The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has told the US Senate that consolidation among fire apparatus manufacturers is raising prices and delaying deliveries, putting fire fighters and the public at risk.
Pierce Road Rally brings fire apparatus demonstrations to US departments
Road Rally showcases fire apparatus to US departments
Pierce Manufacturing has reported the continued progress of its 2025 Road Rally event, which features demonstrations of its latest fire apparatus across the United States.
The company said the tour began in April and is now entering its summer phase, with upcoming stops planned in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast.
Pierce explained that the Road Rally includes a rotating selection of vehicles such as electric pumpers, aerial ladders, towers, heavy-duty rescue trucks and pumpers.
Attendees are able to operate the equipment, test features including water flow, and consult directly with Pierce product experts and dealer representatives.
The U.S. Road Rally will run until August and conclude at the Fire-Rescue International 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida.
Equipment available at Road Rally events
According to Pierce Manufacturing, the fire apparatus on display include the Volterra electric pumper, Ascendant aerial ladders and towers, and the PUC pumper range.
The company added that the vehicles are brought to each tour stop for hands-on evaluation.
Fire departments can operate the equipment on local streets and set up full demonstrations, including ladder extensions and water discharge.
The organisation stated that each event is designed to assist decision-makers in assessing operational needs and equipment options.
Dealer representatives are available at each location to provide further technical insight and product comparisons.
Canadian Road Rally completes 19-stop tour
Pierce confirmed that a separate Canadian Road Rally was conducted in May and June 2025, organised in partnership with dealers Commercial Emergency Equipment and L’Arsenal.
The company reported that the Canadian tour visited 19 fire departments across Ontario and Quebec.
Apparatus featured on this leg of the tour included a 107-foot Ascendant aerial ladder, a 100-foot Ascendant aerial tower with mid-mount configuration, and a PUC pumper.
Events were similarly hands-on, with local crews engaging directly with the equipment and representatives.
The company stated the format was aimed at helping departments in Canada make informed procurement decisions.
Upcoming U.S. locations in July and August
Pierce stated that the next phase of the U.S. Road Rally will take place throughout July and August 2025.
The events will be held in 12 locations including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky and the Carolinas.
Fire departments in these areas will be able to assess the equipment in person and conduct field demonstrations.
The company noted that each stop offers full participation opportunities, including driving test vehicles and water flow exercises.
The final stop will be at the Fire-Rescue International 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida.
Executive remarks on Road Rally’s development
Bob Schulz, President of Pierce Manufacturing, said: “We’re proud to see the momentum of the Road Rally grow as we reach more departments across North America.”
He added: “These events deliver more than just product displays.”
He said: “They offer real opportunities for education, collaboration, and innovation to support the fire service at every level.”
The company reiterated that departments have responded positively to the opportunity for in-person trials.
It added that demand for demonstration stops has remained high throughout the tour.
Pierce Road Rally brings fire apparatus demonstrations to U.S. departments: Summary
Pierce Manufacturing is continuing its 2025 Road Rally across the United States.
The event features fire apparatus demonstrations at locations nationwide.
Vehicles include electric pumpers, aerial ladders, towers and rescue trucks.
Departments are given the chance to operate equipment and consult product experts.
The Road Rally began in April and runs through August 2025.
A Canadian version of the tour took place in May and June 2025.
The Canadian route included 19 stops in Ontario and Quebec.
Upcoming U.S. stops will occur in 12 states during July and August.
The tour concludes at the Fire-Rescue International 2025 event in Orlando.
Pierce President Bob Schulz said the event supports collaboration and education.
Fire Apparatus Solutions expands dealer operations in California
REV Fire Group, which includes fire apparatus manufacturing subsidiaries of REV Group, Inc., has announced that Fire Apparatus Solutions (FAS) has acquired the REV Fire California dealership and will expand its coverage as the new Ferrara and KME authorised dealer for the state.
The acquisition by Fire Apparatus Solutions supports REV Fire Group’s strategic plan to offer a more customer-centric business approach solely focused on selling and servicing fire apparatus and equipment in the state of California.
With this acquisition of the REV Fire Group dealership in Fontana, California, FAS will now expand its dealer operations in California to include the Ferrara and KME brands. The new facility in Fontana will allow FAS to build new relationships in the state as it expands its product offerings while continuing its tradition of providing outstanding customer service to the fire industry.
Mike Virnig, President of REV Fire Group, said: “We are thrilled to have Fire Apparatus Solutions expand their operations in California with the Ferrara and KME brands. For nearly 20 years, they have been delivering unrivaled service to fire departments in the state, and we look forward to supporting their growth strategy and serving the people and communities of California.”
