The members of the Baden Volunteer Fire Department recently took delivery of a new pumper tanker built by Custom Fire on a Spartan cab and chassis with seating for six occupants and a 10-inch raised roof.
The department is located in the southern edge of Prince George County which has the largest first due area without municipal fire hydrants in the county at 67 square miles.
With the need for a new tanker, and an engine that also needed replacement soon, the department decided to go with a pumper tanker configuration. The department also came to the realization that they had a diminishing membership and, therefore, needed to bring a lot of water with them on first due fire calls.
Departments in the surrounding areas have pumper tankers, but Baden members wanted an apparatus that could respond as a first due engine as well in non-hydrant areas.
The department chose Custom Fire out of Osceola, Wisconsin to build the apparatus and the department members say it performs well above their expectations.
The apparatus has 1,600 feet of 3-inch supply lines, five preconnected attack lines, three 10-inch dump valves, two Firemen's Friend direct tank valves, a 3,000-gallon folding tank and slide in ladders.
