Welcome back to another episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch! In this episode, we sit down with Jared Rhode, Dickinson Fire Department's Training Captain and North Dakota’s Firefighter Association Instructor of the Year. Captain Rhode discusses his role, the evolution of firefighter training programs and initiatives aimed at youth engagement in firefighting. He highlights the success of high school and college programs, the importance of debriefing and continuous learning and the introduction of their first custom-built aerial platform. He also shares best practices for balancing full-time and part-time staff training and offers advice for fire departments facing large gaps in experience. Tune in to this insightful episode on empowering future firefighters and enhancing community safety!

Date Aired: 06/21/2024

Featuring: Host Alie Reetz & Training Captain Jared Rhode, Dickinson Fire Department

Guests:

• Jared Rhode became the Training Captain of the Dickinson Fire Department in Dickinson, North Dakota in January 2023. In addition, he leads their local school firefighter programs to engage their department with the youth and with the community. In 2023, he was awarded the North Dakota’s Firefighter Association Instructor of the Year.
• Alie Reetz is instrumental in connecting customers with the perfect builds for their unique needs. She plays a critical role in supporting social media, web presence, and direct customer interaction at Pierce, ensuring every apparatus meets the precise needs of the firefighters who use them.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, we discuss apparatus testing including:

Chapters:

• Full-time and part-time firefighters
• Training strategies and best practices
• 100’ Steel Aerial Platform
  • Quint
  • Types of Aerial Fire Trucks
  • Aerials - Platforms
• Pierce dealers
• Compartmentation
  • Ergonomics

Whether you’re in the market for the latest in fire apparatus technology, or just passionate about the firefighting community and its evolution, this episode of Pierce™ Dispatch is for you.

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Pierce™ Dispatch Episode No.8 – Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumpers with Chief Dan DiRenzo

On this episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch, hosted by Pierce Manufacturing, we discuss Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumpers with Chief Dan DiRenzo. Bellmawr Fire Department is taking delivery of an Enforcer™ Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumper and an Enforcer 75’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Ladder. In this episode, we dive into the capabilities, versatility, operation and design of a HDRP.

Date Aired: 06/07/2024

Featuring: Host Alie Reetz & Chief Dan DiRenzo, Bellmawr Fire Department

Guests:

• Dan DiRenzo is the Fire Chief of the Bellmawr Fire Department, Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue System member, New Jersey Task Force One member and is approaching retirement from the Cherry Hill Fire Department as a Rescue Captain. His journey in the fire industry began 25 years ago, when graduated from high school, following in his father’s footsteps.
• Alie Reetz is instrumental in connecting customers with the perfect builds for their unique needs. She plays a critical role in supporting social media, web presence, and direct customer interaction at Pierce, ensuring every apparatus meets the precise needs of the firefighters who use them.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, we discuss apparatus testing including:

● Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumper

• Advancements in rescue pumper storage

● 75’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Ladder

● Multipurpose Fire Trucks

● Compartmentation

• Fire truck ergonomics

● Lighting

• Emergency warning lights

● Graphics

Whether you’re in the market for the latest in fire apparatus technology, or just passionate about the firefighting community and its evolution, this episode of Pierce™ Dispatch is for you.

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Welcome to another episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch, hosted by Pierce Manufacturing, where we discuss the topic of apparatus testing with Scott Mumford, Pierce’s Production Manager who has 23 years of fire apparatus manufacturing experience. In this episode, Scott shares his knowledge and expertise on fire apparatus testing. We discuss the benefits, strategies and importance of testing a fire apparatus.

Key Takeaways:

• Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Testing
• Aerials
• Pumpers
• Rescues
• Tankers
• Foam systems
• Build process
• Pierce Volterra Electric Fire Truck
• Pierce Careers

Acronyms:

• FPE – Final Product Evaluation
• ABS – Automatic Braking System
• UL – Underwriter’s Laboratories
• ULC – Underwriter’s Laboratories of Canada
• NPD – New Product Development
• MRL – Manufacturing Release Line
• Zone 5 – Final Assembly
• Zone 6 – Checkout and Graphics

Whether you’re in the market for the latest in fire apparatus technology, or just passionate about the firefighting community and its evolution, this episode of Pierce™ Dispatch is for you.

