GVFP: Pierce Tactical Water Tender wildland apparatus placed into service

Friday, March 9, 2012

GVFP: Pierce Tactical Water Tender wildland apparatus placed into service

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, has placed a Pierce Tactical Water Tender wildland apparatus into service with the Garden Valley Fire Protection District (FPD) located in California's El Dorado County.

Garden Valley Fire Protection District Tactical Water Tender wildland apparatus

Engineered to meet National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) approved specifications, the new apparatus will provide water support for wildland firefighting operations for the District, as well as powerful fire suppression capabilities when called upon. The vehicle was purchased through a Fire Act Grant.

"We believe vehicles such as our New Pierce Tactical Water Tender are on the leading edge of a trend for wildland urban interface departments," said Bill Dekker, Garden Valley FPD fire chief. "It is flexible and very effective for wildland and structural responses; our new rig is fire attack ready and, in a few short months, has performed beyond our expectations on three major fires."

"This new Pierce Tactical Water Tender has the capabilities to carry a large amount of water and, with its firefighting systems, the firepower to provide suppression when needed," said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. "Pierce has the commitment -- and the expertise -- to build wildland firefighting vehicles of all types."

The Pierce Tactical Water Tender is built on a Freightliner chassis with a 360 hp engine and seating for two firefighters. The apparatus features a 2,100-gallon water tank, a 180-degree quick dump rear discharge, and a 2,500-gallon portable folding water tank.

In addition, the vehicle is outfitted with a remote control front bumper turret, rear inlet, 1,100 feet of supply line, SCBA bottle storage above the wheel wells, and a hose reel.

"Having a new fire truck in Garden Valley has caused quite a bit of positive publicity throughout the community," adds Chief Dekker.

The real reason: "This Pierce tender is helping the citizens of Garden Valley by providing a new level of fire protection -- and it will even generate revenue when called upon by the U.S. Forest Service or CalFire to fight wildfires. In tough economic times, that's a big deal."

The Garden Valley FPD, operating from three fire stations, is a combination paid and volunteer department providing fire protection, rescue, and initial response medical aid to a population of 7,500. Garden Valley FPD is located in approximately 60 square miles of unincorporated area in northern El Dorado County in the historic Gold Country region.

Garden Valley FPD provides automatic mutual aid with the Georgetown Fire Department, Eldorado County Fire Protection District, CalFire, and the U.S. Forest Service, depending on the location and type of call.

Pierce dealer, Golden State Fire Apparatus, and regional service provider, Burton's Fire, Inc. of Modesto, California, provide local support.

California Fire News 2011

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Friday, March 9, 2012