Tyler's new $400,000 Crimson-Spartan fire engine appears to be turning heads and setting trends.
The ease of design, inspired by Tyler firefighters, is featured in the manufacturer's news national advertising campaign and September's issue of Texas Fire Chief magazine.
Officials accepted delivery just last week.
"This truck is unique because it was designed by our guys," said Fire Chief Neal Franklin. "They were able to use what was normally wasted space and put it to good use - it came out great and Metro is very proud of it."
The chief's design committee represented a cross-segment of the department, including firefighters, mechanics, captains and drivers.
The group met periodically to brainstorm then worked with Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, the manufacturer, to bring the ideas to fruition.
"I knew I didn't want to make all the decisions," Franklin said. "I gave them only one prerequisite: I wanted it to be red."
The committee took it from there.
Franklin said they created a one-of-a-kind product to meet the needs of the growing department for years to come.
Designers included Assistant Chief David Schlottach; captains Jeff Akin, Les Schminkey and Steve Countryman; drivers Andy King and Mark Hockman; Operations Chief Michael Mueck; apparatus technician Oscar Lopez; and firefighters Randy Lee and Todd Lane.
This is the first new truck for the department since 2001. Plans are in the works to purchase a second, using federal grant funding.
The new machine is assigned to Station 9, located on the southern edge of the city.
Since the vehicle rolled into the bay, Station 9 firefighters said their hub has suddenly become a magnet for visitors.
Everyone, it seems, wants to peek at the big red truck.
"Most everything on this truck is run off computers," said driver Terry Tolar. "It's still a learning process on how to operate everything."
The cab features two computer screens - one monitors system operations, while the other helps navigate city streets and locations.
"Since the street information is coming off the city's mainframe, it's constantly being updated," Tolar said.
The monitoring system alerts emergency personnel to both simple and complex issues, such as a door left ajar or a mechanical failure.
"I was here the first day it was in service," said firefighter Wayne Hunt. "We spent the majority of the day familiarizing ourselves with the truck - from a guy's perspective, it's the best kind of toy you can get."
Speaking of toys, this unit seems to be decked out with just about every type of tool known to man.
And they are all packed in a neat, tidy package only a firefighter or tool aficionado could love.
"The truck has slide-out doors for vertical storage," Hunt said. "In some of the older trucks, tools are stacked on a shelf. When you're in a hurry, it can make things hard to find."
Foam-lined drawers hug small equipment and tools, eliminating clanking and chaos.
Space-saving compartments hold gear such as fire extinguishers, drinking water, air bottles, oxygen tanks, swift water rescue supplies, victim extraction equipment, a generator, rakes, shovels, traffic cones, ropes, fire hoses, a generator and an abundance of portable lights.
Lights activate when the cabinet doors open, illuminating the contents - a helpful gadget for nighttime hours.
The vehicle is enveloped in attention-getting reflective tape and LED displays to alert and divert motorists, who occasionally crash into emergency vehicles at accident scenes.
Unlike older trucks, ladders are stored in the vehicle's interior rather than the exterior.
A hydraulic lift provides easy access to the engine. The crew cab accommodates five, plus gear.
"The only thing we don't have is a bell," said Capt. Ross Hamilton. "We have a siren, just no bell."
Hamilton said the department opted for an old-style siren, a tradition with the department, in lieu of an electronic warning system.
When it comes to pleasing a pack of firefighters, Franklin said the committee approach is the only way to go.
"It solves two problems before they happen," the chief teased. "It incorporates their ideas into a project, and if it doesn't work right, they don't blame me."
