APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By john M. Malecky                                                               November, 2023

BOATS AND VEHICLES FROM HUDSON COUNTY

Hudson County is the smallest in size in our state, but the most congested with population. This month we bring you mostly Jersey City with two major fireboats and three pumpers, one of which is a rescue pumper. I believe that Jersey City may have two smaller boats as well. The pumpers are E-ONE typhoons assigned to Engines 10 and 19, and the rescue pumper is assigned to Squad 4. Other photos this month include two from Bayonne, Squad 5, a Spartan ER Metro Star which is one-of-three ordered separately (see photo). The first one delivered went to Engine 2, and Engine 3 is at Campbell Supply and will be delivered soon. Also is an International 4400/Rescue 1 police rescue which was donated to the Bayonne Police by the Port Authority of NY & NJ. They use it for traffic control at events in place of a patrol car. Our eighth photo this month is a new Type III, Medix ambulance from the North Bergen EMS.

New EPA emission regulations has changed the order of diesel engines for emergency apparatus. Without going into much detail, there are new requirements due by 2027, and most engine builders are taking steps in anticipation of them. The Cummins L9 and X-12 will be discontinued and replaced by a X10. Detroit diesels are no longer available for apparatus. Pierce has been using Paccar engines which supplies power trains for Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. This is just an FYI for those who have been hearing stories.

Fire & Safety Services reports the following Pierce deliveries: an Enforcer pumper with 2000-gpm pump and 750-gallon water tank to the Brookview FC in East Brunswick (Middlesex County), an Arrow XT 100-foot mid-mount Ascendant tower to Pompton Lakes (Passaic County), an Enforcer stainless steel pumper to Burlington City (Burlington County), a Velocity heavy duty rescue with non-walk-in body to Finderne in Bridgewater Township (Somerset County), and an Enforcer 107-foot Ascendant quint with 2000-gpm pump and 500-gallon water tank to the Southard FC in Howell Township (Monmouth County). The Laurelton FC in Brick Township (Ocean County) has ordered an Enforcer pumper.

VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists has made the following Horton ambulance deliveries. All are Type III on Ford E-450 chassis. Two Model 523B’s to the Whitehouse Rescue Squad, Readington Township (Hunterdon County), and two Model 553’s, one each to the Lakewood Township EMS (Ocean County) and the Pattenburg Rescue Squad (Hunterdon County).     

The Reliable Fire Company in South River (Middlesex County) has received a 2023 KME Panther pumper. The cab and chassis were reportedly built in Pennsylvania and the body in Louisiana. It has a 1500-gpm pump, 1000-gallon water tank and two portable Honda generators (one 1 kw and the other two kw).

Absolute Fire Protection has delivered the five E-ONE Typhoon pumpers that they were prepping for Newark (Essex County). They have the same specs as the previous four.

As mentioned earlier in this column, Bayonne’s Squad 5, a 2023 Spartan ER Metro Star pumper, has been delivered. Campbell Supply is prepping Bayonne Engine 3, which is the last of the three pumpers ordered separately.

There have been some deliveries from Firefighter One which were not previously reported. One was a Cinder pumper to Paterson Squad 6 as part of a previous order (Passaic County). Also is Squad 6A, an Acela Monterra with General Truck Body which is a high water rescue. More recently, Paterson received another Cinder pumper from the order that has been assigned to Squad 6 and it is believed the former one will go to Engine 2. Also, New Brunswick (Middlesex County) received another Cinder pumper assigned to Engine 5. The former Engine 5 is now at Engine 2. The Bernardsville FD in Bernards Township (Somerset County) received an Inferno pumper which they had on facebook. 

If you read the “Old & New” feature which involves Keasbey, you will see the old truck is a 1972 Mack CF/Baker 75-foot tower ladder originally from FDNY. At the time the photo was taken, it was revealed that this truck is destined to be donated to the NJ Fire Museum in Allentown, NJ.

A note to our readers: It is no secret that the economy has suffered due to many causes. This has affected the price of emergency vehicles, as well as the amount of time needed to build the units and the availability of parts, not to mention government regulations which have changed engine requirements. All of this has caused fewer dealers to have orders and deliveries to report. This results in a shorter column. The purchase of used apparatus has been on the rise partly because of lack of funds. Let’s hope that things will change for the better soon!