William Kalmikov, Owner/President of FAS, added: “Acquiring the REV Fire dealership is a major commitment and investment that we believe will benefit all Ferrara and KME customers throughout the state of California. This new facility in Fontana will allow us to build new relationships in the state as we expand our product offerings while continuing our tradition of providing outstanding customer service to the fire industry.”
About Fire Apparatus Solutions
FAS is a well-respected and long-time dealer with full-service and sales capability for Spartan Emergency Response, Smeal, and Ladder Tower. Established in 2005 and headquartered in Rialto, California, with service centres in Fresno and Fairfield, FAS offers preventative maintenance programs, aerial and pump testing repairs, chassis service, collision, and refurbishment services.
About REV Grou
REV Group is a US-based company that designs and manufactures specialty vehicles for public services, commercial infrastructure, and consumer leisure. Its well-established brands date back more than 50 years, and the company trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG.
Baton Rouge Fire Department buys 11 Ferrara Fire Apparatus
Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group Inc., has announced the Baton Rouge Fire Department has selected Ferrara to provide the city with five custom pumpers, three 107’ Rear Mount Ladder trucks, two Heavy Rescues and one 100’ Mid-Mount Platform.
Funding for the fire apparatus was made available through Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and her administration through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which offers specific funding for first responders and state and local governments.
The department’s Apparatus Committee, made up of firefighters who will be operating the equipment on an everyday basis, met with engineers from Ferrara to design apparatus that would meet their needs when responding to emergencies.
Chief Michael Kimble said the Baton Rouge Fire Department is ‘extremely excited’ to be receiving this much needed apparatus to our agency: “We would like to thank Mayor Broome and her administration for helping secure the funds to make this a reality.
“We would also like to thank the representatives from Ferrara apparatus for working with our committee to ensure our firefighters are equipped with apparatus that meets their response needs. Their commitment to make our request a reality was second to none.”
Chris McClung, Director of Sales, Ferrara, said: “We are honoured to have the continued trust and confidence of the Baton Rouge Fire Department. We look forward to many years of Ferrara apparatus supporting Baton Rouge’s firefighters as they serve the great capital of Louisiana.”
The five Custom Top-Mount Pumpers are built on a Cinder® XMFD chassis with extruded aluminium bodies and features: 1500 GPM Hale Qmax pump, 750-gallon water tank, 20-gallon foam cell, Foam Pro 2001 foam system, Cummins® L9 450 HP engine, Allison EVS 3000 transmission and Hendrickson Steertek NXT front axle/
The three 107 Rear Mount Ladder trucks are built on an Igniter® XMFD chassis 100’ wide extruded aluminium bodies and feature: 4-section heavy duty aerial, -8° to +72° operational envelope, 107’ vertical reach at 72° and 101’ horizontal reach at 0°, 750-pound tip load, Cummins® X12 500 HP engine, Allison EVS 4000 transmission, Akron Monitor with 1500 GPM nozzle and Hendrickson Steertek NXT front axle.
The 100’ Mid-Mount Platform is built on an Inferno® MFD chassis with 100” wide extruded aluminium body and features: 5-section heavy duty aerial, -12° to +72° operational envelope, 100’ vertical reach at 72° and 99’ horizontal reach at 0°, Cummins® X12 500 HP engine, Allison 4000 EVS transmission and Hendrickson Steertek NXT front axle.
The Ferrara™ Heavy Duty Walk-Around Rescue is built on a Cinder® XMFD chassis with a 102” wide extruded aluminium body and an overall length of 34 feet, 6.5 inches. Features include: Cummins L9 450 HP engine, Allison EVS 3000 transmission, Customized compartments, Recessed upper walkway with six 24” deep coffin compartments and Hendrickson Steertek NXT front axle.
Ferrara Fire Apparatus appoints Sunbelt Fire as Mississippi dealer
Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., a subsidiary of REV Group Inc., and a leading manufacturer of custom built, heavy-duty fire apparatus, has announced the appointment of Sunbelt Fire as the exclusive Ferrara dealer for Mississippi. Sunbelt Fire is now authorised to sell and service the complete portfolio of Ferrara apparatus.
Established in 1983 and headquartered in Fairhope, AL, Sunbelt Fire’s mission is to serve those who save and protect lives. With two service centres that include parts warehouses with more than 20 technicians along with a mobile service fleet, Sunbelt Fire is positioned to serve the needs of surrounding departments and communities.
Chris McClung, Director of Sales, Ferrara, said: “We are very committed to our existing Ferrara customers in Mississippi, and we intend to grow our presence there. With its dedicated sales and service teams, Sunbelt Fire will provide fire departments with the superior products, parts, and service our current and future customers deserve.”
