Ocala, FL (December 8, 2011) – After unprecedented interest from fire departments and multiple awards in the few short months since its introduction, the Town of Apex Fire Department is the first to place an eMAX by E-ONE into active service.
“The first 48 hours it was in service our eMAX ran on two severe vehicle accidents and performed great,” Chief Mark Haraway of the Town of Apex Fire Department said. “Having the engine and rescue capability on one truck is invaluable and everyone who has operated or served on the new eMAX loves it.”
With aging fleets and tight budgets a common concern for today’s fire chiefs, doing more with less and combining first responder functions to maximize budgets is a common occurrence. E-ONE’s eMAX allows departments to combine the fire protection found in pumpers with the storage ability often only found in rescue units.
“We looked at similar products by other manufacturers but we felt the eMAX appeared to have a better layout,” Chief Haraway said. “Now that we have all our equipment in place we’ve realized just how true that is. Our eMAX is Class A equipped for NFPA as an Engine, accredited as a medium duty rescue, carries 2000 feet of hose and still has room to spare.”
Perhaps one of the best features of the eMAX is the fact that you can have the maximum amount of storage on a maneuverable body design due to the narrow pump operator’s panel.
“While we love the compartment space, the biggest surprise has been the maneuverability,” Chief Haraway said. “Our guys drove the eMAX down tight streets with ease but when they turned in a cul-de-sac without having to reverse – they were sold! We’ve never seen a fire truck that maneuverable.”
But this purchase didn’t merely benefit the Town of Apex Fire Department. Due to the assistance of Fire Connections, the E-ONE dealer for North Carolina, a neighboring department also benefited from Apex FD’s eMAX purchase.
“Our existing unit would not pass a highway inspection,” Chief Haraway said. “After trading in our failing unit for our emergency eMAX purchase, Fire Connections was able to refurbish our 2000 unit and traded it to a neighboring department who had been unsuccessfully searching for a year for a replacement for their 1974 first out truck.”
According to Chief Haraway, Fire connections ability to go above and beyond made it possible for two North Carolina fire departments to better protect their communities.
“Between Fire Connections’ sales and support throughout this entire process and E-ONE’s assistance with the leasing process, we have had a great experience and are very pleased with our new eMAX,” Chief Haraway said.
To learn more about how your department can Maximize its Performance with the new eMAX by E-ONE or to find an E-ONE dealer near you, visit www.E-ONE.com.
As a leading manufacturer of first responder vehicles, E-ONE engineers, manufactures and markets mission-critical vehicles including custom and commercial pumpers tankers, Water Master vacuum tankers, aerial ladders and platforms, command and communication apparatus, quick attack units, industrial trucks, and aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles. The company sells its products world-wide and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida. E-ONE is an ISO 9001 registered and CCC certified manufacturer. For more information, visit www.e-one.com.
