Aerial Fire Truck Comparison: Austin, Texas vs. West Babylon, New York

Pierce Manufacturing aerial fire trucks come in all shapes and sizes and one of the newest innovations is the Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower which was introduced at FDIC in 2018. Many of the most notable attributes of the aerial apparatus are a direct result of the essential voice of customer feedback that addresses the evolving needs and infrastructure development within communities throughout North America.

This blog compares the similarities and differences between two mid-mount aerial fire trucks in different areas of the United States and explains how the Ascendant 100' Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower was designed to meet the challenges and needs of each respective fire department.

West Babylon Fire Department

The West Babylon Fire Department is made up of three fire stations and 170 members, with an estimated call volume of 3,900 per year. West Babylon is a suburb of New York City located on Long Island, with a population of over 43,000 people.

Terrain: Flat, coastal.

Mission of the truck: The truck was purchased to respond to all fire calls. Part of this consideration included the added benefit of below-grade ladder operations. As a seaside community serving the Great South Bay area, the ability to provide rescue operations for local docks and the nearby canal was a big factor in truck selection.

Call types: Primarily residential, with some commercial businesses in the community.

Unique needs: As an older community, the existing infrastructure height was an important factor in truck selection. The lower overall height and shorter length of the Ascendant 100' Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower are ideal for West Babylon firefighters as they navigate tight roadways and pass under railroad bridges and low overpasses.

Functionality: The Ascendant aerial tower caters well to the needs of a volunteer fire department. It is easy to operate, with exceptional maneuverability.

“The Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower is a welcomed addition to our fire truck fleet,” said John Manzi, commissioner of the West Babylon Fire Department. “We are impressed with the mid-mount configuration and the excellent maneuverability to traverse the tight streets, low railroad overpasses and overhead wires we encounter every day. With the truck’s shorter overall length, sweep area, and reach, we know this apparatus will provide the flexibility needed to best serve our community.”

Features of West Babylon Fire Department’s Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower include:

• Pierce Velocity® chassis
• Mid-mount 100’ heavy-duty steel aerial tower
• Cummins X15 605 hp engine
• Allison EVS 4000 transmission
• Short overall length of 43’4” for outstanding maneuverability
• Large compartment space for maximum equipment storage capacity
• Pierce safety systems, including frontal airbags and side roll protection
• Advanced camera systems for 360° apparatus coverage and center outrigger placement
• HAAS Alert Collision Mitigation

City of Austin Fire Department

The Austin Fire Department responds to more than 130,000 calls annually. It is made up of 51 fire stations with more than 1200 full-time members. Austin is one of the top five biggest cities in Texas, with a population of over 965,800 residents spanning more than 225 square miles.

Terrain: Mostly flat, large city setting. Narrow roadways, bike lanes and high pedestrian traffic.

Mission of the truck: The fire truck was purchased specifically to support the downtown region of Austin. With high congestion of people, cars and buildings, a highly maneuverable and compact mid-mount aerial fire truck was required.

The metro region features low bridges and overhangs, railroad tracks, new bike lanes, pedestrian traffic and tight roadways. As such, the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower was the perfect solution to navigate busy streets effectively with an exceptional turning radius and low overall clearance.

Call types: The Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower responds to all fire calls and many other types of critical scenarios, except for auto accidents and rescues. This includes hazardous incidents, all emergency calls, high-rise fires, structural fires, medical calls and swiftwater rescues.

Unique needs: The risk of flooding in Austin is high, and the below-grade functionality of the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower is ideal for supporting efficient swiftwater rescues.

Additionally, the platform supports the growing number of high-rise buildings and mid-rise student housing near the University of Texas campus. The truck includes barrier doors to allow for more effective on-scene functionality around parked cars, cyclists, parking meters and other structural hazards inherent to downtown regions.

Functionality: The Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower caters well to the needs of a high call volume metropolis. One of the key aspects in apparatus selection was the operability and driveability of the apparatus. The Austin Fire Department wanted an aerial apparatus that could respond quickly to emergencies and cover a wide variety of calls in the downtown area. The mid-mount’s maneuverability and easy operation supports a broad scope of scenarios and improves firefighter efficiency to arrive on-scene quickly. The department selected no pump and no tank to allow for more storage space, including a transverse compartment over the wheel well for specialized rescue tools and equipment.

“Austin’s downtown area has experienced explosive growth and having an apparatus with the ability to easily maneuver through narrower streets and increased traffic is critical to our mission,” said Lance Zenkner, battalion chief with the Austin Fire Department. “What attracted us most to the Ascendant mid-mount configuration is maneuverability in terms of cramp angle and turning radius, it’s also easy to operate, and can be set up and ready within about 90 seconds. As the city continues to grow, this tower has become a necessity to serve our community safely and effectively.”

Features of Austin Fire Department’s Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration include:

• Pierce Velocity® chassis
• Mid-mount 100’ heavy-duty steel aerial tower
• Cummins X15 605 hp engine
• TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
• Short overall height of 10’ 11” and length of 43’ 3” for superior maneuverability
• Integrated ground pads
• 20’ setback capacity
• 20-degree below grade operation

The Versatility of the 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower

The Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower is an inherently versatile apparatus, supporting the very distinct needs of a volunteer department in a seaside community and a bustling metropolis.

This is possible because the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower is designed and manufactured to deliver high-performance capabilities in a compact mid-mount configuration.

• The custom apparatus is designed to match the voice of the customer, meeting each fire department’s unique needs and requirements.
• The maneuverability and operability match the demands of progressive cities adding features that affect road width, like bike lanes and pedestrian walks.
• The design also meets the needs of historical communities with small firehouses and compact downtown areas.
• The functionality of the design makes the truck an asset as an everyday workhorse, managing all call types and supporting mid-and high-rise rescue operations.

The growth in urban and suburban infrastructure demands an aerial apparatus that can effectively meet the many challenges fire departments face. The Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower’s popularity can be attributed to supporting the voice of customers not only in its initial design but for each new apparatus delivery.

What is your favorite feature of the Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower? Let us know in the comments!