The Middleton Fire Department has acquired a new versatile fire truck to better serve the town of Middleton and surrounding communities!
It was an exciting moment last Thursday for Middleton Fire Chief, Mike Toole and the membership with a new truck arriving on Church Street.
“We are more than ecstatic to have this truck here.” Shared Toole.
Trying to keep a tight budget in mind while working around an evolving fire service, this much needed apparatus checks off many of the boxes for the fire department.
The new apparatus, designed as a pumper/tanker, was manufactured by Rocky Mountain Phoenix in partnership with Rosenbauer.
It will be replacing their prior 1991 engine that proudly served the area.
Adding this apparatus to their fleet will provide an array of possibilities. With room for crew and lots of water on board, it allows the apparatus to be used as a frontline pumper and tanker, making it great for first due fire calls.
Having space for crew on board and water also makes for a great truck when responding to mutual aid calls.
This four-door, single-axle freightliner, can hold up to five personnel on board while holding 1,500 imperial gallons of water!
“It has a unique pump system. It has what’s called a NH pump, which stands for normal high. The pump is able to run at high pressure and normal pressure simultaneously, depending on which discharge is on it.” Shared Chris Swain from Rocky Mountain Phoenix.
Chris also shared the trucks pump and roll capabilities, with its direct drive power take off (PTO). The truck can drive forward and backwards while discharging water, rather than having to be parked like most fire apparatus, critical during brush or wildfires.
Wildfires have been a big concern in many communities. Pump and roll, or in simple terms, the truck moving while pumping and spraying water, has been a huge asset during these responses.
This new truck can do just that, with a remote control monitor gun, mounted on the front. It can be operated from inside the cab without having to get out. It also has a rear hose-reel for easy quick attacks rather than your traditional pre-connects that are also located on the apparatus.
Pump and roll also allows for quick attacks with limited crews, by using the monitor gun which is controlled from inside the cab, firefighters are able to knock fires down to buy time until more manpower or mutual aid can arrive.
It carries 1,500 gallons of water, allowing it to also be used as a tanker. Its 10-inch dump chute, located on the rear, allows for quick discharge of water when shuttling at a fire scene.
The chassis is built shorter than most trucks with some extra added height allowing for good clearance in rural areas.
“This is a big day for us. We have been planning towards the future of rural firefighting while keeping a budget in mind. We were looking for something that was multitasked, pumper and tanker capabilities, something to help with staffing to make a quick attack.” Proudly Shared Fire Chief Toole.
The Middleton Fire Department is looking forward to getting hands on with their new truck and working to get it in service and serving the community.
Congratulations on this new addition!
Adrian J.
