APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                            August, 2025

MID-MOUNT PLATFORM REPLACES BIG BRUISER

    The Monmouth Junction Fire Department in South Brunswick (Middlesex County) has replaced their 2003 E-ONE Bronto Skylift with a Pierce mid-mount platform. The Bronto is now serving Webster Parish Fire Protection District 6 in Cullen, Louisiana. Fire Chief Scott Smith gives some background on their Bronto. Back in the 1990’s the department was researching a replacement for their 1975 Pierce 85 foot Snorkel. After looking at a couple of different types of aerials, they identified the Bronto Sky-Lift as the desired option after taking a 118 foot model around the district. They found it provided great reach and a stable platform for the numerous large residential and commercial buildings. Of particular note was the articulating feature of the boom allowing them to go up and over, then put firefighters onto the roof of the dozens of warehouses in the district. In 2020 it was decided to move up replacement of the Bronto in order to maximize its resale value and avoid price increases of the new truck. After research, they decided that the Pierce100 foot mid-mount Ascendant platform had numerous strengths and matched up well compared to other aerials whether rear mount or mid mount. The new truck was ordered in 2022 and delivered in 2025. Getting back to the Bronto, it is built in Finland. It is partnered with Morita, a Japanese aerial manufacturer, however currently it is sold by E-ONE. Prior to that and many years before, the Elizabeth FD (Union County) purchased a 100 foot Bronto with an Anderson body. Anderson Engineering of Langley, BC, Canada was the original distributor of Bronto’s starting in 1946. The Elizabeth truck had a PemFab chassis. In the photos is the Monmouth Junction Bronto and the Pierce Velocity mid-mount platform. Other photos this month include a Rescue 1 hazmat response unit from Nutley (Essex County), a Pierce Enforcer pumper from Vineland (Cumberland County) as well as a Storm unit, a Pierce Saber pumper form Camden  an E-ONE pumper/tanker from the Janvier FC in Franklin Township (Gloucester County) and one of the three SIV remounts using a Ford F-450 chassis for the Brick Township EMS/Rescue.

    In apparatus news, Blaze Emergency Equipment is the dealer for SIV who did the remounts for Brick Township.

    Elmwood Park FC 1 (Bergen County) has received a Seagrave Marauder pumper. Specs include a Cummins X12, 500 hp diesel engine, 141 inch stainless steel full tilt cab with 24 inch raised roof, 221 inch wheelbase, 24 inch extended front bumper with front intake and discharge, Waterous CMU two-stage 2000 gpm pump and 750 gallon water tank.

    There have been two apparatus transfers. One is a 2001 Seagrave 1500/750/30 pumper from the Groveville FC in Hamilton Township (Mercer County) to the Mercer County Fire Academy and the second is a 1994 Pierce Dash 1750/750/50 pumper sold by Demarest to Teaneck to be used as a spare (both Bergen County.)

    Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce orders: For Medford Township’s Union Fire Co. (Burlington County) a Velocity 100 foot mid mount tower; for Morris Plains and Enforcer pumper and for the Town of Boonton, a Velocity 107 foot Ascendant ladder (both Morris County.) Also in Somerset County, Franklin Township Fire District 2 (Franklin Park) has ordered an Enforcer 100 foot mid mount tower. Pierce deliveries include a Saber non-walk-in HDR stock unit to University Hospital in Newark (Essex County); a Frontline Saber Command Unit to Hunterdon County, an Enforcer pumper to Demarest (Bergen County) and an Enforcer pumper to Bedminster-Far Hills Fire Co. in Bedminster Township (Somerset County.)

    In Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County) the Colonia Chemical H & L FC received an E-ONE Cyclone pumper for E-12-3. It has a 2000 gpm pump, 750 gallon water tank and 30 gallons of foam.    

    Firefighter 1 has delivered two Ferrara pumpers to the City of Trenton (Mercer County.) The first on an Inferno chassis. Specs include an extended cab with six seats, Cummins X12 500 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 1750 gpm pump, 750 gallon water tank with low hose bed, extruded aluminum body with roll-up doors, left/right full height compartments and ladders stored between tank and right high sides. The second is on a Cinder chassis. Specs include an extended cab with six seats, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Waterous CSU, 1500 gpm pump, 500 gallon water tank with low hose bed, extruded aluminum body with roll-up doors, left side full height compartments and right side low compartments with ladders above. Trenton has on order another Cinder pumper and an Inferno 100 foot mid mount platform. They are prepping a Kenworth T-880/Fouts 1500/4000 pumper/tanker for the Tabernacle Township VFD in Burlington County.

    Emergency Equipment Sales & Service has made two deliveries: One is a Responder Remount ambulance to Lawrence Township (Mercer County) with a Ford E-350 chassis. The other is an HME pumper to the Germania FC IN Galloway Township (Atlantic County.) Specs include am 1871W chassis, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Hale DSD 2000 gpm pump and 1000 gallon water tank.

   Defender Emergency Products received an order from Atlantic City (Atlantic County) for  a Rosenbauer Commander pumper with 1500 gpm pump and 500 gallon water tank.