Storm King Engine Company put into service its new tower truck this past weekend. The volunteers needed a month and a half of training to get used to the new controls and the bigger size of the vehicle.
Storm King Engine Company’s “new” 2000 American LaFrance tower truck is now in service, nearly a month and a half after the used truck was purchased from Deer Park.
In May, fire chief Robby Vought began discussing, with the Cornwall-on-Hudson Board of Trustees, the need to replace the 1973 tower truck. He presented the board with four options, the most cost-effective of which was to purchase a used truck. Storm King hit the jackpot when the volunteers found a truck on Long Island with only 11,000 miles. At a cost of $260,000, the fire company was able to purchase the truck, as well as a new gas detector, a thermal imaging unit, and radios.
The only problem with the truck, however, is its size. Being eight feet longer than the old truck, the new truck was not put into service right away to allow the volunteers time to get used to the new controls and give the drivers a chance to get used to maneuvering the vehicle around the village’s narrow streets.
All volunteers have been trained to operate the fire truck and four are able to drive it. Vought said two others have CDL licenses and could be asked to drive it, if necessary, but they’re currently undergoing training as well.
Vought said he’s confident the truck will be able to reach all areas of the village. He said the truck successfully traversed 99 percent of the roadways. In some cases different approaches to streets will be necessary. He added some streets will need to be taken at different angles because there’s a swing on the back end of the truck which sticks out about a yard past the rear tires. When a driver makes a turn, it’s necessary to watch the rear view mirror because if the swing is too close it can hit a pole, fire hydrant or a car. Nothing was hit during training sessions.
Although the ladder is the same length (75 feet) as the ladder on the old truck, Vought said there are many differences between the two.
The new truck has different controls which operate the jacks to push up the truck. Instead of one handle in the bucket, there are three levers which can control the ladder. Vought said this makes fighting elevated fires easier because the volunteers in the bucket can see better from above than the operator below.
Automatic transmission, rather than manual, will make it easier to drive up and down Storm King Mountain. A diesel generator will allow the use of electrical power to run tools and illuminate scenes. The bucket has three lights underneath the platform, making it easier to see on top of roofs. The cab also has a 25-foot light which can be raised.
The truck has a modern, enclosed cab which is safer for the crew should the truck roll over. The old cab was built for five people, but four could sit inside comfortably. The new truck can seat six and has modern seatbelts.
Additional steps make it easier to board the truck. An additional ladder makes it easier for crews to shift out, without having to lower the tower ladder, as was the case with the older truck.
Extra compartment space allows the fire company to fit all its equipment and still have room to spare
