Last month, the members of the Po-Mar-Lin Apparatus Committee traveled back to Appleton, Wisconsin to perform the final inspection of the new Rescue 36 with Pierce Manufacturing.

Although there was a lot of excitement to finally see the new rescue in person, they went to work immediately. The committee reviewed 14 pages of technical sheets, with over 450 items, to confirm that the new rescue had been built to design. Together they inspected every inch of the new apparatus, each looking for different details but with the same goal in mind: a new and improved Rescue 36 to better serve the community.

President and Chair of the Apparatus Committee Stephen Nuse said, “At first sight, we were all excited and anxious to bring it home and share it with the community. But we went over it with a fine-tooth comb, marking any needed corrections. I was focused on lights/warning lights. We looked at it from all aspects.”

Each member brought their own set of skills and expertise to the final inspection. They have over 100 years of experience combined with a keen understanding of the operations of an apparatus and what is needed on the scene of an emergency.

Fire Chief and member of the Apparatus Committee Jason Griffith said, “The main thing I was looking for was functionality. I wanted the rescue to be firefighter/engineer friendly. That included low hose beds [for easier access], plenty of compartment space to hold the tools and equipment we need, and an easy to use pump panel.”

Past President and member of the Apparatus Committee, Kevin Gosselin, spent the majority of his career in either the U.S. Navy or in commercial nuclear power plants, where safety and quality are paramount. This helped shape the lenses through which he inspected the new rescue.

Gosselin said, “As a mechanical engineer, I am sensitive to proper design and function. Accordingly, I spent a lot of time looking at the attention-to-detail that Pierce provided to build our new rescue, as well as the layout of equipment and the construction of the vehicle.”

The new apparatus has been designed to take advantage of new technologies like LED lighting, clean diesel combustion, and modular valve controllers and utilize best practices used across the fire service.

Gosselin continued, “One of the key benefits of visiting the Pierce factory was the ability of the committee to walk around the 300-acre facility and inspect hundreds of other trucks that were in various stages of construction for both domestic and international fire companies. Due to the different regional requirements, the committee was able to see some innovative approaches with the placement of equipment, piping, lighting, and other enhancements for incorporation into the new Rescue.”

Earlier this month, the new Rescue 36 made its way home to 36 Firehouse Drive where the rest of the members could see it. Over the next few weeks, the committee will decide where to mount tools and equipment and finally, get the apparatus ready to be placed in service.

“There was a lot of excitement in this trip. The committee and company got to see the new rescue transform from a frame with wheels and a motor on it, into what it is now. The committee put a lot of thought into what would function best for our community and seeing it all come together was something that I was proud of,” concluded Griffith.

From blueprints and committee meetings to inspections and homecomings, Rescue 36 is coming together for its firefighters and community.