Canada is the second largest country in land area in the world, covering nearly four million square miles, with ten provinces and three territories. While its population exceeds 38 million residents, approximately 90 percent of Canadians live within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the United States border. The country is growing and is projected to reach over 50 million in 2043 and 70 million by 2068.

Canada’s Fire Service

There are nearly 3700 fire departments across Canada, and a 2018 report concluded there are over 150,000 firefighters, with the majority in volunteer roles (17 percent career firefighters and 83 percent volunteer firefighters). According to Firefighting in Canada, Canadian fire departments generally protect larger land areas with fewer stations and equipment than those in the United States. Over 50 percent of departments provide at least basic life support and emergency medical service.

The makeup of Canada’s geographic landscape and its fire service presents a unique need for fire apparatus that support extreme climates, challenging physical geographies and both rural and urban communities with varying emergency service coverage.

Pierce Fire Apparatus Growth and Service Expansion

Over the last ten years, Pierce Manufacturing has focused on opportunities that have paved the way for growth in Canada. With a goal set on finding ways to offer greater accessibility to products and services throughout the provinces and territories, Pierce has initiated acquisitions, expansions and partnerships to ensure Canadian firefighters have the opportunity to select fire apparatus and equipment that is on the leading edge of innovation and will best support the communities they serve.

Currently, three Pierce Manufacturing dealers cover Canadian territories, providing integrated sales, service and technical support:

• Safety Source Fire (formerly Micmac Fire & Safety Source Ltd.) - based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
• L’Arsenal - based in Drummondville, Quebec
• Commercial Emergency Equipment Co. - based in Delta, British Columbia

Acquisition of MAXIMETAL

Founded in 1983 in Saint-Georges, Québec, MAXIMETAL has supported utility fleets and fire services with an outstanding reputation for quality and service. After instituting an agreement in 2015, Pierce began selling its Saber® custom chassis to MAXIMETAL, who, in turn, manufactured and mounted its various firefighting body configurations onto the chassis. Pierce’s Canadian dealers market and sell these completed apparatus to fire and emergency departments across all provinces.

In June of 2022, Pierce’s acquisition of MAXIMETAL was announced.

“This acquisition will enhance the combined strengths of Pierce and MAXIMETAL by broadening collaboration and expanding sales and distribution capabilities within Pierce’s North American dealer network. Oshkosh expects to benefit from MAXIMETAL’s experience and leadership as the company grows its combined presence in the Canadian market.”

-Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency

Dealership and Service Center Expansions

Broadening dealership coverage and service center support have been important initiatives as Pierce has increased its presence throughout Canada. In 2017, Pierce announced Commercial Emergency Equipment, Western Canada’s largest supplier of truck equipment, would be its new Pierce dealer for the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Later that year, Commercial Emergency Equipment expanded its territory to include the province of Ontario.

In November of 2022, the dealership announced it would relocate and expand its Edmonton, Alberta operations to a new service center located near the interchange of Anthony Henday Drive and Sherwood Park Freeway in Sherwood Park, just east of the city of Edmonton. With nearly 50,000 square feet, the new facility is double the size of the current building and well situated in an area that offers convenient access to customers throughout central and northern Alberta.

Over the years, Commercial Emergency Equipment has invested tens of millions in capital expenditures to continue broadening its service offerings to improve accessibility for customers, with the addition of many Pierce-certified service technicians.

Long-term Contracts with Canada’s Largest Fire Departments

Dealership and service center expansion has supported Pierce’s endeavors to secure a number of significant five to ten-year term contracts with some of Canada’s largest fire departments. The agreements represent the confidence fire departments have in their relationship with Pierce representatives, the Canadian dealer network, the quality of fire apparatus ordered and access to the necessary service resources. A few of the more recent contracts include:

1. Commercial Emergency Equipment and Ontario’s City of Mississauga

In 2018, the City of Mississauga, Ontario, established a five-year, renewable and extendable agreement with Commercial Emergency Equipment, with an initial apparatus order including seven Pierce pumper trucks and four Pierce aerial apparatus to support the needs of the community’s first responders. This contract was the first major supply agreement since Commercial Emergency Equipment expanded its Pierce territory to include the province of Ontario. The custom apparatus included in the city of Mississauga’s initial order included six pumpers and one rescue pumper – all built on the Pierce Enforcer™ custom chassis, two 100’ aerial platforms, a 75’ quint, and a 107’ Ascendant® tandem rear axle ladder.

