13 Sep 2010
Pierce Velocity pumper equipped with
2010 EPA was displayed
at FRI 2010 in Chicago

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation company, displayed 10 fire and rescue vehicles at booth #4336 at the 2010 International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire-Rescue International Exhibits and Conference in Chicago, Ill., August 27-28.

“On behalf of all Pierce employees and our dealer network, we are excited to, once again, have a major presence at Fire Rescue International, because it is such a great opportunity to highlight our innovative vehicles and technologies,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “Pierce apparatus are built based on the voice of our customers – fire departments of all sizes – and there is no better venue than Fire Rescue International to display the full line of Pierce fire and emergency vehicles.”

On display is a Pierce® Velocity™ pumper equipped with an exclusive 2010 EPA compliant Detroit Diesel DD13 engine. This engine offers 500 hp, improved fuel economy, and near zero emissions, and it features a patent pending packaging solution that will not adversely affect wheelbase length, cab and compartment space, or choice of options on the vast majority of apparatus. Detroit Diesel also displayed the same Pierce exclusive 2010 engine in booth #1604.

Also featured two Pierce heavy-duty aerial ladders, including a 75-foot aluminum ladder built on a Velocity chassis. The second Pierce heavy-duty aerial ladder is a 100-foot apparatus with a stainless steel body built on an Arrow XT™ chassis with frontal airbags, side roll protection system, 12-foot stabilizer spread and 144-feet of ground ladder storage.

A Pierce 100-foot steel aerial platform built on a Velocity chassis and incorporating the PUC design was on display as well

A Pierce 100-foot steel aerial platform built on a Velocity chassis and incorporating the Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) design was on display as well. The PUC is an industry-changing multi-purpose response vehicle that is engineered to eliminate the need for a bulky pumphouse. It features a simplified two-step pump shift operation and the entire pump system is located above the frame for easier and quicker service and maintenance.

There were a total of four pumpers in the booth, including three PUC pumpers built on Impel™, Quantum® and Contender™ chassis. The display also featured a Freightliner pumper with a 1250 gpm pump rating, full pump-in- motion capability to fight fast moving wildland fires, stainless steel plumbing, 1,000 gallon water tank, Control Zone™ top mount pump panel and a wide range of storage compartments.

A Pierce non-walk-in heavy-duty rescue vehicle built on a Velocity chassis is featured. This vehicle offers TAK-4® independent front suspension, an 84-inch cab, 20-inch raised roof and seating for eight firefighters. The unit also featured integral roof hatches and light mast, 500 lb. adjustable slide out floor trays, pull out tool boards, tilt-down shelves, rear and side winch receivers and a cascade breathing air system.

A Pierce dryside tanker on Peterbilt chassis was also displayed at FRI in Chicago

Finally, on display in the Peterbilt booth #523 was a Pierce dryside tanker on a Peterbilt chassis. This vehicle features a 2,200-gallon poly water tank, 1,000-gpm pump, stainless steel plumbing and an aluminum body with roll-up doors. This was the first time a Pierce fire truck was available on a Peterbilt chassis.

Pierce would like to thank the following departments for participating in FRI by displaying its apparatus: The U.S. Navy, Great Lakes, Ill.; St. John’s Fire Department, S.C.; South Holland Fire Department, Ill.; Deer Creek Fire Protection District, Okla.; Township of River Vale Fire District, N.J.; Iola Fire Department, Kan. and the Dix Hills Fire District, N.Y.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom Fire Apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus.