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Posts Tagged Spartan

IAFC Fire Rescue International Trade Show Final Installment!

Sep 9

Posted by bgshap in New Delivery | Comments off

Chicago Fire Department Spartan Crimson aerial ladder

The first Spartan/Gladiator Crimson 103' rear mount aerial ladder. The assignment for this piece has not yet been released. Larry Shapiro

There have been several previous postings which referenced the IAFC Fire Rescue International Trade Show in Chicago several weeks ago. A gallery is available by scrolling to the bottom of the page HERE which fittingly shows many of the trucks as they were leaving McCormick Place and lining up to receive a few gallons of fuel so that they could make their way to a gas station. As with any trade show, the fuel is siphoned out of the tanks before they enter the convention center as a safety measure to reduce the hazards of fires and leaks.

Although the units featured in the gallery are a hodgepodge sampling of the display pieces, there are images of several local units which are better shots than what was available inside the convention center. These images include the Freightliner/Medtec MICU from Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, the Pierce Impel quint from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago, the Spartan/Super Vac (SVI) HDR from Cherry Valley, the Pierce Velocity PUC tower ladder from South Holland, the custom Sutphen SP112 industrial tower ladder for the Exxon Mobile Joliet Refinery and the Spartan/Crimson rear mount aerial ladder for Chicago.

South Holland Fire Department Pierce Velocity PUC tower ladder

South Holland's Pierce Velocity PUC tower ladder. Larry Shapiro photo

Exxon Mobil Joliet Refinery Sutphen tower ladder

The Sutphen SP112 tower ladder for the Exxon Mobil Refinery in Joliet. Larry Shapiro photo

Pierce Impel quint Great Lakes Naval Training Center

The Pierce Impel quint going to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago. Larry Shapiro photo

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Many new area rigs at Fire Rescue International

Aug 28

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | 5 Comments

There are many new pieces of apparatus for our area currently on display at the Fire Rescue International 2010 trade show at McCormick Place. Among them are:

  • Pierce – South Holland Velocity PUC 100′ PAP rear mount tower ladder; Great Lakes NTC Impel 75′ RM quint
  • Medtec – Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Type I Freightliner
  • Crimson – CFD Spartan pumper; CFD Spartan 103′ RM aerial ladder; Naperville Spartan pumper
  • Horton – Minooka Ford Type III MICU
  • US Tank – Pingree Grove FPD Kenworth tanker
  • Federal Signal – CFD Ford Expedition battalion chief unt
  • Ferrara – Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Inferno engine and RM Tower ladder
  • Sutphen – Exxon Mobil Joliet Refinery industrial mid-mount tower ladder quint
  • Super Vac (SVI Trucks) – Cherry Valley Spartan HDR
Chicago Fire Department Crimson ladder

The first Spartan Gladiator Crimson 103′ rear mount aerial ladder built for Chicago was displayed at the Fire Rescue International (FRI) 2010 trade show. Larry Shapiro photo

Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Medtec ambulance

This Freightliner/Medtec Type I ambulance for the Algonquin lake-in-the-Hills Fire Department was on display in the Pierce booth. There were a total of three units on the trade show floor for this department. Larry Shapiro photo

Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Ferrara engine

The smaller than normal pump enclosure and built-in cross lays on the new Ferrara engine for the Algonquin Lake-in-the-Hills Fire Department resembles a trend in apparatus design which was first introduced several years ago by Pierce. Larry Shapiro photo

Cherry Valley Fire Department Spartan SVI Super Vac heavy rescue

A Spartan Super Vac (SVI) heavy rescue for Cherry Valley with walk-around body, light tower, front bumper hydraulic rescue tools, air cascade system and an abundance of slide-out shelving and trays. Larry Shapiro photo

A gallery showing several of these units can be seen on Larry Shapiro’s site HERE.

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Crimson updates CFD units in progress

Aug 4

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 8 Comments

Our thanks go out to Chris, one of our readers, for informing us that Crimson has updated the production photos of the first CFD Spartan/Crimson aerial ladder shown HERE. Crimson has mounted the aerial to a chassis with a finished cab.  It appears that Crimson will have something to display later this month at the Fire Rescue International trade show in Chicago. It will be interesting to see the status of the body, since there have been no updated photos on the site for several weeks showing the progress. They’re obviously working very hard to make a good showing in Chicago.

