper, stainless steel 176 inch body, 15 inch coffin compartments, Waterous CSU 2000 gpm pump, 1250 gallon water tank, Onan 6 kw generator, Will Burt Night Scan, On Spot tire chains and a Rosco camera system.

     Firefighter One  has received an order from Denville (Morris County) for a Fouts FB-94 low hose bed custom pumper.  Specs include a Spartan FC-94 chassis, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, 54 inch medium cab with 10 inch raised roof and six seats, 1000 gallon UPF “L” shaped water tank (for low hosebed), Hale Qmax 1500 gpm pump, and heavy duty 3/16 inch aluminum body. The have delivered the following two Ferrara apparatus: to North Hudson Regional Fire Rescue (Hudson County), an Inferno LP-102 rear mount aerial.  Specs include a Cummins X15, 605 hp diesel engine, 62 inch extended cab with six seats, inboard, forward facing EMS cabinet, four section ladder, front down jacks, rear out  and out and down “H” style jacks, 500 pound tip load flowing 1250 gpm, Akron Stream Master monitor with storefront blitz capability, aluminum extruded body with 325 cubic feet of storage, Harrison 6 kw generator and Hannay electric rewind cord reel with Akron lighted junction box.  The second delivery was to Peapack Gladstone (Somerset County) and is a heavy non-walk-in  rescue on an Igniter chassis.  Specs include a Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, 80 inch extra long cab with six seats, 18.5 foot body, Vanair 25 kw PTO generator and a  Will Burt light tower with four Whelen LED lights. 

     Hillsdale (Bergen County) has ordered an E-ONE Cyclone HR 100 aerial ladder with a Cummins X12, 500 hp diesel engine, 575 pound dry/wet aerial, 11 foot jackspread and single chute hosebed.

     Emergency Equipment Sales & Service reports that they have signed a contract with the Borough of Magnolia (Camden County) for a Type III remount of a Ford E-450 chassis at the Magnolia Ambulance Corps.

     Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce orders: For Cherry Hill District 13 (Camden County), an Enforcer pumper and  for Middle Township District 2, Rio Grande (Cape May County) an Enforcer PUC 75 foot aluminum ladder.  Pierce deliveries include an Arrow XT 100 foot mid mount tower to Cliffside Park (Bergen County), an Enforcer Heavy Duty Rescue Pumper and an 
Enforcer 75 foot quint with steel ladder to Bellmawr and  a stock Saber pumper to Clementon (both Camden County.)