Quillers
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Nyack FD (New York), Ladder 10-98 - 2000 Seagrave 100’/250 gpm/200 gal.
Operated by Empire Hook & Ladder Co# 1, this rig is one of the well known “quillers” on the East Coast. Equipped with 250’ of ground ladders (formerly all wood), it is one of two tractor drawn aerials operated by the all volunteer Nyack Fire Department (Chelsea Hook & Ladder Co# 2 operates a 1999 Pierce Quantum 100’ tiller). Organized in 1863, Empire Hook & Ladder Co# 1 has operated a tillered aerial since 1916 with a total of four Seagrave rigs serving since 1930.
Gladwyne FC (Pennsylvania), Truck 24 - 2007 KME Predator 100’/2000 gpm/CAFS/350 gal.
Featuring a six man tilt cab with full height rear doors, rear vision camera system and a Roto-ray warning device mounted on the front grill, the tractor is outfitted is a 2,000 GPM Hale Q-MAX pump equipped with a Compressed Air Foam System, crosslays and telescopic floodlights. The trailer features a 4 section steel 100’ Aerialcat ladder, 10kw Smart Power® hydraulic generator, 184' of ground ladders and 1,000’ of 5” LDH supply line. When delivered, it was only the second tractor drawn aerial in Montgomery County (Willow Grove FD formerly operated a 100’ tiller). As the company had never operated a tillered aerial before, driver training was completed at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center using the Eden Fire Company’s 2006 Pierce Dash tiller (interestingly enough, Eden’s rig was also numbered Ladder 24 at the time).
Garfield FD (New Jersey), Truck 4 - 2013 Spartan ERV 103’/1500 gpm/200 gal.
Replacing a 1992 Simon-Duplex/LTI 100’/500/200, Truck 4 features seating for eleven (five with voice activated radio headsets), a 10kw hydraulic generator, two 200’ 1-3/4” crosslays and a pre-piped deck gun. It is equipped with a total of twelve SCBA, nine of which are mounted in SCBA seats in the cab. This is the fifth tillered aerial in the company’s history - this rig sets a further precedent by being the fourth “quiller” operated by Garfield Fire Co# 4 (previous rigs
included a 1950’s era Seagrave, 1970’s Maxim and the 1992 Simon-Duplex/LTI which this rig replaced - all have had progressively larger pumps).
Leo Fire Co. - Red Lion (Pennsylvania), Truck 34 (Retired) 2002 HME/Westates 105’/1500 gpm/168 gal.
Originally operated by the campus fire department of the University of California - Davis (coincidentally also as Truck 34), this rig was acquired in 2012 and entered service in mid 2013 after receiving graphics upgrades. Measuring in at 60’ 2" long, it featured seating for seven (five with headsets), the ability to operate as a flying standpipe and held the distinction of being the only tillered aerial in York County. It was equipped with 650’ of 1-3/4” attack line (pre-connects and trash line), 1,300' of supply line (500’ of 3”, 800” of 4”) and 142’ of ground ladders. This rig replaced a 2003 KME 95’ mid-mount tower ladder that was originally built for the City of Philadelphia and ultimately rejected - following numerous mechanical issues, the fire company looked at replacement options during which time the concept of a tillered aerial was proposed. After careful consideration based on their response area, manpower availability and operational concerns, a tiller was agreed upon and the search began - based on availability and other factors, this rig was selected giving Leo Fire Co. the distinction of being one of only a handful of volunteer departments on the East Coast that operated a tillered quint. Following staffing issues and extensive body damage incurred during an accident, Truck 34 was decommissioned in late 2019 and ultimately sold off to a scrap dealer in early 2020. Alliance Fire & Rescue Services (the newly formed department following the merger of the Leo Independent Fire Engine Co. No. 1 and Union Fire Department of Felton) then operated a Seagrave tandem axle rear mount aerial until a new Pierce Arrow XT 105' rear mount aerial painted in their new Grey-over-Black color scheme was received in 2021.
North Penn VFC (Pennsylvania), Ladder 62 - 2018 KME Aerialcat 1001'/1500 gpm/300 gal.
Seating seven (including the tillerman), this rig measures in at 59-1/2" feet long and replaced a 75' aerial. It is outfitted with two 200' 1-3/4" crosslays, 35' of 5" LDH supply line, 353' of ground ladders, RIT equipment, a combi-tool and high angle rescue gear. North Penn Fire VFC responds to the second most working fires in Montgomery County with this rig responding as a mutual aid truck company to about 90% of alarms (prompting the usual answer to the question
"Where's Company 62? They're up on the roof!").