What the HVAC System Needs
By Kevin Roberts Last time we discussed what heat is. If you haven’t already, you should read that one first. There are many ways to remove heat from inside of a box to outside a box. You could get a large container of ice, put it in the box, wait for it to...
The Long Game: The Art of Keeping an Aging Fire Apparatus Fleet Alive
BY MICHAEL HUBER By the time a fire engine reaches the end of a decade of service, it has already lived several lifetimes. It has idled for hours at incidents, sprinted under lights and sirens, hauled tons of water and equipment, and endured every kind of weather. In...
Introduction to Emergency Vehicle HVAC: What is Heat?
One of the occupational hazards of an emergency vehicle technician (EVT) Trainer who emphasizes basic principles is the complaint that the information is not focused primarily on emergency vehicles. This happened to me many years ago when an evaluation sheet turned in...
Shreveport (LA) FD Adds Two Pumpers
The Shreveport (LA) Fire Department has added two short-wheelbase Ferrara Cinder pumpers to its fleet, rounding out a purchase of a dozen Ferrara Fire Apparatus engines to bring its frontline pumper total up to 18 rigs. Chief Clarence Reese Jr. says, "We protect an...
ARTICLES
Inside Darley May/June 2026
The May/June episode of Inside Darley is out. This episode includes trade show information, word from FAMA on the apparatus market, and a report from the Center for Public Excellence on apparatus purchasing.
E-ONE Expands Production Capacity
Expanded production capabilities will enable E-ONE to increase aerial output by 35 percent while helping to reduce delivery timelines.
Just Ask Engineering: What Is the Lowest Temperature At Which A Darley Pump Can Safely Operate?
This question is asked by many pump operators in the upper Midwest of the United States and Canada during the winter season.
Texas FD Chooses Rear-Mount Straight Stick Quint
The Addison (TX) Fire Department decided a straight stick’s maneuverability fit its needs better than a platform and went with a Spartan ER rear-mount aerial ladder quint.
PRESS RELEASES
Darley’s Tactical Pumper
The Tactical Pumper is the only mini/midi pumper on the market affording fire departments a 1,500-gpm pump, 400-gallon water tank, and four-person cab occupancy.
E-ONE Expands Production Capacity
Expanded production capabilities will enable E-ONE to increase aerial output by 35 percent while helping to reduce delivery timelines.
Darley Defense Launches New Online Defense Platform
This modernized online platform delivers a unified user experience that streamlines navigation, accelerates content sourcing, and simplifies access to procurement information.
Terex and REV Group Complete Merger
Terex Corporation has completed its merger with REV Group, forming a leading specialty equipment manufacturer. The merger aims to create $75 million in synergies by 2028.
APPARATUS GALLERY
VIDEOS
Inside Darley: March/April 2026
Spring is here and that means it’s time for the spring/summer issue of the Darley Times newsletter, which features an article on new president Lee Wise, and more.
Inside Darley: January/February 2026
Darley starts the new year with a new five-year strategic plan called “3B30.” That’s a goal to be a $3 billion business by the year 2030.
Inside Darley: November/December 2025
In this edition, Paul Darley discusses the company’s growth with the U.S. Department of Defense. The company is also engaged in wildfire management, leadership development, and more.
Inside Darley: September/October 2025
Paul Darley discusses the success of the company’s internship program and offers tips for family businesses to continue family ownership generation after generation.
Inside Darley: July/August 2025
Paul Darley and more than 300 employees and their families enjoyed a weekend in the Wisconsin Dells to celebrate hitting a billion dollars in revenue. Deloitte presented Darley with the Best Managed Company award, one of 60 companies in the U.S. to received it.
Inside Darley: May/June 2025
Explore highlights from Darley’s May-June issue of Inside Darley, including record attendance at FDIC, new catalogs, and upcoming events like NDIA and the IL Fire Service Home Day.
LATEST
What the HVAC System Needs
The HVAC technician’s duty when performing maintenance is to understand each component clearly and inspect for anything that could impede its function.
The Long Game: The Art of Keeping an Aging Fire Apparatus Fleet Alive
Fleet management is no longer just about buying new rigs—it’s about mastering the art of keeping aging ones alive.
Why a Good Technician Must be a Good Person, Part 5
Learn to value the traits and skills of others. Practice sharing credit for success until it is second nature; until you become concerned only with results, not who gets the credit.
Darley’s Tactical Pumper
The Tactical Pumper is the only mini/midi pumper on the market affording fire departments a 1,500-gpm pump, 400-gallon water tank, and four-person cab occupancy.
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RIGS
Ocala (FL) Fire Rescue Welcomes Groundbreaking Addition to Fleet
Vancouver (WA) FD Replaces Tractor Drawn Aerial With New KME Tiller
EV Tech Talk: What Happens When You Shift Out of Road Mode Into Pump Mode?
Equipment
Just Ask Engineering: What Makes a Part Reusable or Not?
When rebuilding a pump, deciding what to replace versus reuse is a common question. Fortunately, the process is straightforward: break the pump into individual components and evaluate each piece one at a time.
EV Tech Talk: What Happens When You Shift Out of Road Mode Into Pump Mode?
Fire department training divisions should include some input from the mechanical division. As a mechanic, I can’t teach someone the proper way to put out a fire. I’m not trained for that. In the same breath, firefighters aren’t expected to know how the equipment they use works mechanically. Although firefighters don’t need to understand how to fix the equipment, a general understanding of how something works affects how they use it.
Pump Packing vs. Mechanical Seal
In this article, we are going to discuss what packing and a mechanical seal are. But first we need to know what the purpose of these “seals” is in our pumping systems. To put it very simply, they keep the oil and water separated.
Five Top Preventive Maintenance Tips for Fire Pumps
The fire pump is arguably the most important piece of equipment on an engine, and pump manufacturers have specific guidelines for keeping fire pumps in the best working order. We spoke with two W.S. Darley & Company pump experts, Greg Field, vice president of pump manufacturing operations, and Shawn Kelly, training manager, about the subject and they gave us five preventive maintenance tips to keep your fire pump in top shape.
