'The Swiss Army knife of engines'

Cheney’s Fire Department debuted their new main attack engine last Friday afternoon in the Yoke’s Fresh Market parking lot. To hear Fire Chief Tom Jenkins describe it, the only thing the $800,000 vehicle can’t do is cook dinner.

“It’s like the Swiss Army knife of fire trucks,” Jenkins said of the new engine, which officially replaced the department’s 32-year-old No. 1 engine Saturday morning, Sept. 7.

The roll out at Yoke’s was not only to show off the new engine, but also to thank voters for approving a levy lid lift in 2015 to fund Cheney police and fire services. Some of the initial expenditures coming out of those yearly funds — which are generally in the neighborhood of $300,000 – $400,000-plus — went to police department needs, but city officials made it a point to set aside $100,000 each year towards a new main fire attack engine.

In October 2017, Cheney elected to purchase a new engine from Rosenbauer Fire Engines through local representative General Fire. The city piggy-backed its purchase with the city of Tacoma to avoid the formal bidding process, using $300,000 of the levy lid set aside as a sort of match and getting a $600,000 low-interest loan for the remainder through the state Treasurer’s Office LOCAL program.

The new engine was delivered several weeks ago, but has spent the time being outfitted with all new firefighting gear — including air packs, emergency extraction equipment, hoses and other supplies.

“If we’re investing in a new truck, we’re going to invest in new equipment,” Cheney City Administrator Mark Schuller said.

As far as firefighting capacities go such as water storage, Jenkins said the new engine is very similar to the department’s current No. 1 engine — sans the propensity to breakdown like it did when it had to be towed from an apartment fire at Washington and 1st streets in August 2017. What is impressive is how it delivers those firefighting capabilities.

“We just got about everything the industry has in the way of new technology,” he said last Friday.

The Rosenbauer is equipped first with Clean Cab technology, meaning that all equipment can be stowed in compartments and easily accessed without keeping it in the cab. Jenkins said that practice often leads to carcinogens from fires being brought into cabs, and studies have shown that cancer is the No. 1 killer of firefighters.

The engine also employs Green Star emissions technology. Jenkins said that the engine will shut off five minutes after idling at a call, cutting down on emissions and noise at the scene.

Instead of a separate generator, the engine’s work lights — all brighter and more efficient LEDs — are powered by the engine itself. Should the amperage needed to power the lights dip below a certain level, the engine’s motor will turn itself on to repower.

“When we go to a working fire, the truck will know to stay on to cover the demand,” Jenkins said.

Besides being compartmentalized, access to all of the equipment is also ergonomically designed, making it easier for firefighters to unload items such as ladders. All hose of the hose connections are rear-mounted rather than around the engine, as is the pump control panel.

The engine is also equipped with two high-pressure firefighting units, one front mounted water cannon and a rear-mounted hose. Jenkins said high-pressure introduces air into the water stream, enabling firefighters to shoot the stream further with more force.

The technique is not for inside fires but for incidents such as car fires, trash can or bin fires and wildland fires. The front cannon is joy-stick controlled from inside the front cab and can be operated while the vehicle is moving. Both units can accommodate Class A and B firefighting foam along with water.

Other features include state-of-the-art headsets, front cabin truck controls and lightweight battery-operated extraction gear. The engines frame and paneling is 5/16 inch thick aluminum all the way around.

Both Jenkins and Schuller praised the foresight of Cheney voters in passing the 2015 levy lid lift, noting that without it, the new engine might not be possible. Schuller also praised Jenkins, Battalion Chief Aaron Boller and other firefighters who worked selecting features for the engine.

“These guys did a really good job of keeping it within the budget,” he said.

As for the older No. 1 engine, Schuller said the city will look at surplusing it with the intention of selling it should a buyer materialize.

“It might be purchased by a smaller company, or even a third-world country,” he added.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].