Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today that it has secured a purchase order for two highly customized vehicles from Pasco County Fire Rescue in Florida including a C-45 Velocity® mobile decontamination (decon) unit, and a C-45X-2 Velocity mobile rehabilitation (rehab) unit. These specialized vehicles will provide critical support at structural fires and long-duration deployments to aid with the removal of harmful carcinogens from gear and equipment. Additionally, they will provide respite to avoid overexertion from heat and weather with access to fluids, energy snacks, medical evaluations, and more.

Industry standard is to issue every firefighter two sets of turnout gear, so after one is soiled, it can be bagged and stored on the truck, with another set available in the event the crew needs to go immediately to another scene. According to Chief of Pasco County Fire Rescue, Scott Cassin, the cost and storage of two sets of gear was prohibitive and a challenge they aimed to solve.

“We turned our sights to selecting purpose-built vehicles that would handle the on-site decontamination of gear and rehabilitation needs our dedicated team of firefighters require during complex structural fires or long-duration deployments,” said Chief Cassin. “We worked with Frontline Communications to design a custom decon unit that is an industry first configuration and will help us save time and energy cleaning equipment. We also collaborated with Frontline Communications on the design of a custom rehab unit that will provide necessary aid. Our biggest return on investment is knowing we are protecting our firefighters from as many risks as possible.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14-percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Additionally, the physical and emotional demands of the job put firefighters at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, which are responsible for 45-percent of on-duty deaths. Mobile decon and rehab units help manage carcinogen exposure and offer a reprieve by providing vital on-site decontamination and recovery resources for firefighters at a fire scene.

Pasco County Fire Rescue’s new vehicles feature:

C-45 Velocity Mobile Decontamination Unit

• Pierce® Velocity® chassis
• Cummins 450 hp engine
• Command Zone™ electrical system
• Two Meiko decontamination wash units designed for structure fire decontamination. The units are supported by dual 100-gallon water tanks and storage bins
• Onboard generator (Lima-Mac 40kW PTO-driven generator for Meiko decon equipment)
• Four custom swing-out tool boards
• Dual-side hose bibs with an on-board water pump and 100-feet of heavy-duty hose on an electric reel

C-45X-2 Velocity Mobile Rehabilitation Unit

• Pierce Velocity chassis
• Cummins 450 hp engine
• Command Zone™ electrical system
• Bauer SCBA 6,000 PSI compressor and fill station with three additional air cylinders to supply breathing air for air tanks
• Two lavatories on the front side of the body accessible from either side
• Onboard generator (20kW diesel generator for rehabilitation elements, communication gear, and other accessories)
• Rehabilitation area with oversized slide-outs to maximize interior space. Features include bench seating with recline capabilities and storage, equipment rack for communications gear, large 20 cu ft refrigerator, and a handwashing sink
• Rest area/kitchen with two 20 cu ft refrigerators, one freezer, two coffee makers, sink, and a large pass-through window to service/supply crew members outside the vehicle
• Exterior monitor compartment with area for exterior viewing under a full-size electric awning
• Equipped with two DirecTV HD receivers to view local programming
• On-board wi-fi, perimeter security cameras with network video recorder, and an Extron video router that sends video to monitors located throughout the vehicle

Pasco County is located on the west-central coast of Florida, with its fire rescue department operating out of 29 stations with over 600 personnel serving a population of nearly 500,000. The department provides fire protection covering all unincorporated Pasco County, including the cities of Dade City, San Antonio, and Saint Leo.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to expand our longstanding relationship with Pasco County Fire Rescue to include apparatus that supports the crucial work of their dedicated team,” said Dustin Bouwer, Pierce apparatus representative with Ten-8 Fire Equipment. “The design of these vehicles will integrate Frontline Communications’ extensive experience in the development of specialty vehicles. We know these custom vehicles will be an essential and efficient health and safety resource for many years to come.”

To learn more about Frontline Communications and the latest mobile decontamination and rehabilitation vehicle developments, visit www.frontlinecomm.com.