CHARLOTTE, MI -- Spartan Emergency Response (“Spartan” or “Spartan ER”), a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR), focused on first responder safety at the 39th annual Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival, September 13-15, at the Roscommon County Fire Training Grounds in Roscommon, MI.
The show featured Spartan’s S-180 fire truck, equipped with Spartan Advanced Protection System, the industry’s leading apparatus-based safety technology. Spartan also sponsored defensive driving simulators which were available for use by first responders. Spartan was proudly represented at the festival by their three Michigan-based dealers: CSI Emergency Fire Apparatus, R&R Fire Truck Repair, Inc.; and The Zahnen Companies.
Fire departments from Milton Township, Michigan, East Mullet, Michigan, and Houston, Texas displayed their newest Spartan firetrucks at the festival, and the Frederic Township Fire Department displayed their newest Spartan S-180 and UST Tanker. Fire departments from Bayside, Alaska and Alverno Township, Michigan also had Spartans on display, alongside two S180 demo firetrucks. A total of nine new Spartan Emergency Response apparatus were displayed at the annual festival.
The firetruck defensive driving experience simulator prepares first responding drivers for en-route emergency situations while they respond to a call, helping ensure they arrive to and from the scene safely. While in the simulator, the driver is exposed to numerous simulated interactions designed to illustrate improper yielding of emergency vehicles, and how to safely react. Each driver is given a defensive driving score, which allows for friendly competition between attendees. James Case, from Onondaga Fire Department, out of Onondaga, Michigan, took first place; Daniel Mosholder, from Sumpter Township Fire Department and Belleville City Fire Department, out of Wayne County, Michigan, took second place; and Bradley Hirschberger, from Frankenlust Fire Department, of Bay City, Michigan, placed third in the simulator competition.
“We appreciate our dealers and the many Spartan-equipped fire departments who were able to join us this year in our own backyard,” said Daryl Adams, Spartan Motors President and Chief Executive Officer. “The safety of our first responders is our top priority. It’s imperative that they’re protected to and from the call, so they can protect and serve others.”
Spartan Motors continues to advance its position as a safety innovator with several industry-first apparatus-based safety features including driver knee airbags, outboard sensors, side impact protection, full side curtain airbags, smart restraints, and other standard features of Spartan Advanced Protection System®.
The full list of vehicles on display included:
IPS Pumper
Milton Township, MI, Fire Department
UST Tanker
Frederic Township, MI, Fire Department
Star Series CAFS Pumper
East Mullet, MI, Fire Department
Spartan S-180, 2208 Pumper
Frederic Township, MI, Fire Department
Spartan Motors USA, Inc.
Top Mount S180, S111 Pumper
Metro Fire, Houston, Texas
Side Mount (Star) Pumper
Bayside, AK, Fire Department
Poly Body Tanker (CSI)
Alverno Township, MI, Fire Department
Spartan S-180, 2208 Freightliner Commercial Demo
Spartan S-180, 2106 Pumper Demo
The annual Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival brings family, friends, first responders, and other emergency service personnel together to remember the brave men and women gave their lives in the line of duty. The festival is held by the Michigan’s Firemen’s Memorial Committee. For more information, visit www.firemensmemorial.com.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. is a leading designer, engineer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of specialty vehicles, specialty chassis, vehicle bodies, and parts for the fleet and delivery, recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, defense forces, and contract assembly (light/medium duty truck) markets. The Company's brand names — Spartan Motors, Spartan Specialty Vehicles, Spartan Emergency Response, Spartan Parts and Accessories, Smeal, and its family of brands, including Ladder Tower™ and UST®; and Utilimaster®, a Spartan Motors Company — are known for quality, durability, performance, customer service, and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 2,300 associates, and operates facilities in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, , South Carolina, South Dakota; Saltillo, Mexico; and Lima, Peru. Spartan reported sales of $707 million in 2017. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com.
