This from Michael Douglass, Lieutenant / Public Education & Information Officer , Cary Fire Protection District
I have some photos of our new tender to update the Chicago Area Fire website. The tender is numbered 270 and runs out of our station #2. Tender 270 has a Kenworth model T370 chassis with a 3,000-gallon water tank and a 500-gallon-per-minute pump. One of the other features the new tender has is a rear camera for the driver to be able to watch what’s directly behind it. There one 3,000-gallon port-a-tank which allows us to dump all of the tank water so the tender can leave right away to re-fill. In the past, we had two 2,100-gallon tanks that had to be set up individually and then connected before the entire tank load could be dumped. We have a different configuration for supply hose and the pump panel is located behind a roll-up door in the body. As a result of these changes, less space was needed making the new tender approximately four feet shorter than the old one. The new tender arrived in mid August and was put into service on August 30th.
Cary Tender 270. Michael Douglass photo
The rear of the new tender. Michael Douglass photo
Driver’s side of Tender 270. Michael Douglass photo
Interior screen to view the images from the rear camera. Michael Douglass photo
Supply hose on the officer’s side. Michael Douglass photo
Small operator’s panel for the pump. Michael Douglass photo
#1 by Michael Douglass on September 11, 2012 - 6:20 PM
Rob, The department just started putting a committee together for a new squad, so there is no definite timeline on when we will order, but my guess would be sometime after May in the next fiscal year. As for the old Sutphen, Engine 243 which was built in 1995, there are no plans yet to get rid of it. Currently we use it as our reserve engine and it’s housed at Station #2. I think we will be looking to replace it in the 2015 fiscal year and I’ll be sad to see it go. Engine 243 is a great engine and still pumps as well as the day we received it. The only problems it has in my opinion are that it lacks space both in the cab and the compartments, and that it only has a 500-gallon tank. If you have any other questions feel free to post them here or contact me directly by e-mail at: Douglass@caryfire.com. Take care and be safe.
#2 by Rob on September 10, 2012 - 6:08 PM
Are you looking at replacing the older Sutphen Engine or the Sqaud sometime soon?
#3 by Michael Douglass on September 10, 2012 - 9:38 AM
Scott, a decision has not been made yet about the old tender; however it will probably be declared surplus and sold. Thanks for your help Bill…
#4 by Scott on September 9, 2012 - 12:31 PM
What happened to the old one?
#5 by Bill Friedrich on September 8, 2012 - 9:33 PM
Good job Mike. Look forward to shooting the new tanker.
#6 by Tyler T. on September 8, 2012 - 4:47 PM
Awesome rig, I Will need to go see it soon