2. L’Arsenal and Quebec City and Montreal

In 2020, L’Arsenal secured a four-year contract with Quebec City with the initial order of 11 new pumpers and aerial apparatus, including an Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Ladder - Single Rear Axle and a Pierce 100’ Heavy-Duty Steel Ladder, both on an Enforcer cab and chassis with Quint configurations. The order also included a Pierce Enforcer chassis with MAXIMETAL marine-grade aluminum body.

In addition to the establishment of Quebec City’s multi-year contract, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) secured an order with L’Arsenal for a Frontline Communications (a division of Pierce Manufacturing) C-40 Mobile Command Center - the first major command post developed for Montreal city police.

3. Commercial Emergency Equipment and Calgary

In 2022, Commercial Emergency Equipment secured a 10-year contract with the Calgary Fire Department. This significant contract covers all aerial platforms and ladders in an unlimited, as-needed quantity, with the first aerial apparatus in production under the contract including three rear-mounted 100’ Heavy-Duty Steel Aerial Platforms and three Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladders on tandem rear axles. The fire apparatus contract supports the strength of emergency response for the city’s growing population and infrastructure.

These multi-year contracts are just a few examples of Pierce’s expansion and relationship growth throughout Canada in recent years. As new fire apparatus innovations and technology are developed, supporting Canadian firefighters’ needs and unique challenges will remain a prominent focus.

4. Partnership with Boise Mobile Equipment

In 2021, Pierce announced it had completed the purchase of an ownership interest in Boise Mobile Equipment (BME). This investment facilitated greater collaboration between Pierce and BME within the wildland market. The collaboration allows Pierce to support BME as the business moves from a factory-direct model to an independent dealer distribution model.

BME has served fire and emergency professionals for over thirty years and is considered a premier fire apparatus manufacturer with wildland products, including the Model 34, Tactical Tender and Type 6 Xtreme. BME’s quality fabrication and service align closely with Pierce’s manufacturing and aftermarket standards, featuring individualized design options, exceptional craftsmanship and rugged durability. BME wildland products are renowned for equipping firefighters with a high-quality apparatus providing durability, serviceability and longevity.

In August of 2022, BME announced it awarded exclusive western dealership territory for its emergency apparatus in Canada to Commercial Emergency Equipment for Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and all Canadian Territories. This partnership expands its product portfolio to encompass all aspects of the wildland market segment. Initial wildland orders have been placed by several First Nations throughout Canada. First Nations, along with the Métis and Inuit people, are groups of indigenous people who live on reserve lands often made up of expansive tracks of terrain. FNMI communities have purchased over 40 various Pierce and MAXIMETAL apparatus in the past three years.

Pierce Products that Support Canada’s Environmental Initiatives and Goals

Cities around the world have increased their focus on mitigating pollution, climate change and spurring green economic growth. Local governments continue to develop clean vehicle policies to reduce greenhouse gasses, improve air quality and increase sustainability. Currently ranked #9 on the list of the world’s top ten greenest countries, Canada’s provinces and territories are leading the way.

For example, the city of Calgary has instituted the Climate Resilience Strategy to evaluate and incorporate fully electric, electric hybrid and other low-carbon vehicle technologies in its municipal fleet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From waste collection trucks and street sweepers to sedans, the city continually tests greener vehicle technologies for their effectiveness in its operations and climate.

