Order secured for 3,000th Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) pumper

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced today it has sold its 3,000th Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) pumper. Sold through MacQueen Emergency, the apparatus will go into service with the  Minnetonka Fire Department in Minnesota, adding to a predominantly Pierce fleet. 

The patented PUC product, first introduced in 2007, is available on pumpers, rescue pumpers, tankers, and aerials. It removes the need to build the body around the pump and pump house and is the first apparatus that offers the most complete single-source build, from the chassis and body down to the pump. The PUC product eliminates the pumphouse and minimizes vehicular space used for fire suppression while still providing superior pump, foam and CAFS capabilities. 

‘Producing 3,000 PUC pumpers is a significant milestone for Pierce and represents the remarkable impact this apparatus has made on fire service capabilities,’ said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. ‘The PUC pumper provides a solution to the shared challenges fire departments face to simplify firefighters’ actions and reduce unnecessary risk.’

Features of the Minnetonka Fire Department’s new PUC pumper include:

• Pierce Enforcer chassis
• Cummins L9 450hp engine
• Allison EVS 3000 transmission
• PUC 1500 GPM pump
• 500-gallon water tank
• TAK-4 Independent Suspension
• Husky 3 Foam System
• Pierce CARE (Carcinogen Awareness and Reduction to Exposure) cab customization
• Will-Burt light tower
• Low, easy-to-access hose bed with roller cover

The Minnetonka Fire Department is made up of five stations and is located in a suburban community approximately 10 miles west of Minneapolis with nearly 55,0000 residents. When ordering the new fire truck, Kevin Fox, deputy fire chief of the Minnetonka Fire Department, considered the PUC pumper’s safety features that could not have been obtained by continuing to build apparatus on a commercial chassis. 

‘First and foremost, we need an apparatus that can operate in Minnesota’s extreme winter conditions, and having the pump panel and vital components in an enclosed and heated compartment limits freeze up and corrosion due to environmental exposure, said Chief Fox. ‘The pump design, low hose bed, short wheelbase and overall simplicity of operating the apparatus fits the unique needs of a combination fire department such as ours, where up to 80 firefighters need to be proficient with the apparatus.’

Since its introduction, the PUC product has been particularly popular in geographic locations with challenging environmental conditions. An enclosed pump panel and crosslays, and the safety attributes of positioning hoses to the left of the operator and free of any interference, make the PUC pumper an optimal choice for many fire departments. 

‘The position of hose connections and enclosed pump controls are benefits to pump operators dealing with the climate in the Midwest,’ said Brad White, sales manager with MacQueen Emergency. ‘These are instrumental factors that contribute to the high demand for the PUC pumper in our region. As the Minnetonka Fire Department gets ready to add a second PUC pumper to its fleet, our team is honoured to once again support the department with a fire apparatus that will serve their community well for many years to come.’

To learn more about Pierce Manufacturing, MacQueen Emergency, and the 3000th PUC pumper, visit www.piercemfg.com