Quakertown Fire Co. No. 1

The new Chemical 17

At 31 years old, Chemical 17 is well beyond its 25 year scheduled replacement.  Built in 1979, the R-model Mack has served tirelessly to provide much needed compressed breathing air, electricity, chemical firefighting agents, and hazmat support at thousands of emergencies.

Built in 1990, the 20-year-old Utility 17 pickup truck tows the 22-year-old hazmat trailer to hazardous materials emergencies; the combination carrying the designation of Hazmat 17.
The time has come to replace Chemical 17.  Beginning two years ago, a committee was formed to design the replacement truck and the decision was made to combine the equipment on the current Chemical 17 with the equipment on Hazmat 17.  In order to so, the committee chose Spartan Motor Corporation’s largest heavy rescue chassis on which to build a custom-designed body.

Lots of room to combine equipment

The new Chemical 17 will carry equipment for many roles, including filling SCBA cylinders with breathing air, generating electricity, lighting and ventilation, hazmat and spill control, decontamination, chemical fire supression, trapped firefighter rescue – known as rapid intervention, vehicle rescue support, and of course structure fire support.

Completion of the new truck is expected to be mid-summer.

New Chemical stats:

• 2009 Spartan heavy rescue chassis
• 500 HP Cummins Diesel motor
• 6-speed Allison transmission
• 40′ 3″ overall length
• Dual rear axle with air-ride suspension and switchable axle interlock
• Custom-designed Swab aluminum body
• Seating for 6 firefighters
• 75 kW PTO generator
• On-board air compressor with supplied air reels and high-pressure reel for filling other cascade trucks
• 4-cylinder 6000 psi cascade system
• Over 15,000 watts of lighting

More pictures here