[Scan-DC] New Fire Engines for Mont. Co.

[Alan Henney]

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

Tom Carr, Fire Chief
Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe St, 12th Floor, Rockville, MD
20850

    CONTACT: Pete Piringer, Public Information Officer
         240.777.2474 – Media Hotline – 240.777.2442
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   January 5, 2007

State-of-the-Art Equipment to Elevate Firefighter Safety
Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. Awarded Thirty-Seven Unit Contract

Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom Carr is pleased to announce that the
Montgomery County (Maryland) Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) has
selected and awarded Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. of Tilleda, Wisconsin
a contract to provide several dozen new fire engines to the existing
emergency apparatus fleet.  “This is a tremendous step in assuring
that our first responders are equipped to assure operational
efficiency utilizing the latest in safety technology when called to
handle a myriad of hazards,” says Chief Carr. “Under the direction of
Assistant Chief Steve Lohr, the Apparatus Committee comprised of
career and volunteer members, worked tirelessly focusing on the latest
technology in order to support our life-safety mission.”

Thirty-seven (37) like-pumpers are being ordered to carry the
all-hazard mission of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
(MCFRS) into the future. The cost per unit will be about $435,000
each. These units are proposed with a Spartan Gladiator severe duty
cab and chassis, aluminum body, HALE Q-Max pump with CAFSPRO, a 750
gallon booster tank, two-twenty-five gallon foam cells and a 5-KW
diesel generator. In addition, these pieces of apparatus are to be
manufactured using a low profile “L”-shaped water tank with a rear
suction that maximizes hose capacity and accessibility for working
around and on the rigs without unnecessary climbing.
2 – New Apparatus

Each unit will have six (6) pre-connects, dual large diameter hose
(LDH) supply beds, a wagon pipe, and a pre-connected blitz-fire
mechanism. Two (2) quick-throw ground ladders and two (2) hard sleeves
will be accessible from the rear without climbing onto the unit.
Further, it is being designed to maintain all of the features of the
high volume Q-max pump while adding the compressed air foam system
(CAFS) capability that local firefighters have helped to evaluate over
the past several years.

These units will be equipped with the latest technologies available to
assure the safety of the crew cab occupants while entering, exiting,
and riding in the vehicles. Special emphasis is provided for securing
all portable equipment including personal running gear, quick access
EMS compartments, and crew cab storage (climate controlled) areas for
drugs and narcotics. All compartments will be lockable for enhanced
security. The latest generation L-E-D lighting packages will be
resident along with the Federal Q2B and Power Call Sirens. To assure
regional compatibility units will be lettered with the Metropolitan
Washington Area Council of Government (COG) numbering system on five
sides of the vehicle. The latest generation braking, auxiliary
braking, suspension and power train components will be in place to
assure rugged dependability and safety.

To maximize visibility and highway safety, a lime yellow and red,
chevron barricade reflective trim graphics package will be included on
the rear of each unit.  In addition red and white, rub rail
conspicuity tape will also be included for unparalleled visibility.

This announcement has been anticipated for several months and
requisite contract requirements were met in early January 2007.   A
single prototype unit will be built in less than six months and
delivered by the summer of 2007.


3 – New Apparatus


The first unit will have a MCFRS Training Academy graphics package and
will serve not only as a ‘model’ pumper, but will function as the
‘hands-on’ training and systems evaluation rig while construction
begins on the remaining 36 units.  This particular engine will
introduce the entire Montgomery County career and volunteer membership
to the various operational systems and more specifically with the
associated training components necessary to take full advantage of the
CAFS.

Elite Fire Apparatus, Inc. intends to deliver approximately six (6)
units every four (4)  months so that in about 24 months from now every
first-line MCFRS engine company will be operating with a full
featured, precisely equipped modern pumper engine.

The Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) is a full
spectrum life safety agency protecting nearly 1 million people who
live and work in Maryland’s most populous jurisdiction.  Under the
direction of the County Fire Chief, the MCFRS is a combination system
(career/volunteer) in the suburban Washington, D.C. area, operating
with an annual budget of about $195 million. The MCFRS annually
handles about 100,000 emergency calls for service and is staffed by
nearly 1200 career uniformed personnel and professional civilian staff
and an equal number of volunteers, nearly half of whom are actively
involved in emergency response.