Sunbelt also provides:
- 24-hour technical support
- Complete fire apparatus parts inventory
- Tiered fire apparatus inspections
- High quality fire equipment
- Breathing air compressors and SCBA
- Welding and fabrication
- Aerial ladder inspection and overhaul services
- Comprehensive training
- Wreck and refurb solutions
- Plumbing and fire pump overhaul
- Four (4) mobile Draft Commander® units to perform NFPA pump testing
Slade McLendon, CEO of Sunbelt Fire, said: “We are excited to be an authorised dealer for Ferrara, complimenting the other premier manufacturers we are partnered with to help us serve every firefighter and their respective department.
“We’re passionate about listening to their needs and partnering with them to provide the best apparatus solution and offer service, parts, and equipment to help them save and protect lives.”
Pierce to showcase electric fire trucks at FDIC 2022
Pierce Manufacturing Inc will showcase an extensive selection of the latest fire apparatus and technology developments at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 28-30, 2022.
A main feature will be North America’s first-in-service and fully U.S. manufactured electric fire truck – the Pierce Volterra Pumper. Attendees will find Pierce’s display in the north end zone of Lucas Oil Stadium (booth #8807), which will feature 14 fire trucks and interactive opportunities to learn about the latest product and technology innovations.
“The past year has been monumental for our company in advancing our objective to create the most progressive solutions in fire apparatus safety and efficiency,” said Lisa Barwick, vice president of marketing for Pierce’s Fire and Emergency Segment. “We’re excited to welcome Fire Chief Steven Davis from The City of Madison Fire Department and EnTech Solutions to our 2022 FDIC booth. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from these representatives about the performance of the Pierce Volterra electric pumper, its charging infrastructure, and the impact on reducing emissions and improving firefighter safety; all with no compromise on features, performance, or functionality.”
Pierce’s Volterra Electric Fire Truck Display to Include:
- Two electric pumpers and charging infrastructure solutions
- North America’s first-in-service electric fire truck – The City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department’s Volterra electric pumper
-City of Madison Fire Department’s recently retired Chief Steven Davis, and Assistant Chief Scott Bavery will be on-site and available for Q&A - Portland, Oregon Fire & Rescue’s Pierce Volterra electric pumper
-Pierce’s expert engineers will be available to discuss features, customizations, and attributes of the U.S.made electric fire apparatus - EnTech Solutions electric vehicle charging infrastructure – Pierce has partnered with EnTech Solutions, an expert in energy solutions provider from concept to installation, and representatives will be on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss:
-The impact of EV charging on a fire station
-The best options for the individual site
-ROI opportunities with renewable energy
-Available grants/incentives
-Costs and anticipated lead times
-Ongoing support
Additional Technology and Latest Fire Truck Component Features on Display Will Include:
- Introduction of the next generation in fire apparatus pump design and fire suppression upgrades with enhanced flow capabilities paired with unmatched serviceability and performance.
- 100’ Heavy-Duty Low Profile Steel Aerial Ladder – Introduced in late 2021, this 100’ low profile steel ladder has an overall height as low as 10’ 10” with waterway, and 10’ 8” without waterway, a rated load capacity up to 750 lb in winds up to 35 mph with a 100 lb allowance of additional firefighting equipment at the ladder tip (while flowing up to 1500 gpm).
- Pierce CZ Connect Fully Integrated Telematics Solution providing remote access to vehicle data from anywhere. Available in feature packages which provide the users’ desired level of dashboards for diagnostics, maintenance, operational overview, and more.
- PACCAR MX-13 big block engine – available exclusively on Pierce Arrow XT, Enforcer, and Velocity custom chassis. PACCAR is known as a global leader in the design and manufacturer of diesel engines, and experts will be on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss the industry-leading design attributes of the MX-13 engine.
Barwick continued, “The launch and North American placement of our new PierceVolterra electric vehicle was an incredibly important event for our company, but certainly not the only Pierce innovation which has taken place in recent years. In our FDIC 2022 booth, we’re eager to showcase and help visitors learn more about the many advancements which have been made available as standard or custom features on some of our most in-demand fire apparatus.”
In addition to product and technology demonstrations, on Friday, April 29 at 1:00 pm (EDT), the opening ceremony for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) 9/11 Stair Climb event will take place at Pierce’s booth. The 9/11 Stair Climb is a way for attendees to honor and remember those in the fire service community who selflessly gave their lives, so that others might live. In past years, more than 700 FDIC participants in each event have paid tribute by climbing or walking the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
Bronto Skylift launches North America’s tallest fire fighting aerial
While the industrial access has been using large truck-mounted aerial platforms for wind turbines and such for a long time, the fire and rescue aerials have been limited to the heights of about 100-135ft.
North America fire services commonly use aerial ladders, that tend to have lower heights than the articulated aerial platforms with a solid steel boom as the main structure. Another limiting factor has perhaps been the size of larger, over 200-foot aerials, that can be bulky and difficult to navigate through ordinary city streets.
