Innovative Rigs on the Street: Hollywood's Short Wheelbase Pumper

Created: January 5, 2010

Photo by Tom W. Shand

The ground ladders and standpipe packs are mounted low on the right side of the body for ease of deployment.
The ground ladders and standpipe packs are mounted low on the right side of the body for ease of deployment.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

An overall view of the right side of Engine 72 showing the side cab warning and scene lighting. Note the windshield mounted down view mirror at the right side of the cab.
An overall view of the right side of Engine 72 showing the side cab warning and scene lighting. Note the windshield mounted down view mirror at the right side of the cab.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

The slide out tray for the pump operator carries a variety of adapters and fittings with each mounted in its own position for rapid identification and use on the fireground.
The slide out tray for the pump operator carries a variety of adapters and fittings with each mounted in its own position for rapid identification and use on the fireground.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

The hose bed layout includes two pre-connected attack lines together with a supply line bed with 1,500 feet of 4-inch hose and 400 feet of 3-inch hose.
The hose bed layout includes two pre-connected attack lines together with a supply line bed with 1,500 feet of 4-inch hose and 400 feet of 3-inch hose.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

The pump panel on Engine 72 features six-inch master gauges, recessed crosslays and a Safety Vision camera. Note the position and location of the discharges and intake valve controls.
The pump panel on Engine 72 features six-inch master gauges, recessed crosslays and a Safety Vision camera. Note the position and location of the discharges and intake valve controls.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

The inside of each cab door is provided with two LED warning lights and full height stainless steel protection panels.
The inside of each cab door is provided with two LED warning lights and full height stainless steel protection panels.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

The reinforced stainless steel bumper protects the front intake, trash line and cab mounted warning devices.
The reinforced stainless steel bumper protects the front intake, trash line and cab mounted warning devices.
Photo by Tom W. Shand

Hollywood Engine 72 is a 2009 Pierce Arrow XT short wheelbase pumper equipped with a single-stage 1500-gpm pump with a 750-gallon water tank.
Hollywood Engine 72 is a 2009 Pierce Arrow XT short wheelbase pumper equipped with a single-stage 1500-gpm pump with a 750-gallon water tank.

When we hear the location of Hollywood most of us think about the movie industry, sunny southern California and maybe even the days when Crown Fire Apparatus was the predominant fire truck on the west coast. However the Hollywood covered in this article can be found in Saint Mary's County in southern Maryland where the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department operates a well designed fleet of apparatus.

The Hollywood Fire Department operates from a single station under the command of Chief Robb Albert. The department was formed in 1957 and currently staffs three engine companies, a ladder truck, one heavy squad and two brush units with all volunteer staffing. During 2008 the department responded to 773 incidents including mutual aid responses to other departments in both Saint Mary's and Calvert Counties. Approximately 285 of these incidents were for reported building fires, so the department has placed particular emphasis on purchasing apparatus that are safely designed to operate at the multitude of target hazards in their response area.

The host for our visit to Hollywood was Assistant Chief Doug Insley, who works for the Arlington County, VA, Fire Department as a battalion chief and overseas their apparatus specification and purchasing program. As a result Chief Insley is well versed in the numerous details of the apparatus procurement process and was instrumental in the design of Hollywood's current fleet of units.

The newest unit is Engine 72, which was designed by the department's apparatus committee working closely with the sales representative from Singer Associates, the local Pierce dealership. The apparatus is based upon a Pierce Arrow XT cab and chassis with a short 184.5-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 30 feet, nine inches. The unit is powered by a Cummins model ISM engine rated at 500-horsepower through an Allison EVS-4000 transmission. The aluminum body is 136 inches long and is equipped with six enclosed compartments with hinged body doors on the side and a single roll-up door at the rear.

The fire attack capability of this apparatus is provided by a Hale Q-Max single-stage pump rated at 1500 gpm. which is equipped with a Feecon APH 400-gpm around the pump foam system that can supply any of the 11 pump discharges on the unit. Engine 72 is equipped with six pre-connected lines including a bumper trash line, two 200-foot 1 3/4-inch and one 200-foot 2-inch attack lines in crosslay beds. The two 1 3/4-inch lines are equipped with combination nozzles with the 2-inch line equipped with a one-inch smooth bore tip. The three crosslays were specially designed to be lower to the ground than standard for easier deployment. The rear hose bed is outfitted with a 200-foot 2 1/2-inch attack line and a 350-foot 1 3/4-inch line for buildings with longer set backs. The supply line hose bed carries 1,500 feet of 4-inch supply line together with 400 feet of 3-inch hose. The department utilizes a Humat hydrant valve on the four-inch supply line which enables the engine to develop a continuous supply of water for initial attack when laying out from a hydrant. The initial attack capability of this unit is provided by a 750-gallon water tank. The foam tank carries 30 gallons of Class B concentrate. Master stream capabilities are provided by a top mounted deck gun supplied by a three-inch discharge with a Task Force Extenda Gun.

The front bumper is a heavy duty stainless steel design with full width steel channel reinforcement. In addition to the trash line, the bumper is equipped with a fuive-inch front inlet controlled at the pump panel with an Elkhart electric valve. The right side six-inch steamer inlet is equipped with a Hale MIV with a manual override. An additional fuve-inch gated rear intake is provided as well. Special emphasis was placed on the layout and design of the pump panel to include six-inch master pump gauges, a pressure relief valve and all discharge gates and gauges in a straight line to make pump operations easier and safer. A unique feature of the apparatus is the use of a Safety Vision camera system with additional cameras located at both the left and right side pump panels. The cameras not only monitor these sides of the apparatus during responses but are utilized for pump operator training by recording the routine activities and operations that are conducted by the driver and pump operator during incidents.

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