Pierce Manufacturing delivered a Pierce Velocity pumper to the Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The industrial-strength apparatus, the size of a typical aerial vehicle, is custom-built to meet the unique emergency response challenges of the iconic Jack Daniel Distillery. The vehicle’s graphics feature Jack Daniel’s signature color scheme of black with white and gold accents.
“Pierce builds custom fire and emergency apparatus to meet the unique needs of our customers and this Velocity pumper for Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade is, without a doubt, in a class by itself,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “We’re proud to see this awesome and amazing firefighting tool arrive at its new home in Lynchburg.”
“When the time came to purchase a new apparatus, we sent the specs out to bid and compared three manufacturers based on the criteria, including build quality, fire systems capacities, and service and support,” said Jack Daniel Fire and Security Specialist Fred Elliott. “When we evaluated the proposals, only Pierce could meet our requirements. This new Pierce truck is one-of-a-kind, and is truly tailor-made for us at Jack Daniel’s.”
The apparatus is built on the renowned Pierce Velocity chassis with a 600 horsepower engine. It sports six 2.5-inch rear discharges that interface with an elaborate standpipe system installed throughout the Jack Daniel distillery, bottling facilities, and warehousing area. The vehicle’s firefighting system also features a 3,000-gpm pump, a Husky 300 foam system, a 2,000-gallon foam tank, a 500-gallon water tank, a 2,000-pound dry chemical system, and an eight-inch Hydro-Chem deluge gun and nozzle.
One important requirement of Jack Daniel’s was to have the Pierce Velocity arrive equipped and outfitted with all loose equipment. “The Pierce Dealer, Emergency Vehicle Specialists, made sure the rig arrived 100 percent fully outfitted with every piece of loose equipment we required, and we didn’t have to shop around for things like nozzles, hoses, tools or spare SCBA bottles,” said Elliott. “It’s like a firefighting grenade: you just pull the pin and this new Pierce is ready to perform.”
Each year the Jack Daniel distillery hosts its world renowned International Invitational BBQ that draws close to 20,000 visitors to the town of Lynchburg. “During the BBQ, we’re planning to have the new Pierce on display at certain times,” added Elliott. “The truck is going to cause quite a stir. If it was any longer, it would have to be a tiller.”
Jack Daniel’s is the best-selling American whiskey brand in the world, and is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by the Jack Daniel Distillery (a part of the Brown-Forman Corporation since 1956). The Jack Daniel’s Fire Brigade consists of 34 members, and operates three fire stations. The Brigade provides automatic aid for Lynchburg area schools, nursing homes, and the public square, as well as mutual aid response with outlying communities.
Pierce dealer, Emergency Vehicle Specialists of Memphis, Tennessee, provides local service and support. Visit www.gwevs.com for more information.
About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.
