BY BOB VACCARO

The Easton (ME) Fire Department consists of 25 to 30 paid/call firefighters providing fire suppression, hazmat, inspection, and fire-life safety education to the Town of Easton, as well as mutual aid to surrounding communities. Its response district covers 36 square miles with a population of 17,000 people. The Easton Fire Department was incorporated in 1955.

According to Chief Gregory White, “While operating out of the Easton Station we have the ability to supply 9,000 gallons of water to the scene of an emergency at one time. Although the Town of Easton does not have a hydrant system, techniques have been developed to “shuttle” water to the scene of a fire quickly and effectively. Only our commercial areas have the luxury of having hydrants.”

He continues, “Although we are a paid/call or ‘volunteer’ organization, we do generate a very good response of firefighters in the community through the help of McCain Foods U.S.A., Huber Engineered Woods, and the Easton School Department along with other employers or educators in the community who understand the need to release of firefighters from their everyday lives during an emergency.”

White says that several years ago the department formed a truck committee to look at upgrading its tanker program. He explains that since the 1970s the department operated a tractor trailer that was a converted oil truck that had the capacity of carrying 5,000 gallons but that tt really had no compartment space.

“Our department had purchased an E-ONE apparatus in 2010, so we were familiar with that apparatus manufacturer and their local dealer Greenwood Emergency Vehicles,” says White. “We looked at other manufacturers and deliveries in our area and decided to go with E-ONE again.”

Whit explains that the department had applied for an AFG grant for the apparatus purchase but had been turned down several times before finally being awarded the grant. Just prior to being awarded, the township was ready to provide funding for the apparatus. “Our department ordered the initial tanker but then six months later we went out to bid and were able to purchase a second tanker as well,” says White. “The only thing we changed on the 2nd tanker was Class A foam capability.”

ENGINES 1 AND 3

Engines 1 and 3 are 2024 E-ONE rigs built on four-door International cabs and chassis. They have four SCBA positions, with the operator taking the fifth seat. They each have 3,000-gallon tanks, and 1,250-gpm pumps. Engine 3 has a 30-gallon Class A foam system. White says it is a perfect second-due apparatus, using one of its two preconnected 1 ¾-inch lines to provide the backup line for entry teams and using its preconnected 3-inch supply line to establish the water supply needed for the first-due engine to perform uninterrupted firefighting operations. “The 3,000-gallon dump tank lowered by electric over hydraulic allows for a two-person deployment,” says White, adding that Engine 3 responds second out for all working fires.

Engine three carries 500 feet of 5-inch LDH, 200 feet of 2-inch line, and 150 feet of 1¾-inch hose in crosslays. It also has a deck gun. “After listening to other departments, we upgraded to 4-inch tank-to-pump valves to get better flow to the pump,” says White. “Adding extra compartment space and the crew cab really served us well.”

Easton Fire Department Tankers

• International four-door HV607 6×4 cabs and chassis
• Seating for five with four SCBA seats
• Cummins L9 450-hp engines
• Hale DSD 1,250-gpm single-stage pumps
• Class A foam system on second tanker
• 3,000-gallon UPF water tanks
• Stainless steel Newton swivel dumps
• Zico portable tank lifts

White says the build was done at E-ONE during COVID, so the committee could not do any inspection trips. “The build was basically done with the dealer and E-ONE providing us with photos,” he says. “With the exception with a few hiccups for the second tanker, all in all the builds went good.” Both units have been in service, and the department continues to tweak the interactions of the apparatus to make its responses flow efficiently and effectively from the initial scene size-up through knock down and mop up. “The cool part is we now have options that were not available to us a year ago,” says White.

“Dealing with E-ONE and Greenwood was great,” White adds. They both listened to our concerns and questions and made any changes that we discussed with them.”

It’s not easy developing specs and applying for AFG grants while trying to figure out budget restrictions and dealing with town or city governments during the process. However, the Easton Fire Department seemed to work through any problems it had to design two excellent, well thought out apparatus for its response district. The end results should serve their department well into the future.

BOB VACCARO has more than 50 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol, and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. He is a life member of the IAFC.