Hickory, located along Interstate 40 in the North Carolina Appalachian foothills, covers both an urban and rural response area with a heavy industrial concentration. Requiring a single vehicle that would be capable of handling a vast variety of emergency response scenarios, the department chose a Hackney DFC1164R heavy rescue mounted on a Spartan MetroStar custom cab/chassis.
The 19.5-ft body features eleven compartments, plus compartments on the recessed roof. Although providing over 620 cu.ft. of storage capacity, the wheelbase is only 200” affording an excellent turning radius, critical in the types of terrain in which the vehicle responds. The front bumper is equipped with a hydraulic hose reel and storage for pre-connected rescue tool, providing quick access in I-40 accidents. Two hydraulic reels are located in the rear extrication compartment supporting a full complement of hydraulic rescue tools.
Supplementing the rescue operations are high pressure chisels and air bags. Air is supplied to hose reels from two 6000 psi ASME receivers imbedded in the roof controlled by a regulator on the generator housing panel. A 25kw PTO generator is mounted inside the left front compartment and supplies power to a light tower; four side body flood lights; front cab brow light; two tripod flood lights; two cord reels and an array of strategically located outlets. All emergency lighting is LED.
Located in the cab is a two-man command desk and seating for six. The vehicle was sold by C.W. Williams and Company.
Cavernous storage is provided in the 40” deep side compartments. Large capacity trays and slide-out tool drawers provide organized storage for quick access.