Our

Apparatus

Our command vehicle, a 2001 F-350 4 x 4 with diesel engine,and automatic transmission replaced the '78 Ford in August of 2001. It sports a 300 gallon skid mount tank and pump system, a four bottle breathing air cascade system, basic extrication equipment, medical supplies and devices and other wild fire fighting tools.

In 1998, we took delivery of a Pierce/Freightliner pumper. It succeeds a 1974 Ford/General pumper. It sports a 1250 gpm waterous single stage pump, 1000 gallon tank and Class A foam. The Cummins Diesel and Allison Automatic transmission have improved our response times considerably.

Lacking a hydrant water supply, we must haul every drop of water we apply to a fire. In addition to relying heavily on mutual aide, we also help ourselves by using a pair of tankers, 3000 gallons and 2000 gallons respectively.

This unit, on a Mack chassis, has proven to be a tremendous asset. It replaced a cabover International that proved to be too light for the job. The body was built in 1993 and installed on this chassis in 2000. A portable pump provides whatever pumping is necessary. A 2800 gallon portable tank is also carried in the hose rack area above the tank. Two quickfill connectors are located on the rear with a 10" square dump. The truck can be filled in less than three minutes from another pumper and emptied in one and a half.

The other half of the tanker duo is this 1984 International. It carries 2000 gallons of water and is set up identically to the Mack. It is the oldest of the first line trucks but is a steady performer. The body was custom built in 1992 on a used chassis. This truck is now stationed at Pioneer along with our old engine.

The oldest vehicle is our '74 Ford/General pumper. It has a 750 gpm pump and 750 gallon tank. It's the only gas engine, manual transmission vehicle in the fleet. This vehicle will serve as one of two pumpers in the Pioneer Station. It is now a back-up vehicle and is used on wild fires and small mop-up operations.

On loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this '84 5/4 ton Chev will fill a void created by our program to get ever larger vehicles, making access to some of the areas in our district difficult if not impossible. Although there have been costs involved with getting it operational, it still belongs to the state.