In 1984 when New Pittsburg, Ohio fire department retro fit their 1971 International Loadstar chassis with a vacuum unit it was "not so much for the water it provides but for the personnel it saves". The unit has just been retired after almost 30 years of work horse service because of the inability to get parts for the chassis brake system. The doors from the original unit were incorperated into the body and although there were not a lot of "bells and whistles" the unit served them well over these many years with very little maintenance required. This is the first Firovac unit returned...
Morrisvale, WV's water supply is small mountain streams ar even ditches. On 11-18-14 loading with a Firovac High Volume strainer with pan allows the strainer to set on the bottom of the stream to capture as much water as possible with NO cavitation or loading debris.
The water is loaded through 6" quick couple hose in the Firovac tanker.
The water is then pressure unloaded into the portable tank. No driving is neccessary, a very quick, efficient & safe way to supply water to a fire. They call it "pump & dump".
Plenty of water was...
"Once firefighters understand & know how a vacuum tanker works, they will buy one." Quote from a fireman at the '86 West Virginia State Fireman's Convention.
Because of it's versatility, Firovac may seem complicated but it isn't. In reality it is easy to operate.
1. Operating from the cab, arrive at the "dump site" and open the air operated water tank valve.
2. Set vacuum/pressure pump to "Pressure".
3. Engage pump, setting RPM's to desired rate. (Water discharge rate corresponds to amount of pressure)
4. When unloaded, close...
Morrisvale, WV used a whiteboard to design a truck specific to their needs.
First it needed to be a vacuum apparatus to continue the efficient tanker operations required by a small rural department with limited resources.
They also needed to be able to tap into the many shallow mountain streams without driving long distances on small winding roads.
Second, a rear mounted fire pump panel provided a shorter unit, perfect for their tight roads and driveways.
Third, "pump & roll" capabilites with a front bumper...
Replacement of a 1998 stainless steel water tank that had been repaired several times but continued to seep due to MIC (microbiological induced corrosion). There is no crack but the seepage occurs in the weld areas and re-welding often does not stop it. Fire pump system was unchanged.
Polished aluminum vacuum tank replaced a 1998 stainless steel tank. Along with a vacuum system, 3 air operated rear water valves and a Firovac power swing down portable tank bracket with 2 portable tanks were added.
Firovac Invented this Strainer (pictured to the right) to Accomodate the Large Volume of Water it Produces both in Transfer and Draft Rates. This NEW Strainer DOES NOT MOVE from the Floor of a Portable Tank when Drafting!Even with High Volumes of Water, this Strainer Stays in Place!
** Initial Test Results Show: 1,600 GPM+ when Drafting with a 1,500 GPM Pumper and 1,500 GPM with a Jet Siphon Transfer through a Single Line.
So, Why Fight to Keep your Strainer from Rising in the Portable Tank when Trying to Draft? Especially, when...
2014 Demonstrator:
Vacuum pump, 460 cfm continuous duty, 8 vanes, 5 year warranty, tanper proof oiler, oil catch muffler, flush valve, fan cooled and shroulded. It has a positive primary and secondary shut off system, clutch shift PTO, belt driven from the PTO for pump protection, electric actuated, over speed protection.
Water tank is 3000 gallon polished aluminum with a 1/2" bottom and 5/16" heads with proprietary interior coating with two 9# anode bars, lighted water level indicators, patent designed internal vent specifically for fire service, patent designed baffles with no flat...
"Seville's tanker was back in the drive near the actual fire supplying their pumper. Next in was Westfield with their tanker and they supplied Seville with their tanker. Chief Winkler had asked me to run water supply, however, at that time, they were not flowing much water. There was a dry hydrant no more than 1/2 a mile away, so I had originally planned to keep our tanker and Canaan Township's tanker (also a vacuum) to handle the remaining water supply. However, before that could get established, the water flow was even less significant - that we ended up backing our tanker down the...
Excerpts from the above titled article by Ronald Naab 5/1/09: "There is much to consider when purchasing new or used tenders. ...This vehicle is one of the most important units in your fire station, especially when your protection zone has an area not serviced with a static (river or lake) or pressurized municipal water supply.
My mentor in the fire service, the late Larry Seebruck of Port Edwards (WIS) Fire Department, many times told me 'When the wheels of a tanker are not turning, the vehicle is not earning its keep.' What Larry meant was that the longer it takes to fill a tank with water...
