Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, has delivered a Pierce® Arrow XT™ 100-foot aerial tiller apparatus to the Minneapolis Fire Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Purchased through an HGAC procurement services contract, the apparatus will be placed into service in early June.
“We are thrilled to be chosen by the Minneapolis Fire Department to engineer and manufacture this aerial tiller apparatus,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “Pierce takes great pride in the performance, quality and value of its custom apparatus, and we are excited to have this aerial tiller serve Minnesota’s largest fire department.”
Minneapolis Fire Department is familiar with the quality and performance of Pierce apparatus. “This is our third Pierce aerial tiller and they’ve been a great rig for us – very capable maneuvering through the tight streets of Minneapolis,” said Raymond V. Cruz, Minneapolis Fire Department Deputy Chief of Logistics & Engineering. “The new Pierce tiller will carry ladders, saws, fans, lights pumps and extrication tools. It will be stationed on the south side of the city and also respond to the University of Minnesota campus.”
The Pierce Arrow XT tiller apparatus for Minneapolis features Pierce’s exclusive Detroit Diesel DD13 500 hp engine as well as TAK-4® independent suspension on both the front axle and rear tiller cab axle for enhanced maneuverability on the city’s narrow streets. Other notable components include side roll and frontal impact airbag protection systems, a Command Zone® advanced electronics system, and 10 equipment storage compartments with roll-up doors. The 100-foot medium-duty ladder features a new “clean tip” design to reduce potential obstructions for firefighters working at the ladder’s tip.
The Minneapolis Fire Department is a career department that provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the city of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Fire Department operates out of 19 fire stations located throughout the city, and responds to approximately 40,000 emergency calls each year.
Pierce dealer, North Star Fire Apparatus of Apple Valley, Minnesota, in conjunction with Red Power Diesel Service provides local service and support. “It’s an honor to serve and support the Minneapolis Fire Department with what will be the third Pierce tiller in their fleet,” said Brad White, general manager of North Star Fire Apparatus. “Our mission is to provide unmatched assistance to Pierce customers across Minnesota. This newest aerial tiller represents a vote of confidence in us, and in Pierce, by Minnesota’s largest fire department.”
