FDIC 2014

[Roto-Ray]

Well, another year comes and goes, and 30,000 of the nation's bravest made their way to Indianapolis for FDIC.  It was a  really good trip for yours truly this year, aside from some inconveniences at the hotel.

 

This was a great year to catch up with some old friends, as well as finally getting to put a face with some folks I've talked to on the internet for years.  Some of the who's who in apparatus histories and photography were there:  Greg Stapleton, Dennis Maag, Kent Parrish, Lukas Prestovnik (who gets an award from flying from Austria to shoot a single fire engine), Dave Mattingly, Bill Friederich, Glenn Vincent, Steve Loftin, Tom Shand (who I passed at a distance in the Pierce booth).  I also got to talk to Travis "Juice" Messersmith, John "T-Bone" Raley, and Rick Mosher passed through a booth I was standing in as well.  Did I miss anyone?

 

Anyhoo, I'm sure you all are ready for the photos.

 

First up, an overview of the Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS), where Pierce, Alexis, and HME were on display.

 

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The only rig that I had a request to shoot (hi, Kelvin!) was this 2014 Piece Arrow XT for DeKalb County, GA.  Job #27066 features a 1000/500/30 setup.

 



 

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As you'd expect, this beautiful Pierce Impel PUC was getting a lot of attention.  Bound for Cinnaminson, NJ, it's 1500/750/50 rig with a 450HP Cummins.

 

[AFD Prescott]

Glad to finally see some photos posted of what was there, keep them coming. LOL

[Roto-Ray]

You can't go wrong with this big Pierce Arrow XT industrial foam pumper for Elizabeth, NJ.  It has a 2000gpm Hale 8FG pump, 750 gallon water tank, 300 gallon foam tank with a 60GPM pump, a 65' Snozzle as well.

 

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If you love heavy rescues, you'll love this one.  Although it's slated for the small town of Port Washington, WI, it certainly has an East-Coast flair.  Job #26988 features....well, way too much stuff to list.

 

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I never did get the story on this Saber demo lettered for Jacksonville, FL, a department that has traditionally purchased XT's and other beefy chassis.

 

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Albany, OR will operate this Pierce Velocity aerial, job #27081.   Specs: 1750/500/20/105' RM.

 

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Let's come back to the Pierces in a little while.

 

Over in the Indiana Convention Center (ICC), we found this Western Star/Warner that will bring big water to the New Bremen Fire Department.

 



 

[Roto-Ray]

Long known for their green-and-yellow apparatus, as well as being long-time E\-One customers, Bryn Mawr, PA will be operating this classy pumper soon.  Anyone who has the specs for this is welcome to post them (if not, I can blow up the pic on my other computer and read the poster!)

 

[Roto-Ray]

The City of Independence, OH will operate E\-One SO #138573 as Engine 1.  Built on the eMAX platform, it's a 1500/750/30 configuration with rescue-style compartments.

 



 

Traffic director controllers:  if 1 is good, 3 is better!

 

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Horton (or was it WC?) had this flip-up traffic advisor with inlaid LED's.  Not huge, but it was actually somewhat effective.

 

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Hackney built a rescue on this big-ass Kenworth T470 chassis for Blowing Rock, NC.  Getting a decent pic of this one was next to impossible.

 

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Whiteford Twp, MI will operate this International/Spartan ERV urban interface pumper.

 



 

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Travis informed me that the Line-X finish on the front of of this Ferrara ladder for the Wayne Twp, IN is something that the WFD has been doing for a while.

 

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San Francisco, the East Coast department stuck on the West Coast, will operate this stout little Spartan ERV 1750/500 pumper.

 



 

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Also from the Spartan ERV folks is this pumper for Arlington, TX.

 



 

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Maryland's Anne Arundel County will be taking delivery of five of these Spartan ERV pumpers, their first purchase from this manufacturer.  I hear there was a significant delay in construction and delivery of these rigs.

 

This one will serve E171 in Arnold.

 

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[Roto-Ray]

Speaking of Lukas, here's the rig that he traveled a few thousand miles to shoot: a 4x4 Rosenbauer Commander for Steamboat Springs.

 

[Roto-Ray]

Junction City, Kansas will also be a Rosenbauer customer with the delivery of this Commander pumper.  Not the cable-style valve control handles, a design that I really like.