By Chris Hagan
Special to the Review

Firefighters in Orion Township are settling in to their new rescue fire trucks which were placed in service Tuesday, June 2.
These new additions bring great benefits to all four fire stations that have been patiently waiting for their arrival.
The fire department saw the addition of four 2009 Pierce/GMC 5500 rescue trucks being added to their fleet. They’re replacing the former 1993 GMC/Darley rescue series.
Drive-train and pump issues were just some of the problems wreaking havoc on the older trucks. The steady rise in emergency calls over the past decade has increased the stresses on the older trucks. The arrival of the new fire trucks is overdue and just in time.
Changing emission standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2007 delayed the delivery of the trucks by a couple years. Fire Chief Jeff Key had to wait for the various fire truck manufacturers to re-engineer their pump systems to work with the EPA mandated exhaust systems.
‘It really threw everybody for a loop,? Key said. ‘Because we were ready to replace the trucks when they were 13-years-old, but we had to wait.?
The new trucks are faster, with a tighter turning radius and a driving cab that is more comfortable than the previous fleets. Its computer-controlled systems make operating the truck very simple and efficient. An information display has a digital read-out of all water and foam used, allowing the pump operator to easily monitor resource amounts.
‘We’ve had good luck with Pierce,? Key said. ‘They tend to be a little more expensive, but the quality is so much higher than some of these other companies. You really get more value for your money.?
The new GMC’s are equipped with a CAFS system, which stands for compressed air foam system. CAFS mixes water, compressed air, and a foam solution when the truck’s fire pump is engaged. This system decreases the amount of resources needed and allows for a faster knock-down of the fire. It also means less property loss for a home or business owner.
‘It makes a small truck be able to do the work of a large truck, especially in that initial attack when you might have a chance, while the fire is relatively small, to knock it down,? Key said.
Just like the old fleet, these trucks are the first out apparatus on every call, including medicals and fires. The idea is that on a fire scene, these trucks can be operated by only one or two people and can provide initial protection until additional personnal and apparatus arrive. For medicals, these trucks carry enough equipment to handle anything from a paper-cut to a gunshot, and still have enough room for the Jaws of Life.
Each rescue vehicle has a price tag of about $230,000 and Key said new NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) safety standards and the more stringent EPA requirements led to the rise in price.
‘We put money aside every year for the replacement of apparatus.? Key said. ‘So we had the money to basically walk in and pay cash, we didn’t have to borrow it.?
Special features on the truck include a rear back-up camera with a microphone for safety and a light tower for ‘nighttime illumination,? for higher visibility on the fire ground, and for car accidents.
Chief Key will request authorization from the township board to post the old trucks for sale.
Also the fire department is considering refurbishing and keeping one of the GMC/Darley trucks for a few more years as a heavy rescue vehicles with the intention of using them for large scale accidents including multiple vehicle crashes, hazardous materials incidents, and other special rescue situations.
Chris Hagan is an Orion Township firefighter and a journalism student at Oakland University.