Fire Service Visionary George Sztykiel Passes Away

Fire Service Visionary George Sztykiel Passes Away

George W. Sztykiel, co-founder of Spartan Motors, died on July 4, 2026, at age 96. George was born in Zielonka, Poland, in 1929. A survivor of World War II, George emigrated to the United States in 1954, settling in Michigan. He built a career as an automotive...

Mantua Township (NJ) Rescue-Pumper

Mantua Township (NJ) Rescue-Pumper

The Mantua Township (NJ) Fire District was formed in October 2006 through the merger of four individually operated and governed fire companies: the Barnsboro Fire Company, the Mantua Volunteer Fire Company, the Centre City Volunteer Fire Company, and the Sewell Mutual...

Inside Darley: July-August 2026

During the month of June, we exhibited at the Interschutz conference. Now that’s the fire show that happens every five years over in Hanover, Germany. Over 140,000 attendees if you can imagine at that show. We had a...

HVAC Systems: So, What Is a Micron, Anyway?

HVAC Systems: So, What Is a Micron, Anyway?

The part salesman gives a micron rating for his fuel filter. Your high school physics teacher told you that the sun’s gravity at the distance of Pluto is a few microns per second squared. The tool salesman tries to sell you a micron gauge for your HVAC repairs. What...

ARTICLES

Keeping Up with Rapidly Changing Fire Apparatus Technology

Keeping Up with Rapidly Changing Fire Apparatus Technology

The modern fire apparatus shop is no longer just a support function—it is a critical component of operational readiness and firefighter safety. Jurisdictions that invest in training, diagnostics, data analysis, and documentation position themselves to succeed in an increasingly complex environment.

PRESS RELEASES

Darley Welcomes Jim Johnson to Board of Directors

Darley Welcomes Jim Johnson to Board of Directors

Johnson’s appointment reflects Darley’s ongoing commitment to building on the strength of its board of directors with experienced industry leaders who provide strategic guidance and oversight.

APPARATUS GALLERY

VIDEOS

Inside Darley: March/April 2026

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.

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Inside Darley: November/December 2025

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.

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Inside Darley: July/August 2025

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.

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Inside Darley: May/June 2025

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.

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Equipment

EV Tech Talk: What Happens When You Shift Out of Road Mode Into Pump Mode?

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

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

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.