There are also updated shots of an engine shown HERE with the pump module and body mounted to the chassis. perhaps this one will also be at the show.

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New Squad in Carol Stream

Aug 3

Posted by bgshap in New Delivery | Comments off

While visiting the Alexis facility to inspect a refurb for his department, North Maine FPD District Chief Mike Fox took these pre-delivery photos of the new Spartan Metro Star/Alexis rescue squad for Carol Stream in Division 12 (Dupage County) which was scheduled for delivery yesterday.

Carol Stream FPD Spartan Alexis squad

A head-on shot of the Spartan cab on Carol Stream's new squad 235. Mike Fox photo

Carol Stream Spartan Alexis squad

Carol Stream's new walk-around squad with a stubby Spartan Metro Star cab. Mike Fox photo

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Crimson unit in progress

Jul 21

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, Fire Service News, New Delivery | Comments off

Crimson Fire Apparatus is one of several manufacturers that posts photos of units in production so that interested parties can see the progress of particular units being built. Their website lists Naperville and Chicago as having units being built which can be viewed in production.

Click HERE for the status of the new Naperville engine (slated for Engine 4 to replace the last remaining Freightliner in frontline service) – Spartan Gladiator chassis 1500/750

Click HERE to see the status of a new engine for Chicago – Spartan Gladiator 1500/500

Click HERE to see the status of the first Chicago 103′ rear mount Crimson aerial – Spartan Gladiator 103′ RM 0/0

As a side note, it appears that Crimson will have to accomplish quite a bit to get one of the new Chicago aerials to display at the International FIre Chief’s show in Chicago this August (FRI).

For those who never saw the Crimson press release in March about the Chicago aerials:

Back to News & Events

Brandon, S.D., March 31, 2010 – Crimson Fire, Inc. has signed a three-year contract with the city of Chicago to build more than 30 custom aerial fire trucks.

The Brandon, S.D.-based manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles has begun designing and building five 103-foot rear-mount aerial trucks for the Windy City. Chicago, which also has a three-year contract with Crimson Fire to provide custom pumpers, could purchase as many as 30 aerial units over the life of the contract.

Equipment Management Co., the Crimson Fire dealership serving Illinois, secured the aerial contract for Chicago and will sell and service the apparatus. EMC, which also has operations in Arizona, joined the growing family of Crimson Fire dealers in July 2009.

“Chicago is a long-standing Crimson Fire customer, and we are honored to provide its firefighters with our custom aerials,” said Jim Salmi, president of Crimson Fire Aerials. “The city faces some unique emergency-rescue challenges, particularly with overall height restrictions and maneuvering through older neighborhoods. The Crimson Fire aerial enhances maneuverability in urban settings and delivers rugged, dependable performance with each run.”

The 103-foot rear-mount aerials, the longest available in the Crimson Fire product suite, will be built on a Spartan Gladiator® cab and chassis. The aerial will feature a low-profile design with an overall travel height of 11 feet, making it more maneuverable in the city. An aluminum body and the unique tubular design enable Crimson Fire to build the strongest and most durable trucks on the market.

The new Crimson Fire aerials also feature the industry’s only “greaseless” ladder through the patented roller assembly system, X-style outriggers and a ladder lift cradle that provides enhanced range of operation.

About Crimson Fire – Crimson Fire is a leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles. A subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR), Crimson Fire is committed to quality, value and innovation. Drawing on more than 130 years of excellence in fire truck manufacturing, Crimson Fire manufactures a full line of pumpers, rescues, aerials, quick-attack vehicles and other emergency-rescue vehicles from its facilities in Pennsylvania and South Dakota.

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Carol Stream squad

Jul 19

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | Comments off

It appears from production photos at Alexis that the Spartan/Alexis squad for Carol Stream has been completed. This is a walk-around unit with a 2-door (stubby) cab.

Carol Stream Spartan Alexis squad

This image of a completed squad 235 was posted 7-15-10 on the Alexis site. Alexis photo

Carol Stream Spartan Alexis squad

Side view of the new squad showing 2-door Spartan cab. Alexis photo

Carol Stream Spartan Alexis squad chevron

Rear view of the walk-around squad ready for delivery at Alexis. Alexis photo

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Chicago apparatus updates

Jul 13

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery, updated listing | 2 Comments

Several Chicago rig photos have been updated, some with new units and others to present a nicer photo. Hank Sajovic, Jack Connors and Steve Redick are to thank for these images.

