APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                                 September, 2025

FPG ACQUIRES P.L.; BERGEN COUNTY RIGS

    It came as a surprise to many including myself but First Priority Group has acquired P.L. Custom which includes Rescue 1 and New Jersey Emergency Vehicles. All will remain as independent companies. It will not affect Toyne Fire Apparatus of which NJEV is a dealer. I feel this is also an ideal time to straighten out that P.L. stands for “Pompton Lakes” which is where the ambulance builder started out. Almost all of the individuals I have come across have referred to it as “P & L” Custom only because they were unaware of what the letters stood for. P.L. Custom and Rescue 1 as we know are manufacturers whereas First Priority Group sells more than one ambulance brand and at times purchases and mounts utility type bodies. For more information refer to websites or social media sites for each company.

    We are also featuring vehicles from Bergen County. In the photos, one is of the Horton ambulance from the Edgewater EMS. The striking blue color is referred to as “Metallic Cheryl Blue” after one of their members who was instrumental in picking this color. Next is one of the three Fort Lee Seagrave top mount pumpers painted black with a bright orange belt. It is said to be the color of Fort Lee. We will feature the other two at a later time. Hackensack Engine 2 is next which is a Pierce pumper followed by Englewood Engine 1, a Seagrave Marauder pumper. Then comes Bogota’s Ladder 1, an E-ONE rear mount ladder. Lastly are Ridgefield’s Engine 2 and Teaneck’s Squad 24, both E-ONE pumpers.

    In apparatus news, Firefighter 1 reports that they have delivered to the Tabernacle Township FD (Burlington County) a Fouts 4000 gallon tanker. Specs include a Kenworth T-880 two-door chassis, Cummins X15, 565 hp diesel engine, Hale Qmax 1500 gpm pump, poly water tank, two rear tank fills, two three-inch tank-to-pump valves, Newton 10 inch rear dump valve with swivel chute, 150 feet of one-inch booster reel, right side LDH discharge, 4000 gallon portable pond stored between the tank and the officer side compartments, hard suction storage in hose bed and between the tank and driver side compartments and 360 degree scene lighting. They have an order from the Franklin FD in Franklin Township (Sussex County) for a Fouts FOUR quick attack unit. Specs include a Ford F-550 4 x 4, four-door chassis, 6.7L PowerStroke 300 hp diesel engine, Ford 10 speed transmission, Hale DSD 1500 gpm pump, 300 gallon poly water tank, right side LDH discharge and 100 foot one-inch booster reel. They have four other apparatus that are awaiting delivery. 

    In Burlington County the Woodland Township Volunteer Fire & EMS has received a Polaris Ranger XP 1000 UTV, 4 x 4 Qtac. Also Medford Lakes has ordered an E–ONE Typhoon 2000/1030 pumper.

    The Jersey City FD (Hudson County) has received an E-ONE Typhoon pumper which will be assigned to Engine 1.

    Campbell Supply Co., LLC reports that they are prepping the following two apparatus: For Millburn (Essex County), a Spartan ER/LTC mid mount platform. Specs include a Gladiator MFD chassis with 10 inch raised roof cab, Hale 2000 gpm pump, 300 gallon water tank, and 93 foot platform with a 1,000 pound dry tip load and a 500 pound wet tip load. Also for the Willow Grove Fire Company in Pittsgrove Township (Salem County), a KME rescue pumper. Specs include a Predator LFD chassis with 10 inch raised roof cab, Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Waterous 1500 gpm pump, 750 gallon water and 50 gallon foam tanks and Waterous Pneumax CAFS Platinum 200P.  They have delivered the following: To the New Egypt Fire Company in Plumstead Township (Ocean County) a Spartan ER tanker with Metro Star EMFD chassis. It has a 10 inch raised roof cab, Hale Qmax 2000 gpm pump and 3000 gallon water tank. It replaces a 2001 International/KME tanker which formerly served Folsom (Atlantic County.)  Also delivered is the second Fairview pumper. This is a Spartan ER NXT rescue pumper on a Metro Star MFD chassis. It has a Waterous CMU 1500 gpm pump and 500 gallon water tank. This is for the Grandview FC 1. The other pumper in service at Engine 3 still is not fully lettered. Finally, the City of Bayonne (Hudson County) received a Spartan/Smeal UT-100 rear mount aerial. Specs include a Gladiator chassis with 10 inch raised roof which has a 16 inch trench, Cummins X-12, 500 hp diesel engine, 100 foot steel aerial with 500 pound tip load while flowing 1250 gpm, a TFT Flex ladder monitor and Harrison 8 kw generator. It has an overall height of 10 feet 8 inches, a wheelbase of 237 inches and an overall length of 40 feet six inches. They have received an order from Paramus FC 2 (Bergen County) for a Spartan ER Metro Star pumper. Specs include an ELFD cab with 10 inch raised roof, Cummins X-12 525 hp diesel engine, Star Pumper design and Hale 2000 gpm pump with SAM system..

    Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce orders: For Chatham Borough (Morris County), an Enforcer 100 foot mid mount tower. For Alpine (Bergen County) an Enforcer pumper and for Washington District 1/Washington VFD (Warren County), a Saber pumper. Pierce deliveries include To East Franklin FC, Franklin Township (Somerset County) a stock Enforcer PUC pumper; To Scotch Plains, a Saber pumper and City of Elizabeth an Arrow XT 105 RM ladder (both Union County); to Flemington (Hunterdon County) an Enforcer mid mount tower; to Burlington Fire District 1 (Burlington County) a Velocity mid mount tower and to Lindenwold Fire District 1 an Enforcer 100 foot mid mount tower and Haddon Township Fire District, Westmont FC an Enforcer 100 foot mid mount tower (both Camden County.)  

    Fair Lawn (Bergen County) received a Rosenbauer Cobra 100 foot mid mount tower on a Commander chassis with an EXT body.

    New Jersey Emergency Vehicles has delivered two P.L. Custom ambulances to the Clifton FD (Passaic County.) One is a Medallion 170 Type III on a Ford F-450 chassis and the other is a Classic 170 Type 1 on a Ford F-550 chassis