Posts Tagged Gladiator

Chicago sells reserve Snorkel

Oct 7

Posted by bgshap in Fire Department News | 2 Comments

Dennis McGuire, Jr. provided the following update:

Year: 1987

Chassis Manufacturer: SPARTAN

Body Manufacturer: E-ONE

Aerial Device: 55′ SNORKEL

Hours: 748

VIN: 158BT0L07HC185046

Running Condition: DOES NOT RUN

Sold for $4550.00

City of Chicago – City of Chicago Online Auctions

Decommissioned Chicago Reserve Snorkel. Chicago Auction Site photo

Driver's side of decommissioned Snorkel. Chicago Auction Site photo

E-ONE body and 55' Snorkel boom of the decommissioned Snorkel. Chicago Auction Site photo

Tags: Chicago, E-ONE, Gladiator, McGuire, Reserve, Snorkel, Spartan

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.

Tags: Chicago, Crimson, FRI, Gladiator, in production, International Fire Chiefs, Spartan

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.

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.

Tags: 3D, Countryside, Division 10, Division 4, Gladiator, Hinsdale, Klotz, Metz, Pierce, Raptor, Rosenbauer, Spartan

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

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

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

Tags: chevron, Crimson, Division 4, Gladiator, Highland Park, hydraulic ladder rack, NFPA, Shapiro, Spartan

Glen Ellyn is on the site

Jul 3

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

The Glen Ellyn Fire Company becomes only the second department posted to date representing Division 12. They are a volunteer department with a paid chief and contract medics who staff one ambulance in each station. Glen Ellyn has a reputation for purchasing interesting apparatus that are not the ‘norm’ for the area. Unique to them, they order engines in pairs so that they can place identical units in each station. They have two pair of engines that were purchased like this; one pair from 1983 built by 3D on Spartan Silent Knight (rear engine) chassis and the other pair was purchased in 1993 that are on Spartan Gladiator chassis with Saulsbury bodies.

Glen Ellyn has a truck in each station and various squad units. For many years now one of their trucks has been a Snorkel. Currently they have a 2000 Spartan Gladiator/Marion 75′ Snorkel in the downtown house and a 102′ Grumman AerialCat in the Taft Avenue station.

They have a beautiful statue outside their headquarters building, the money for which was donated to the department by an individual in recognition of the fire company celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2007.

The money for this statue which resides at Glen Ellyn Station 1 was donated by an individual in recognition of the Glen Ellyn Fire Company Centennial in 2007. Larry Shairo photo

Tags: 1926, 3D, AerialCat, antique, Division 12, Gladiator, Glen Ellyn, Grumman, Marion, Saulsbury, Seagrave, Shapiro, Silent Knight, Snorkel, Spartan, statue, volunteer

Division 16 is complete

Jul 2

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

Station 2 is home to a medic unit, an engine, and the special teams which includes haz mat, the dive team, and a mobile unit for the fire investigation team. Larry Shapiro photo

Division 16 encompasses only three fire departments but it represents roughly 100 square miles of area and includes 19 fire stations. The departments are Downers Grove, Lisle Woodridge, and Naperville. Previously, Downers Grove and recently Naperville have been added to the site with their combined 14 stations. As of today, the five stations of the Lisle Woodridge Fire District are on the site as well.

Lisle Woodridge 2009 Pierce Impel engine

Engine 541 (running out of station 4) is the newest unit in the fleet. Larry Shapiro photo

MABAS Division 16 Special Operations Unit

Three of the Lisle Woodridge stations are in the Village of Lisle and two are in the Village of Woodridge. They staff four engines, two trucks, a battalion chief and four medic units. One of the medic units is only staffed for 12 hours a day. Neither of their truck companies (one ladder and one platform) carries water or has a pump. Lisle Woodridge used to maintain a suppression fleet that was 100% E-ONE and a medic fleet of Freightliner/Life Line ambulances. Today, though several E-ONE units remain in the fleet, they are being phased out by Pierce units. Currently both trucks and two of the engines are Pierce. The medic units are still from Life Line although the Freightliner FL60 chassis are being replaced with IHC 4300 chassis.

Lisle Woodridge 1984 Spartan Gladiator EONE rescue unit

This unit which has no official assigned duties was one of the first super-command-cab units built by Spartan back in 1984. Spartan introduced these enormous cabs to the fire service and the first few units were built for suburban Chicago departments including this EONE rescue, a Frontline rescue for North Palos, and an FMC pumper for Fox Lake. The square cab design was not popular and made way for a contoured cab after a short period of time.