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

We have something special in store for Pierce™ Dispatch listeners this week… a bonus episode! We sat down with attendees at FDIC International 2024. Tune in to hear voices of the fire industry from all over the country on their experience at the show.

Date Aired: 05/17/2024

Featuring: Host Alie Reetz & Pierce Booth Attendees

Guests:

• Alie Reetz is a Marketing Associate at Pierce Manufacturing.
• Philip Drangula is the Chief of Cinnaminson Fire Department in Cinnaminson, New Jersey.
• Richard Wendt is the Chief of Bexar County ESD No.11 in San Antonio, Texas.
• Michael Marchesani is a Fire Marshal and is Captain on the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Company in Walkersville, Maryland.
• Virgil White is the Chief of South Charleston Fire Department in South Charleston, West Virginia.
• Tia Free is the PIO for Michigan City Fire Department in Michigan City, Indiana.
• Kyle Toman is a firefighter on Greenville Volunteer Fire Rescue in Greenville, Wisconsin.
• Hunter Cobb is a firefighter on Alliance Fire Department in Alliance, Ohio.
• Ryan Summers is a firefighter on the Alliance Fire Department, Sebring Fire and EMS and Lexington Township Fire Department.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, we meet with Pierce booth attendees during FDIC International 2024.

• TAK-4 Independent Suspension
• Apparatus lease
• Build process
  • Fire apparatus design
• Apparatus delivery
• Pierce PUC™ Pump
• Pierce® Volterra™ Electric Fire Truck
  • Electric fire truck reference guide

Apparatus Mentioned:

• Bexar County Emergency Services District No.11: Enforcer Pumper
• Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Company: Velocity Non-Walk-In Heavy-Duty Rescue

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Welcome back to another episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch. In this episode, we sat down with Jason Blank, Pierce Fleet Requirements Manager. We discuss valuable insights on how customers can make the most out of their visits to Pierce and learn expert tips on achieving success in their apparatus build process.

Date Aired: 05/10/2024

Featuring: Host Dan Meyer & Pierce Fleet Requirement’s Manager Jason Blank

Guests:

• Dan Meyer is the Vice President of Sales at Pierce Manufacturing.
• Jason Blank is a Requirements Manager for the Pierce Fleet Group.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, we discuss what customers can do to prepare for their visits to Pierce:

• Pierce careers
  • More info here
• Build process
  • Fire apparatus design

Order Lifecycle

• Pre-construction
• Fire truck compartment storage systems
• Weight review
• Final inspection
  • Final inspection process
• Apparatus delivery

Apparatus Mentioned:

• Indianapolis Fire Department’s Enforcer Pumper

Resources Mentioned:

• Pierce Dealers: For information about how to connect with your local pierce dealer, visit our website under “Find a Dealer”

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Whether you followed along on Pierce’s social media, or saw Pierce’s booth first-hand in Indianapolis, tune into this FDIC International recap of what was in the Pierce booth this year! In this episode, we sat down with our Pierce platform experts on the show floor to discuss the latest advancements in fire apparatus and groundbreaking technologies including 12 fire apparatus.

Guests:

• Dan Meyer is the Vice President of Sales at Pierce Manufacturing.
• Bill Proft is the Business Unit Leader of Rescue Products for Pierce Manufacturing.
• Shena Straka is the Business Unit Leader of Aerial Products for Pierce Manufacturing.
• John Schultz is the Vice President and General Manager of Pumper Products for Pierce Manufacturing.
• David Kay is the Senior Chief Engineer of Electrification for Pierce Manufacturing.

