Toyne Inc. - Experts & Thought Leaders

A new year brings new challenges, and for the Star Lake Fire District (SLFD), they’ll meet those challenges head-on with its recently delivered Toyne Pumper. Rigged out with top-tier firefighting and emergency response hardware, SLFD’s Toyne Tailored Apparatus is ready to take the call. Established in 1929, this fire district has served the Star Lake community for 94 years. Located in New York’s Adirondack Mountains in St. Lawrence County, SLFD responds to a wide variety of fire and emergency medical situations, taking over 200 calls annually. With the need to grow its response capabilities, the fire district tasked Toyne to build a tailored pumper. Emergency response hardware Toyne crafted the pumper body with welded stainless steel and painted it in the fire district’s unique blue and black color scheme. It features a number of customized compartments equipped with roll-up doors, a swing-out tool board, and several in-compartment mounted tool boards. SLFD firefighters can store six SCBA bottles and wheel chocks in dedicated compartments Maximizing storage space wherever possible, SLFD firefighters can store six SCBA bottles and wheel chocks in dedicated compartments within the apparatus’ wheel wells. At the back of the pumper, there is slide-in stowage for ladders, pike poles, and hard suction hose. Additional equipment can be placed in a rear compartment with a roll-out storage tray. Star Lake’s newest apparatus boasts a 1,000-gallon UPF tank and 1,250-GPM Hale Qmax pump. Slide-Out storage trays For additional support on the scene, the pumper is equipped with a Foam Pro 1600 Class-A foam system and a 25-gallon foam tank. The apparatus is also fitted with an Akron Stream Master monitor. Toyne mounted the body onto a Spartan Metro Star LTD chassis. This apparatus is powered by a 450-horsepower Cummins ISL9 engine and an Allison 3000 EVS Transmission. The cab of the Metro Star has a 10-inch raised roof and a transverse EMS compartment with slide-out storage trays. “We are honored to build Star Lake Fire District’s first Toyne Pumper,” said Bill Bird, Toyne Product Support Coordinator, adding “Each delivery is special, especially a department’s first one. We can’t wait to see what the fire district does with their new Toyne.” Authorized Toyne Dealer - Shakerley Fire Sales (a subsidiary of VRS Fire Sales) sold the Toyne Pumper to SLFD. The dealer is located in Round Lake, New York.

A pair of Toyne Tailored Apparatus is a welcomed sight for Southwest Central Fire Territory (SWCFT) firefighters in South Bend, Indiana. Their latest Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender delivery concludes a multi-apparatus buildup for the department in 2022. Toyne is proud to have been a part of SWCFT’s modernization efforts.  Established in 2008 with the merger of two departments, SWCFT protects a 75-square-mile area comprising unincorporated Centre and Portage townships, as well as most of unincorporated Greene township. They operate out of two stations with 19 full-time and 14 paid on-call firefighters. New Toyne apparatus Earlier this year, the department had received its first new Toyne apparatus: a fully customized pumper. This Toyne Pumper replaced an older engine and now carries the designation “Engine 41” and is stationed with SWCFT’s Squad 41 at their Fillmore Road Station. Similarly, their Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender will replace an older apparatus in their fleet. These new additions greatly enhance the department’s ability to take call. Authority comment Toyne is proud of this new partnership, as they are an admirable department with great dedication “It’s been a pleasure to work closely with the Southwest Central Fire Territory for each of their Toyne deliveries over the last year,” said Bill Bird, Toyne Product Support Coordinator. “We are very proud of this new partnership, as they are an admirable department with great dedication and unwavering support to the residents they serve.” SWCFT’s pumper tanker/tender SWCFT’s pumper tanker/tender lives up to its name, equipped with a 3,000-gallon UPF tank and 1,000-GPM Hale MBP pump. For additional scene support, crews can rapidly deploy a 3,000-gallon Syntex portable tank by utilizing the apparatus’ Zico Hydraulic porta tank rack. Firefighters can also control an electric dump chute on the rear and one on each side of the apparatus. Freightliner SD114 6x4 chassis Under the hood is a 450-HP Cummins ISL9 engine with an Allison 3000 EVS transmission Toyne mounted the custom body on a two-door Freightliner SD114 6x4 chassis. Under the hood is a 450-HP Cummins ISL9 engine with an Allison 3000 EVS transmission. The apparatus has custom lettering and stripping. For lighting, the pumper tanker/tender has Whelen warning lighting, FRC LED 900-Q65 scene lighting, and ILI LED strip compartment lighting. This apparatus was sold to SWCFT by The Fire Company, an authorized Toyne dealer in Allendale, Michigan. Featured Delivery page For a look into the build of this Toyne Pumper Tanker/Tender, delve deeper into the September Featured Delivery page. One can find a photo gallery, an in-depth apparatus highlight video, and delivery information about the department’s pumper tanker/tender.

Fully operational equipment is essential to take effective and responsible action during an emergency situation. No piece of equipment is as vital as the fire apparatus. While departments are already armed with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) codes and standards for emergency vehicle maintenance, there are other general apparatus inspection and maintenance practices that build on top of that foundation. Toyne, Inc. has been building call-ready apparatus for nearly 80 years. With that in mind, the team at Toyne has assembled five tips to take the apparatus maintenance to peak performance. 1. Be Proactive, Not Reactive Preventative maintenance is the best kind of maintenance. Taking the initiative early on to address any problems will not only extend the life of the apparatus but also ensure that the vehicle and crew are always ready to take the call. For larger maintenance projects, schedule repairs as soon as an issue arises. 2. Utilize Available Resources With all of the high-tech equipment and components onboard modern fire apparatus, it is a great idea to regularly take advantage of the resources around for maintenance-related questions. The apparatus manufacturer will include an operator’s manual, CDs, or flash drives that highlight proper apparatus maintenance and parts information. One may also consider reaching out directly to the manufacturer for service insight. 3. Become Familiar with Apparatus and Create Checklists Take the time to look over every facet of the apparatus, become familiar with how everything works. That way, it will be more adept at identifying when something isn’t working the way it should be or knowing when maintenance should be scheduled. Creating a checklist that is logged daily is a good way to know what’s on the apparatus Creating a checklist that is logged daily is a good way to know what’s on the apparatus and what condition each component is in throughout its lifespan. For some ideas on what could be in the department’s checklist, one can divide the inspections into apparatus mechanical checks and compartment equipment checks. Apparatus Mechanical Checks Keep a detailed account of critical mechanical aspects of the apparatus. Log apparatus mileage and when the next service is needed Record tire air pressures, fuel tank level, engine oil level, water & foam tank levels, etc. Test lights and sirens Evaluate apparatus body condition Check pump panel, gauges, valves, and pressure governor Compartment Equipment Checks Catalog what equipment is supposed to be in each compartment of the fire engine so one can document any missing gear and its condition. Test radios, headsets, and/or other communication equipment in the cab Record tire air pressures, fuel tank level, engine oil level, water & foam tank levels, etc. Check fuel and oil levels in equipment such as chainsaws and portable pumps 4. Post-Emergency Apparatus Evaluation After responding to a call, be sure to inspect the apparatus and equipment thoroughly. Look for damage to areas like pumps, hose connection points, and fluid leaks such as engine oil, coolant, or brake lines. Ensure that there is enough fuel in the tank, etc. 5. Communicate Potential Problems Communication is key when building effective teams. That’s why when one sees parts and components of an apparatus that are in need of repair or could be compromised, one needs to notify the entire team. When shifts change, fellow firefighters could be unaware of problems that will cause issues during the next emergency call.