Rescue 7 Heads for Refurbishment After 17 Years of Service

After 17 years of continuous service, Rescue 7 was placed out of service this week in preparation for a major refurbishment.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of fire apparatus has nearly doubled, while delivery times have stretched to more than three years in some cases, with no guarantees on either cost or delivery schedules. Rescue Engine 7 was purchased in 2019 for $680,000, just before COVID disrupted the fire apparatus manufacturing industry. Remarkably, that purchase price was the same as the cost of the current Rescue 7 ten years earlier.

Today, constructing a comparable rescue engine is estimated to cost approximately $1.2 million, while replacing Rescue 7 with an identical unit would approach $1.7 million.

With these factors in mind, the company elected to purchase a new Spartan cab and chassis and remount the existing stainless-steel body, which remains in excellent condition, at roughly half the cost of a complete replacement. Earlier this week, members traveled to Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, to deliver Rescue 7 and inspect the new Spartan Gladiator chassis ordered through DPC Emergency Equipment.

The removal of the existing body and installation onto the new chassis will be completed by Bull Dog Fire Apparatus and is expected to take approximately four months. During that period, Rescue Engine 7 will assume Rescue 7's operational responsibilities.

The new chassis also provides an opportunity to incorporate lessons learned over the past 17 years. It is equipped with a more powerful Cummins X15 565-horsepower engine, which will power the Hale 1,250-GPM fire pump. Due to the additional weight of the engine, the water tank capacity will be reduced from 915 gallons to 750 gallons. This still meets Harford County engine standards and exceeds the water tank requirements typically expected of a rescue truck.

To further improve maneuverability, a shorter Spartan cab was selected, reducing the wheelbase by 14 inches. The front bumper will now feature a 2½-inch discharge, hose trough, and winch receiver. These changes will reduce front-end weight and shorten the vehicle by an additional six inches.

When completed, the new Rescue 7 will have an overall length of 38 feet, 4 inches, making it approximately four feet longer than a typical single-axle rescue engine.

The original body will also receive several upgrades, including new LED warning lights and the replacement of the existing quartz scene lighting with modern LED scene lighting. The refurbished Rescue 7 will continue to retain the capabilities that have made it a truly multifunctional unit.

Rescue Company Capabilities

Harrison 30kW Hydraulic Generator, powering:

Two 200-foot, 220-volt cord reels
Atlas Copco 20-CFM continuous-duty air compressor with air reel
125,000 lumens of fixed LED lighting (previously 13,000 watts of quartz lighting)
9,000-watt Will-Burt 30-foot telescopic light tower

AMKUS Ultimate Hydraulic Rescue Tool System

Four 200-foot hydraulic hose reels
Four pre-connected hydraulic rescue tools (spreaders and cutters)

Specialized Rescue Equipment

Equipment meeting Harford and Baltimore County rescue company requirements
Truck Company Capabilities
Saws and salvage equipment
Truck company ground ladders:
One 16-foot roof ladder
One 20-foot roof ladder
One 28-foot two-fly extension ladder
One 35-foot two-fly extension ladder
One 10-foot attic ladder
One 14-foot attic ladder
One Little Giant ladder
Truck company equipment meeting Harford County truck company requirements, excluding an aerial ladder
Engine Company Capabilities

Hose Complement

One 100-foot, 1¾-inch auto line
Two 200-foot, 1¾-inch attack lines
One 250-foot, 2½-inch attack line
300 feet of 3-inch hose
1,000 feet of 5-inch large-diameter hose (LDH)

Additional Equipment:

Equipment meeting Harford County Rescue Engine standards

After nearly two decades of service, Rescue 7's refurbishment represents a fiscally responsible investment that will preserve a unique and highly capable apparatus while ensuring it remains ready to serve the community for many years to come.