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APPARATUS:The department operates a total of nine combination pumper/tenders, including one in reserve status, one heavy rescue pumper/tender, one First Responder EMS vehicle, five other light support vehicles; and a variety of off road rescue vehicles for both land and water rescues.  Engine 31: 2003 KME Pumper / Tender. Delivered in May 2003, this custom cab pumper/tender has a 6 person cab, 1250 GPM Hale pump with Detroit ‘D’ Deck Pressure Governor System (PGS), 2000-gallon water tank with quantity indicators on all four sides, ‘Zircon’ Class A foam system, 6 KW hydraulic generator, 2 ea. 1500 watt and 1 ea. 1000 watt “Focus” brand area lights, ‘Detroit Locker’ rear differentials w/ Automatic Tire Chains, 3 crosslays including one 2-1/2 inch preconnected to a 500 GPM TFT Blitzfire unmanned ground monitor, a fixed 1000 GPM deck gun, two rear preconnects, one 35 foot extension and two 14 foot fixed ground ladders, Thermal Imaging Camera, 1000 feet of 5 inch and 1000 feet of 3-inch supply hoses, and full compartmentation. The 470 horsepower Detroit Series 60 motor is the most powerful in the fleet and combined with the Allison automatic transmission and PGS this apparatus is very easy and safe to drive and operate.  Engine 32: 2005 International 7600 / KME Pumper / Tender. Delivered in November 2005, this commercial cab pumper/tender has an extended 2 person cab, 1250 GPM Waterous pump with ‘FRC’ PGS, 2000-gallon water tank with quantity indicators on all four sides and in the cab, two 10 inch electric side dumps, one on each side controlled from the cab only, ‘Foam-Pro’ Class A foam system w/ 30 gallon tank, 5 KW gasoline powered generator controlled from the cab and/or the pump panel, 3 each 750 watt “Focus” brand area lights, a full complement of Hurst hydraulic rescue tools, ‘Detroit Locker’ rear differentials w/ Automatic Tire Chains, four preconnected lines with 3 crosslays including one 2-1/2 inch connected to a 500 GPM TFT Blitzfire unmanned ground monitor, fixed &/or portable 1000 GPM deck gun, 1000 feet of 5 inch and 1000 feet of 3-inch supply hoses, 24 foot and 14 foot ground ladders, and full compartmentation. This apparatus serves as second out for fires in its assigned district and first out for medical and MVA/Rescue calls. It is now the most modern in the fleet and is designed to be easy and safe to drive and to operate. The motor is a 410 hp Cummins with an Allison automatic transmission.  Engines 33, 34 and 310: These are all Commercial Cab Pumper/Tenders with 1,000 GPM Waterous pumps, 2,000-gallon water tanks, and are 6-wheel drive. These engines are first out for fires in their assigned districts, have been impressive performers for the department for well over 20 years, and are impressive looking as well. Four pre-connected hose lines with one line preconnected to a 500 GPM TFT Blitzfire unmanned ground monitor, portable 1000 GPM ground monitor, Class A foam system with 30 gallon tank, 1000 feet of 5 inch and 1000 feet of 3-inch supply hoses, 4 KW gasoline powered generator, tower and ground lighting, 35 foot and 14 foot ground ladders, and full compartmentation. Manufactured by Pierce on Ford LN-9000 commercial truck chassis, Engines 310 was purchased in 1979, and Engines 33 and 34 were purchased in 1982.Engines 35, 36, 37: These are all  Commercial Cab Pumper/Tenders with 1,000 GPM Waterous pumps,2,000-gallon water tanks, and standard 6x4 drive train. Three preconnected hose lines, 1000 feet of 5 inch and 1000 feet of 3-inch supply hoses, 24 foot and 14 foot ground ladders, trauma medical kit w/ oxygen, splints, KED, etc.. These engines are second out for fires and first out to MVA’s and life threatening medical calls in their assigned districts. Manufactured in 1985 by LTI on Ford LN-9000 commercial truck chassis.  Engine 38: Reserve Engine. This Commercial Cab Pumper/Tender has 1,250 GPM Hale pump, 2000-gallon water tank and standard drive train, and is kept in reserve status in warm storage. Also serves as primary response unit to major Wildland fires during the summer when requested by State of Alaska Division of Forestry. Manufactured in 1985 by FMC on GMC commercial truck chassis.  Engine 311: Reserve Engine. This medium duty commercial cab engine was donated to the department by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. Equipped with 500 GPM Darley pump, 500 gallon water tank, Class A foam system, and Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS), two preconnected hoselines, up to 600 feet of 3 inch supply hose, a built in 500 GPM deck gun capable of flowing foam, and full compartmentation. This vehicle is owned by the Volunteers of North Star Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., and is primarily assigned to respond on larger Wildland fires when requested by State of Alaska Division of Forestry. Manufactured in 1987 by Darley on a GMC commercial truck chassis. Rescue 31: 1994 KME Pumper / Tender. This custom cab  combination pumper/tender has a 6 person cab w/ integrated EMS storage inside the cab. First custom cab purchased by the department, this apparatus upgraded the fleet with a 1500 GPM Hale pump, 1000-gallon water tank, 1000 watt Focus flood lights, ‘Night Fighter’ spot and flood lights, 5 KW gasoline generator, four-wheel drive w/ Automatic Tire