Pierce Manufacturing Announces The Sale Of The 300th Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower To The Austin Fire Department

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, has announced the sale of the 300th Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration, purchased by the Austin Fire Department, in Texas, USA, through authorized dealer – Siddons Martin Emergency Group.

Since its introduction in 2018 and following the 200th sale, just one year ago, this aerial configuration has proven to offer an unmatched combination of maneuverability, operability, and serviceability in the industry.

Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower

There are many reasons for the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower’s popularity and significant sales volume. Most notably is growth in cities across the U.S.A and the impact on infrastructure, as well as the increased safety benefits of pedestrian-friendly roadways.

According to the State Smart Transportation Initiative, fire departments have historically pushed back on the narrowing of roadways, because it impedes on the maneuverability of large fire trucks. However, trends show the narrowing of roadways to accommodate pedestrian walkways and bikeways, as well as growth in urban and suburban infrastructure, will continue in the years ahead.

Pedestrian-friendly access to business and residential areas

As driving lanes narrow, this presents a challenge for maneuvering fire trucks"

Greg Tatsch, the Director of Sales for Siddons Martin Emergency Group, said “Public interest in more pedestrian-friendly access to business and residential areas has been on the rise, and in recent years, the City of Austin has added bike lanes to downtown streets.”

Greg Tatsch adds, “As driving lanes narrow, this presents a challenge for maneuvering fire trucks. The option to have a mid-mount tower with a low overall height and length and without a large tail swing was extremely important for the Austin Fire Department, and we were proud to offer a game-changing fire apparatus with those attributes.”

Features of Austin Fire Department’s Ascendant Aerial Tower

Features of the Austin Fire Department’s new Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration include:

• Pierce Velocity chassis
• Mid-mount 100’ heavy-duty steel aerial tower
• Cummins X15 605 hp engine
• TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension
• Short overall height of 10’ 11” and length of 43’ 3” for superior maneuverability
• Integrated ground pads
• 20’ setback capacity
• 20-degree below grade operation

The Austin Fire Department responds to 130,000 calls for service annually, with 1,200 personnel, among 51 fire stations, spread throughout the city. As Austin’s urban and suburban roadways became narrower to accommodate its residential and business growth, the fire department recognized the benefits of the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower.

“Austin’s downtown area has experienced explosive growth and having an apparatus with the ability to easily maneuver through narrower streets and increased traffic is critical to our mission,” said Lance Zenkner, the Battalion Chief with the Austin Fire Department.

Easy maneuverability

Another critical factor related to fire apparatus size and selection is firehouse accessibility and layout

He adds, “What attracted us most to the Ascendant mid-mount configuration is maneuverability, in terms of cramp angle and turning radius, it’s also easy to operate, and can be setup and ready within about 90 seconds. As the city continues to grow, this tower has become a necessity to serve our community safely and effectively.”

Another critical factor related to fire apparatus size and selection is firehouse accessibility and layout. Historic firehouses tend to be more compact than newer firehouses, with the National Fire Protection Agency citing over 21,000 firehouses across the U.S.A that are beyond 40 years of age.

Significant demand for this best-in-class fire apparatus

Jim Johnson, the Executive Vice President and President, Fire & Emergency, at Oshkosh Corporation, said “We’ve seen remarkable interest in the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower, because its size and maneuverability solve a problem for many fire departments, without compromising on performance.”

He adds, “The 300th sale proves the significant demand for this best-in-class fire apparatus, and we are grateful for our customers’ confidence in Pierce’s quality and service support.”