The Sugar Creek (IN) Fire Department had a need for a new pumper to replace an aging engine, so it developed a set of specs that reflected what it would require of the rig, and then turned to Alexis Fire Equipment Company to build the pumper.
“We are past customers of Alexis,” says J.C. Gummere, Sugar Creek’s maintenance chief. “In 2018 we needed to get a tanker in a short time frame and purchased a demo tanker that Alexis had shown at FDIC International. We like their quality and user-friendly designs, so we also had them do a refurbishment of our heavy rescue before we went to them for the new pumper.”
Jason Cree, the salesman at Alexis who sold the pumper to Sugar Creek, says it’s built on a Spartan Metro Star MFD chassis and cab with a 10-inch raised roof, and seating for four firefighters, three in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) seats. The cab also holds a custom EMS (emergency medical services) compartment with two adjustable shelves and an electrical power strip.
Cree notes the pumper is powered by a 450-horsepower (hp) Cummins L9 diesel engine, an Allison 3000 EVS automatic transmission, and a Telma electro-magnetic brake retarder. Wheelbase on the rig is 211 inches, overall length is 33 feet 11 inches, overall height is 10 feet 5 inches, and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is 47,000 pounds.
The Sugar Creek pumper has a Hale DSD 1,500-gallons-per-minute (gpm) pump with top-mount controls, a 750-gallon polypropylene water tank, a 300-gallon foam tank, and a Darley CAFS (compressed air foam system), Gummere says. “This vehicle runs on automatic aid through a county agreement, so we have it outfitted as a rescue-pumper, carrying rope rescue equipment, water and ice rescue equipment, Hurst Jaws of Life eDraulic battery-powered hydraulic tools, and Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) equipment,” he points out.
The pumper has 6-inch suctions on the left and right sides, a gated 2-1/2-inch suction on the left side, two running board hose wells, a rear tank fill, two 2-1/2-inch discharges on both the left and right sides, and a 3-inch discharge with a 5-inch Storz adapter on the right. The rig has 100 feet of 1-3/4-inch hose line in the extended front bumper, two 1-3/4-inch hose lines of 200 feet each in removable trays as cross lays, one 200-foot 2-1/2-inch hose line in a removable tray cross lay, and a Task Force Tips (TFT) Crossfire monitor deck gun with an Extend-A-Gun fitting.
Cree says the Alexis pumper has ROM roll-up doors covering the compartments, a Federal Q2B siren, a Firecom intercom system, a TecNiq LED warning light package, Fire Research Corp. Spectra LED scene lighting, and a Whelen LED Traffic Advisor arrow stick.
ALAN M. PETRILLO is a Tucson, Ariz.-based journalist, the author of three novels and five non-fiction books, and a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment editorial advisory board. He served 22 years with Verdoy (NY) Fire Department, including the position of chief.