Chicago Fire Department Engine 69

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Big fire in Naperville

Jul 12

Posted by bgshap in Fire | Comments off

The Naperville Fire Department had a 3-11 alarm fire on Sunday which originated in a downtown restaurant. The Daily Herald has an article on the fire HERE. The fire originated in a grease chute inside the Rosebud Restaurant at 48 W. Chicago Avenue and proceeded to travel in the void spaces of the older building. All 10 Naperville houses were involved at the scene. The extra alarms brought mutual aid companies to the scene and to cover Naperville firehouses. Truck 1, one of the brand new twin Spartan/Crimson 103′ quints went to work in front of the building during the early stages of the incident. It was later moved down the street where it was photographed by Larry Shapiro. Mutual aid was provided by Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Plainfield, Lisle-Woodridge, Darien Woodridge, Wheaton, Warrenville, Aurora, Glen Ellyn, Tristate, Aurora, Lockport, North Aurora and Westmont.

Both of Naperville’s tower ladders were working and Squad 1, Engine 2 and two spare engines were pumping at the scene.

Naperville Truck 1 Spartan Crimson

Truck 1 was repositioned down the street after going to work in front of the building initially. Larry Shapiro photo

Naperville IL 3-11 alarm fire at Rosebud

The fire was very smokey at times as firefighters worked to locate all of the hidden fire within the walls and the multiple roofs. A tongue and groove ceiling also made finding extension difficult. Larry Shapiro photo

Naperville Tower 5 Rosbud restaurant fire

Smoke engulfs firefighters from Naperville Tower 5 as companies work to locate hidden fire along the parapet at the Rosebud restaurant fire in Naperville on Sunday. Larry Shapiro photo

A full gallery of shots can be seen HERE.

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Hinsdale is now on the site

Jul 10

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Listing, Site News | 1 Comment

Another addition to Division 10 is the Hinsdale Fire Department. They are a single station department with 26 career personnel serving the town of Hinsdale which covers roughly 4.64 square miles in DuPage County. They run two ambulances, three engines, and a tower ladder. Hinsdale has always had a rather unique color scheme shared in this area by only Carol Stream which is also in DuPage County. They both had bright yellow apparatus with black roofs. While Carol Stream changed to black over red several years ago, Hinsdale still maintained their entire fleet of suppression vehicles in the black over yellow colors until recently. In 2008, they received their newest unit, a Spartan/Rosenbauer/Metz Raptor tower ladder which was painted black over red. There is one other department locally with this unique aerial device, and that’s the Countryside Fire Protection District in Division 4 (Lake County). While both of these towers are on short, single axle chassis, the Countryside unit is on an HME chassis and has a white roof.

Hinsdale FD Spartan 3D engine

This color scheme is unique to the area but does not appear to be around for too much longer.

Hinsdale Fire Department Spartan Rosenbauer Metz Raptor

The newest unit arrived with a traditional 'Chicago-style' paint scheme.

Thanks to Karl Klotz for providing all of the Hinsdale images.

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New Crimson in Highland Park

Jul 5

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News, New Delivery | Comments off

Highland Park Engine 32‘s new pumper on the south side of town has gone into service recently. It is a Spartan Gladiator chassis and a Crimson body. Engine 32 has a 1,500 GPM pump, 500-gallon water tank, and like all Highland Park suppression rigs, it carries 40 gallons of foam. The new unit has graphics on the cab which state ‘Proudly Serving Ravinia’ which represents that end of town. Housed in Station 32 which has historical recognition in the neighborhood, the engine fits into tight quarters. The fire department is restricted with regards to any upgrades or renovations to the facility due to the landmark status. Alongside the new engine is Ambulance 32 and a company of four firefighters.

Highland Park Spartan Crimson Engine 32. Larry Shapiiro photo

The new Spartan Gladiator Crimson engine in Highland Park. Larry Shapiro photo

Highland Park Spartan Crimson engine

The officer's side of Engine 32. This is the first Highland Park purchase with a painted steel bumper. All of the other units in town have chrome bumpers. Larry Shapiro photo

Highland Park Spartan Crimson engine

Rear view of the new engine showing full height compartments, a hydraulic ladder rack, and NFPA compliant chevron. Larry Shapiro photo

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