Mariposa County (Calif.) Fire Department orders 16 Pierce Contenders

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, today announced a new order from the Mariposa County Fire Department in California for 11 Contender® by Pierce custom pumpers and four Contender DX tankers. Another Contender custom pumper, ordered under a separate contract, was placed into service in early December by the department. All apparatus are expected to be in service by August 2009, with a total purchase price of $4.1 million. Oshkosh Capital provided financing for the department.

“Being responsible for all of the county’s vehicles, we didn’t think we’d be able to afford Pierce when we first developed the spec for these fire apparatus,” said Joe Halencak, Mariposa County fleet superintendent. “Pierce and Golden State Fire, its dealer here in northern California, worked very closely with us to meet our need for a short wheelbase truck with a high angle of departure, excellent maneuverability and plenty of room for firefighters, all at a tremendous value.” 

Each of the Contender custom pumpers is engineered to meet the rugged wilderness demands of Mariposa County. All are equipped with a 160-inch wheelbase, GVW rating of 42,000 lbs., 360 hp engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The firefighting systems include a powerful1250 GPM midship pump, auxiliary pump and a compact bumper turret that are ideal for attacking wildland fires. The units also offer a 750-gallon water tank and a single-agent foam system with 20-gallon foam cell to conserve water and enhance firefighting performance.
The four Contender DX dry-side tankers each feature a 3,000 gallon water capacity, 500 GPM PTO pump for pump-and-roll capability and an exclusive 10-inch directional dump valve / chute assembly that delivers flexibility when pulling up to a scene. The DX tanker also offers a low center of gravity and a water compartment baffling system that reduces water surges and enhances stability.

“The Contender line of firefighting apparatus is all about quality and value. These vehicles are a tremendous example of the brand’s core strengths in action,” said Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “We’re proud to have Pierce and Golden State Fire Apparatus provide the essential products necessary to serve the emergency response needs of this historic region of California.”

Mariposa County, located north of Fresno in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is a sparsely populated region of California that includes portions of Yosemite National Park and is the site of the Telegraph Fire that burned 34,000 acres in July 2008. The Mariposa County Fire Department consists of 12 fire companies located throughout the 1,463 square mile county. 

Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc. is the Pierce dealer serving central and northern California.