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, we discuss what is in the Pierce booth at FDIC 2024 including:

• Pierce PUC™ Pump
• Actus Traffic Regulator
• TAK-4™ Independent Suspension
• TAK-4 T3™ Independent Rear Suspension
• Idle Reduction Technology
• Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumper
• Extreme-Duty HVAC System
• Command Zone™ Lighting
• Heavy-Duty Rescue
• Pierce careers
• Velocity® chassis
• Safety systems
• Decontamination
• Aerials
• 100’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Ladder
• Ascendant® 107’ Heavy-Duty Ladder
• Ascendant® 107’ Heavy-Duty Tiller
• Ascendent® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration
• Pierce® Volterra™ Platform of Electric Vehicles

Resources Mentioned:

• Pierce Manufacturing Website: For detailed information on fire apparatus and more on Pierce innovations
• Pierce Dealers: For information about how to connect with your local pierce dealer, visit our website under “Find a Dealer”

Whether you’re in the market for the latest in fire apparatus technology, or just passionate about the firefighting community and its evolution, this episode of is for you.

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Welcome to another episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch, hosted by Pierce. We delve into fleet standardization and purchasing with Mike Feduniw, Fire Captain at the Red Deer County Fire Department and Sales Manager at Commercial Emergency Equipment in Canada. Mike shares insights on standardizing fire apparatus fleets, covering benefits, strategies, and implementation.

Guests:

• Mike Feduniw is currently the Sales Manager at Commercial Emergency Equipment. He has been a firefighter for 17-years and is the Fire Captain at Red Deer County Fire Department.

Key Takeaways:

• Fleet standardization
  • Trends
  • Management and Maintenance
• Fleet purchasing
  • Pierce Lease
• Ordering process
  • Find a Dealer
  • Ordering Process
  • Order Lifecycle
  • Configurator Benefits
  • Design
• Integration of technology and innovations into a fleet
  • Electrical Systems
  • Ascendant Aerial
  • Care
  • E-Coat
  • Electrical Systems
  • Fire Suppression
  • Foam Systems
  • Idle Reduction Technology
  • Paccar MX-13
  • PUC
  • Safety Systems
  • Tak-4
• Fleet operation and maintenance
  • Parts and Product Support
• Pierce Volterra Electric Fire Truck
  • Electric Fire Truck Reference Guide
  • Pierce Volterra
  • Volterra Day in the Life
  • Pierce Volterra Technology
  • Pump Performance
  • Charging Infrastructure

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.

Welcome to the third episode of the Pierce™ Dispatch, hosted by Pierce. In this episode, we interview Pierce’s Lead Fire Suppression Product Specialist, Aaron Zak. We compare different pumper designs, what approaches are taken to order a pumper and discuss stand-out designs.

Featuring: Host Dan Meyer & Pierce’s Lead Fire Suppression Product Specialist, Aaron Zak

Key Takeaways:

• What is the purpose of a pumper?
• What are the important factors to consider when designing a pumper? (more here and here).
• What is the difference between all the different types of pumpers?
  • Pumper Comparison
  • Pumper Fire Apparatus
• Foam systems on pumpers. (more here and here).
• Pierce PUC™ Pump. (more here and here).
• The best starting point when designing a pumper? (more here and here).
• How do pumpers compare across various climates?
  • How to Winterize your Fire Truck
  • Electric Fire Truck in the Cold Weather
  • Fire Truck HVAC System Advancements
• How to design compartmentation on a pumper?
• Why some pumpers carry rescue equipment and others do not
• Pump panel design
• Industrial pumper (more ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here)⁠.
• Tankers (more ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here)⁠.

Resources Mentioned:

• For information about how to connect with your local pierce dealer, visit our website under “⁠Find a Dealer⁠”

Apparatus Mentioned:

• ⁠Chevron Phillips Chemical Co – Pasadena- Velocity® Pumper⁠
• ⁠Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP – Velocity Pumper ⁠

Join us as we continue to bring together customers, industry professionals and Pierce experts in future episodes, providing a platform for insightful discussions on the advancements and challenges within the firefighting community.

For any feedback, questions or to subscribe, visit the Pierce™ Dispatch page.