Fire brigade to get two new engines
MANY areas of Suva lacked fire hydrants in the 1980s, prompting the Brigade to import two new fire engines from the United States of America, including one with a thousand-gallon tank.
The Fiji Times of Thursday, February 11, 1982, said the $US99,692 vehicles were being built by Emergency One of Ocala, Florida, the biggest manufacturers of such equipment in the United States at the time.
The machines were “the latest design from one of the world’s most advanced manufacturers of firefighting equipment”.
They represented extremely good value, Suva Fire Chief Harold Henderson was reported saying.
They were intended for use in the extended area of the Board of Fire Commissioners of Suva and were part of the continuing drive to keep the Suva Fire Brigade up to date.
One of the two units was a Guardsman model, 1000-gallon tank capacity, pumping unit. Its big pumps could pour out 750 gallons of water per minute, at 150 lbs per square inch pressure.
The vehicle was powered by an 8.2 litre Detroit diesel engine with an Allison automatic transmission, on a General Motors Corporation chassis.
Mr Henderson said many of the areas served by his brigade did not have fire hydrants fitted to water mains.
“With 1000 gallons available on the vehicle the brigade’s men will be able to give better initial attack on any blaze in these areas while static supplies are established,” the article reported.
The second unit, a four-wheel drive 10060 “Mini” unit, also from Emergency One in Florida, had a pumping capacity of 350 gallons a minute and a tank supply of 250 gallons.
This unit was fitted with an 8000 lb winch and because of its off-road capabilities would give the brigade much wider scope and greater versatility in protecting Suva.
Asked why the Brigade was moving into automatic transmission for its vehicles, Mr Henderson said it cut down time spent on maintenance; ensured that vehicles were less vulnerable to damage in gearboxes; and other power train components.
“Automatic transmission also removed an element of strain from drivers,” it said.
The two new engines were expected to arrive in Fiji by June of the same year.