Chains, heavy rescue hydraulic tools and related equipment, a high capacity fresh air heater, as well as 750 feet of 3 inch supply hose and three preconnect hose lines, 35 foot and 14 foot ground ladders, and full compartmentation. Originally first out for all fires at Sta. 1 from 1994 until 2003, this apparatus is now a dedicated Heavy Rescue Pumper/Tender, performing response duties to all MVA’s, rescues, and other major medical emergencies. The changes to a Rescue Engine included installing an EMS storage cabinet in the cab to help keep medical gear secure and warm, changing from an 8 person to a 6 person cab, installing a ‘Frost Fighter’ fresh air heater for victim and firefighter support during winter rescues, and reassigning equipment in compartments for quick, safe access. The motor is a 300 hp Cummins and the transmission is an Allison Automatic. Six heavy engines are on Ford LN-9000 chassis and one is a GMC, all with Detroit 6V92 engines and Allison HT740 automatic transmissions. One heavy engine is an International 7600 Series chassis with Cummins power and Allison EVS-4000 transmission. The 2003 and 1994 K.M.E. apparatus are custom cab chassis, powered by Detroit and Cummins, respectively, and with Allison World automatic transmissions. Pumps are Waterous, Hale, and Darley. In 2008 the average age of the entire heavy apparatus fleet is over 19.5 years old. SPECIALIZED APPARATUS:Squad 31: – First Responder EMS unit w/ EMT-B (BLS) specific medical equipment. This vehicle is a 1997 GMC 4 door 1-ton chassis with four-wheel drive, and utility box carrying related equipment. Also carries a 4,500-watt generator to provide auxiliary electrical power and to power 500 watt halogen flood lights. “Night Fighter’ spot and flood light for additional area lighting. Brush 31: – Utility Vehicle that sees heavy use during the winter plowing snow at all the fire stations and during the summer Wildland season working local fires and statewide when hired by State Forestry for major fires. Carries skid‑mount pump with 155 gallon aluminum tank and gasoline powered pump, 600 feet 1‑1/2 inch forestry hose, 200 feet one inch forestry hose, forestry hand tools and hose appliances, two chainsaws, and drip torch. Winter Equipment: The skid load unit is removed and this unit is equipped with an 8-foot heavy duty ‘Western’ snow plow. Manufactured on a two door 1-ton 1985 GMC four-wheel drive chassis by L.T.I. Other Light Vehicles: One 2003 Ford ¾ ton 4x4 pickup, Two 2000 GMC ¾ ton 4x4 pickups, and one 1997 GMC ¾ ton pickup. All have trunked and conventional-capable mobile radios, cell phones, BLS medical gear, and have extended command capability. Forestry gear including Wildland skid tank/pump units are installed in select units during summer months for Wildland firefighting. Rescue Boats: The department has two rescue boats. The newest boat is a 2005 ‘Extreme Shallow’ 21 foot aluminum hulled boat designed to run in very shallow water and is equipped with a 200 hp inboard jet drive unit and seating for 4. This highly capable boat also has the room and cargo capacity to carry a 4-wheeler ATV in the bow and is a powerful addition to the fleet. The second boat is a 1994 ‘Achilles’ sixteen-foot inflatable boat with hard floor, powered by a 15-horsepower 4-stroke Honda engine. Both boats are equipped with ALMR / Conventional mobile radios and can be called for surface water search and rescue operations for local area rivers, lakes, and gravel pits. Department members staffing these units are outfitted with cold water survival suits, rescue harnesses, and/or PFD’s as appropriate, to safely complete their assigned tasks. All Terrain Vehicles: The department has five off road capable vehicles and two rescue sleds. Wheeled ATV’s consist of Two 2005 Polaris Ranger 6-wheelers and one 2005 Suzuki 4-wheeler. Tracked ATV’s consist of two 2005 Polaris Long Track snow machines. Two ‘Rescue-Boggan’ rescue sleds can be configured for summer or winter use with either wheels or skis for safe transport of one patient and one medic on each trailer. All this equipment is carried on several trailers including one 4-place fully enclosed trailer, one 4-place open trailer, and/or one 2-place open trailer, etc. COLOR OF APPARATUS: “North Star Green” Lime‑Yellow and Red & White APPARATUS: All heavy apparatus have been standardized to the greatest extent possible as to chassis, engine, transmission, water tank size and pumping capacity in order to simplify training and familiarization, and to save costs on maintenance and spare parts inventory. All equipment stored on the apparatus has also been standardized as to type and location. Due to the extreme cold weather of interior Alaska, a sub arctic climate, modifications were made to the apparatus to insure their reliability under the most extreme temperatures. These include insulating the inside of the pump compartment, specifying fully enclosed pump panels (side doors and bottom pans), installing fan powered heaters in the pump panels plumbed from the engine's coolant, running the exhaust piping through the pump panel area to scavenge waste heat, maintaining wet pumps all year, strict compliance with parking responding apparatus in pump gear to circulate tank water, and leaving nozzles cracked open on hose lines that are in use at emergency incidents or in training. |