Tags: Division 16, Downers Grove, E-ONE, EONE, FMC, Fox Lake, Freightliner, Frontline, Gladiator, IHC, Life Line, Lisle, Lisle Woodridge, Naperville, North Palos, Pierce, Spartan

New Crimson in Highland Park

Jun 23

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

Highland Park Engine 32 is a 2010 Spartan Gladiator 1500/500 Crimson. Crimson photo

The new Crimson engine in Highland Park has been lettered for Station 32 on the south end of town in the Ravinia neighborhood. This 2010 Spartan Gladiator/Crimson has a 1500 GPM pump and a 500-gallon water tank.

Tags: Crimson, Division 4, Gladiator, Highland Park, Spartan

Elburn receives new Alexis Squad

Apr 29

Posted by bgshap in New Delivery | Comments off

Alexis Fire Equipment has delivered a new squad to the Elburn and Countryside FPD. A complete itemization of the unit’s specifications can be seen HERE. The unit has a Spartan Gladiator Classic MFD cab with a 10″ raised roof. Squad 301 has a 20-foot walk-around body with roll-up doors and a Wil-Burt light tower nested on the top of the body.

2010 Spartan Gladiator Classic Alexis squad for Elburn. Alexis photo

When the unit goes into service, it will replace a 1990/1985 Ford/McCoy Miller MDR.

Officer's side view of storage compartments. Alexis photo

Driver's side view of storage compartments. Alexis photo

Tags: Alexis, Classic, Elburn, Gladiator, Night Scan, Spartan, squad, Wlburt

Local production updates

Apr 24

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

CRIMSON: The Spartan Gladiator Classic/Crimson engine for Highland Park should be at the local dealership within the next two weeks. After the appication of graphics have been completed, the 1500/500/40 engine which is slated for Station 32 in the Ravinia section of town should be delivered.

The order for 30-103′ rear mount aerial ladder trucks for Chicago will be on Spartan Gladiator Classic MFD chassis with a 10″ raised extension on the sides and a notched cab to maintain a low travel height. The first chassis should be readying soon for production at Spartan. Crimson built a demo to the Chicago specifications last year and sold it as a stock truck to Jersey City, NJ which can be seen HERE. Although there have been some modifications to the final design, this is pretty close to what t he final units will look like in Chicago, including the gray ladder.

photo by Ron Jeffers

HME AHRENS FOX: Oak Park has two HME Ahrens Fox custom pumpers on order. These will be on the HME 1971W cab with 400hp engines, 1500 GPM pumps and 750 gallon water tanks. The units are expected to be delivered in October of 2010.

SVI Trucks: The rescue coming for the Cherry Valley FPD should be on display at the Fire Rescue International trade show in August at McCormick Place. This is being built on a single axle Gladiator chassis with a Classic LFD cab, forward facing seating for five, and a 10″ raised roof. It will feature a 20′ walk-around body, roll-up doors, a top mounted Command Light and top of body compartments with a rear staircase for access.

Tags: Ahrens Fox, Cherry Valley, Chicago, Crimson, Gladiator, Highland Park, HME, Oak Park, Spartan, Super Vac, SVI

Division 19 updates

Apr 11

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

In Frankfort,

Karl Klotz has supplied the following updates – Frankfort has acquired a 2010 Ford/Horton Type I MICU which will run out of Station 4 when it opens … tentatively in June. Frankfort has also ordered a new brush rig for Station 4 and a they are refurbishing the brush rig from Station 3. Lastly, Frankfort has ordered a new buggy for the Battalion Chief.

The Frankfort station pages on the site have been updated with the individual company logos.

Ambulance 4 is a 2010 Ford F450/Horton which will run out of the new Station #4. Photo by Karl Klotz

The decal for Frankfort Company 3. Photo by Karl Klotz

In East Joliet,

Karl has provided a photo of the new Engine 531. Running out of Station 3, it’s a 2009 Pierce Saber 1500/1000/30 which is painted white over red. Engine 531 has a Wil-Burt light tower on the cab roof. (this should be standard issue for all engines … fire buffs need the nighttime scene lighting to assist with fire photography) The old Engine 531 is currently being stored at Station 1.

Photo by Karl Klotz

In New Lenox,

A new Sutphen Engine has been assigned as 1631. This was a demo unit which served at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet last year.

2009 Sutphen Shield 1500/750/30. Photo by Karl Klotz.

Sutphen Shield demo pumper when it was working at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. Photo by Karl Klotz

In Orland Park,

Three Spartan Gladiator/Darley engines have been put into service as Engines 2, 3 & 6. These CAFS pumpers feature bodies by Plastisol … made from a glass-fiber reinforced polyester resin … and have 1500 GPM pumps, with 750 gallon water tanks plus 30 gallons of Type A foam.