APPARATUS OF THE MONTH

By John M. Malecky                                                           January, 2026

“I’M COMIN TO JOIN YOU ELIZABETH”

That was a phrase used by Fred Sanford (Redd Fox) in the sitcom “Sanford and Son” from many years ago. It can actually still be seen on cable. Anyway, for our purposes it announces our recent visit to the City of Elizabeth (Union County) which had placed in service seven new apparatus. Three were destroyed in flooding from Hurricane Ida that struck the fire headquarters and surrounding neighborhood. The rest were replacing older apparatus. The damaged apparatus was UASI Rescue 2, Special Operations and Tac-1. There was also a pickup truck and two tour chief Suburban’s destroyed. Replaced due to age was Rescue 1, Engines’ 3 and 6 and Ladder 1.  Elizabeth is a major city with about 140,000 population. It is urban and industrial and borders Newark (Essex County) to the south. Some major roads that go through the city are the New Jersey Turnpike, U.S. Route 1 & 9 and state roads, 27 and 439. It has a bustling seaport and a large indoor shopping center named Jersey Gardens. Across from the seaport is the Borough of Staten Island, NY. Some 52 years ago when I first started photographing fire apparatus the EFD operated nine engine companies. Then now have seven. Also through the years some of the companies have been shuffled around when older fire stations were closed and new ones built. In the case of Engine 6 for instance it occupies a new station where Engine 9’s quarters was. Ladder 3 is in the same building. That company was relocated when its former station was closed.  In the photos, all are Pierce’s in Elizabeth. They are Engine’s 3 and 6 both 2025 Pierce Arrow XT pumpers, Ladder 1 a 2025 Arrow XT 100 foot rear mount aerial, Rescue 1a 2025 Arrow XT heavy rescue, Rescue 2 a 2024 Arrow XT, UASI which is also a back up if Rescue 1 is out for repair, Special Operations Rescue a 2024 Arrow XT, 6 x 6 and Tac-1, a Special Operations Unit which serves in a port security capacity. It is a 2024 Freightliner M2, 106, 4 x 4 Encore Model.

    In apparatus news, Blaze Emergency Equipment has received an order from Brick EMS/Rescue (Ocean County) for another ambulance remount and South Branch EMS (Hunterdon County) ordered two ambulance remounts.

    Deptford Township District 9 (Gloucester County) has ordered a Ferrara Inferno HD-77 quint from Firefighter 1. It will have an XMFD chassis, Hale Qmax,1750 gpm pump, 500 gallon water tank and be powered by a Cummins X12, 500 hp diesel engine. Also, Wantage Township (Sussex County) received the first mini pumper to be built exclusively by Firefighter One. It is on a Ford F-550 chassis and has a MAC1 LRA 1750 gpm pump, 300 gallon water and 20 gallon foam tanks. East Orange (Essex County) has placed in service the first of four Ferrara Cinder pumpers at Engine 5. They also have a Ferrara rescue truck on order.  

    Two E-ONE pumpers are on order. One is a Typhoon with a 2000 gpm pump, 750 gallon water tank and low hose bed which will go to Belford Independent FC in Middletown Township (Monmouth County.) The other will go to Westville (Gloucester County) and will be a Cyclone with 1750 gpm pump and 780 gallon water tank. In addition, the Vincent FC in Southampton Township (Burlington County) has ordered an E-ONE 3030 gallon tanker on a Kenworth T-880 chassis.

    Campbell Supply Co., LLC has delivered to Woodbridge Township a Spartan ER Metro Star, Star pumper with Extreme Duty design. It has a Cummins L9, 450 hp diesel engine, Waterous 2000 gpm pump, 750 gallon water tank and low hose bed.

    Defender Emergency Products has received an order from Morganville (Marlboro Township District 3) in Monmouth County for a Rosenbauer 100 foot Cobra mid mount tower on a Commander chassis.

    Fire & Safety Services has delivered the following Pierce apparatus: A Saber pumper each to Norwood (Bergen County) and Netcong (Morris County.) They also delivered a stock Enforcer mid mount platform to the City of Cape May (Cape May County.)

    Emergency Equipment Sales & Service reports that they have delivered to the Midland Park AC (Bergen County) a Ford E/Tri-Star Industries Type III ambulance. They have also received an order from the Centerton FC, Pittsgrove Township Fire District 3 (Salem County) for an HME mini pumper on a Ford F-550 chassis. It will have a Hale DSD 1500 gpm pump, 300 gallon water tank and foam.

    New Jersey Emergency Vehicles has delivered a P. L Custom Classic 170 Type 1 ambulance to the Franklin Lakes VAC (Bergen County.) It is on a Ford f-550 chassis..