Bronto Skylift 230-foot articulated aerial platform, the Bronto F230RPX, is set to shakeup the aerial access market. The 230ft-working height is equivalent to 20 floors, and the aerial is compactly mounted on a Mack chassis. The previous maximum height of North American aerials, 135ft, corresponds to about 11 floors. In other words, the F230RPX enables nine floors more vertical reach for fire departments all over North America.
While there is a big increase to the operational rescue height, the reach can be seen in many different ways. Also the horizontal reach and so called up-and-over are much improved from what has traditionally been offered. Maximum horizontal reach is 105ft, while most of previous models offer less than 90ft. The capability to reach up and over for example the parapet walls and lower roofs is 34ft. Reach below grade from river banks and bridges is about 20ft.
The first unit was developed, designed, built and delivered in collaboration with 1200 Degrees, an experienced Bronto Skylift partner in Canada. 1200 Degrees will be the local service provider making sure the unit remains safe and ready to serve during the years to come
Pierce secures order from Hall County Fire Services, Georgia
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has secured an order from Hall County Fire Services in Georgia. Sold through Pierce dealer, Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the order includes eight Pierce Enforcer Pumpers and one Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder. The new fire apparatus will support the department’s efforts to standardise its fleet to allow personnel consistency in their response and service delivery.
“Our fire department covers 429 square miles with diverse response districts from rural to suburban,” said Christopher Armstrong, Fire Chief of Hall County Fire Services. “We respond to a variety of hazards, and standardisation and continuity in our operations are crucial to fulfilling our mission. Both the excellent customer service provided by Ten-8 Fire Equipment and the quality of Pierce apparatus contributed to our decision to execute this significant order.”
Hall County Fire Services’ new fire apparatus will feature:
Pierce Enforcer Pumpers
- Extended cab and raised roof
- 750-gallon tank with low hose bed
- 1,500 GPM Waterous Pump
- Detroit Diesel DD13 525 HP Engine
- TAK-4 Independent Suspension
- Side roll and frontal impact protection
- Multiplex electrical system with Command Zone screen
- Additional storage cabinetry for EMS equipment
Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder
- Enforcer chassis with extended cab and raised roof
- 500-gallon tank
- 2000 GPM Waterous Pump
- Detroit Diesel DD13 525 HP Engine
- TAK-4 Independent Suspension
- Side roll and frontal impact protection
- Multiplex electrical system with Command Zone screen
- Single rear axle configuration
- Additional storage cabinetry for EMS equipment and extrication tools
“Our team is honoured that our longstanding relationship with Hall County Fire Services continues with an order of such magnitude for their community,” said Guy Binion, sales representative for Ten-8 Fire Equipment. “The eight pumpers and aerial ladder offer the desired level of standardisation of apparatus operation, training, and vehicle maintenance, as well as superior manoeuvrability, innovative design, and essential safety features. We are confident the new fire trucks are the optimal choice for the department’s response area.”
Hall County Fire Services’ new fire apparatus will support the work of 369 personnel,16 stations, and an annual service call volume of over 25,000 per year. Delivery of the eight pumpers and the aerial ladder is expected to take place in December 2020.
SoundOff Signal enters fire apparatus market
SoundOff Signal, a Hudsonville-based manufacturer of vehicle lighting, control systems and electronic warning solutions for the law enforcement, amber, and government markets, has created its first products for the fire apparatus market with additions to its mpower silicone lights and Lightbar product lines.
“This is truly exciting for SoundOff to offer the fire market our full line of products that improve first responder’s safety. We’ve become known as an innovation and safety advocate leader in the police market, and now, we intend to help protect our fire first responders with that same level of care,” said Mark Litke, president and CEO of SoundOff Signal.
The mpower line of products features an optical-grade silicone lens. In this line expansion, mpower perimeter lights are available in 7×3 and 6×4 configurations. As with the entire mpower light platform, they are designed to be durable, versatile and have brighter light output, as well as a 10-year warranty on the lens material. These lights, along with the 9×7 perimeter light, also will be available in polycarbonate lens for those looking for a more traditional style.
In addition to the perimeter lights, the new nFUSE lightbar is being introduced to the market and offers high light output, numerous configurations and cost-effective options. It will be available in single and dual-stack forms and lengths to fit a small truck up to a full-size apparatus.
“We are inspired by this market — one that so closely echoes our own corporate values of hard work and innovation,” said Drew Radtke, vice president of sales for SoundOff Signal. “We believe SoundOff is really going to strike a chord with these distributors and first responders. We know the fire community is looking for products that push their industry forward in safety, efficiencies and durability, and we are proud of our team for answering this call.”