Waukesha, a city of approximately
75,000 is located just west of Milwaukee between two
busy interstate highways - I-43 to south and I-94
to the north. Due to the dense industrial plants located
in the area, the region, its highways and railroads
have a high concentration of hazardous material traffic.
To handle the critical responses associated with these
elements, the Waukesha Fire Department determined
it was time to purchase a dedicated apparatus designed
specifically to handle these calls, one with a storage
capacity large enough to transport the vast amount
of equipment, from small hand tools and sensitive
monitoring equipment to bulky containment drums and
containers. To complicate matters, it also was determined
it would be nice if this same apparatus could serve
confined space rescue operations.
A tall order for a single piece
of apparatus, but after much research, it was found
that Hackney was capable of supplying such a truck.
They chose a DF1182, a 21 ft. body that featured an
incredible 850 cu.ft. of storage space. In order to
keep the overall wheelbase to a manageable length,
a HME 1871 SFO custom cab and chassis was selected.
Coupled with a 218" wheelbase and 50 degree cramp
angle, the apparatus was capable of turning in the
same space as conventional trucks with much shorter
bodies.
For auxiliary power, an Onan 25kw
PTO generator was installed in the left front compartment.
Waukesha was pleased to learn that Hackney's mounting
of the generator within the compartment would protect
their investment from Wisconsin road salts. 1000 watt
Fire Research Focus lights were mounted on the upper
left and right roof rails. 1500 watt telescoping tripod
flood lights were mounted between the cab and body.
The fire department spent a great
deal of time with Hackney engineers meticulously laying
out each compartment for specific equipment placement.
With the vast amount of equipment to be carried, they
couldn't afford to waste one single cubic foot of
space. The rear drop compartment (over the step bumper)
measured 82" high x 42" wide x 40"
deep and was ideal for placement of four overpack
drums and two stacks of traffic cones. Two shelves
above the drums provided space for decon equipment.
The low drop deck facilitated easy retrieval of the
drums.
The huge 74" wide x 57"
high wheelhouse compartment affords space for the
following equipment: ten sheets of plywood; stokes
basket stretcher; two long back boards; rescue tripod
assembly; 24/36/48 cribbing; shoring rams and extensions;
regulator and control devices for rams; Harp equipment
bags; hardware bags; 150 ft. rope bag; 300 ft. rope
bag; Class III rescue harnesses; ROC helmets; 6 ft.
step ladder and plywood pool forms.
One of the 82" high x 40"
wide x 40" deep compartments (six compartments
of this size provided) was fitted with a 78"
high x 36" deep two-sided slide-out tool board;
space for a drum of TAC-1 with drum dolly; eight decon
half chairs and hazard neutralizing system.
Another compartment feature a slide-out
SCBA rack with four complete SCBA's for "back-up
and go" donning. Adjacent to the SCBA rack is
shelving for 100 ft. communication cables with SAR
hose.
Another compartment has space at
floor level for two ready-to-go in-line air carts.
Above the carts are eight spare SCBA bottles; in-line
air packs and harnesses with 5-min escape bottles
and another for victim hood setup.
Other space is filled with equipment
ranging from an outboard motor; Chlorine A, B and
C kits; four 5-gallon buckets of foam; four 50 lb.
bags each of ash and oil absorbent; assorted Rubbermaid
containers; catch pools; absorbent booms; rescue vest;
fan flex tubes and spill control containers.
The warning system is a combination
of Federal Vector bar in the upper zone and Tomar
strobes in the lower zones. A Federal Q2B with sound
focuser, Federal PA300 electronic siren and two 100
watt speakers are mounted in the front bumper.