With increasing demand to meet environmental goals, cities throughout Canada are seeking ways to reduce emissions and the carbon footprint of the community at large. Fire apparatus that offer a reduction in emissions, like Pierce’s Idle Reduction Technology, or electric fire trucks, like the Pierce Volterra electric pumper, provides municipalities with a sustainable solution to help meet their local and state legislative requirements.

Pierce Idle Reduction Technology

Pierce’s proprietary Idle Reduction Technology systems are designed to reduce the amount of energy wasted when a truck is idling. When a is not in motion, idle reduction technology can shut off the engine entirely while maintaining consistent power to perform other functions, like the use of accessories and lighting. This is achieved with power from electrical sources.

Idle reduction systems are important to support environmental initiatives and service life longevity for emergency response vehicles. This includes reducing or avoiding idling time altogether, fuel cost savings, longer intervals between required preventative maintenance, extending the fire truck's engine life, reduced noise levels and decreased emissions. 

Pierce Manufacturing offers two idle reduction technology systems: Auxiliary Power Unit (diesel-powered generators) and Lithium-Ion Batteries.

To learn more about the benefits of each, read 4 Operational Factors for Fire Truck Idle Reduction Technology.

In 2020, Pierce secured an order for ten pumpers and two Heavy-Duty Rescues on Enforcer chassis from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS). Sold through Commercial Emergency Equipment, the apparatus incorporated Pierce’s innovative Idle Reduction Technology. To date, WFPS has 15 Pierce apparatus with Idle Reduction Technology in its fleet.

Since its introduction, Pierce’s Idle Reduction Technology has addressed critical feedback from fire departments across North America to eliminate reliance on diesel engines idling on scene. As more fire departments are tasked with comprehensive climate policy compliance, the lithium-ion battery technology results in lower chassis emissions, less frequent service intervals, lower cost of ownership, less DPF buildup and reduced greenhouse gasses.

Commercial Emergency Equipment’s General Manager, Morgan MacKay, is pleased that the City of Winnipeg and other municipalities across Canada have made green initiatives a priority and have begun selecting Pierce’s Idle Reduction Technology to support their efforts.

“Pierce’s scalable lithium-ion power package dramatically reduces on-scene air and noise pollution and replaces the need for auxiliary diesel power generators on most fire apparatus – saving departments money and further reducing engine wear and environmental pollution.”
- Morgan MacKay, general manager, Commercial Emergency Equipment

Pierce Volterra Electric Pumper

Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing’s parent company, has been developing electric drives and vehicles for over 25 years. With that proven technology as a foundation, the development of the Pierce Volterra Platform of Electric Vehicles was driven by the anticipated future of governmental emissions regulations, a close review of the initiatives of municipalities in North America and around the world and listening to the progressive vision of customers.

Introduced in June of 2021, the Pierce Volterra electric pumper was the first electric fire truck in service in North America. Since its introduction, Pierce has announced the placement of three zero-emissions pumpers into three communities, including the City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department, the City of Portland, Oregon Fire and Rescue and Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department in Arizona. All locations represent vastly different climates, allowing Pierce to collect vehicle performance data for the vehicle in various environmental conditions.

In partnership with each city with a Pierce Volterra electric pumper, Pierce is continuing the final development, evaluation, and on-highway certification process for their electric vehicle technology.

Pierce Volterra Electric Vehicle Operation:

• An Oshkosh patented parallel-electric drivetrain featuring an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission allows zero-emissions operation when powered by the integrated onboard batteries, and can be coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide continuous and uninterrupted power to the pumping system or drive system
• Exceptional operational range tailored to the fire department’s needs and duty cycle for full-shift operation
• Fire station-based, all-encompassing vehicle charging infrastructure offers a thorough, simple and fast charging solution through - Pierce’s expert energy solutions provider.

Learn more about fire truck EV Charging Stations: 6-Step Process for Fire Departments.

In addition to Pierce’s Volterra electric pumper, the Striker® Volterra performance hybrid Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle is also making its debut at airports worldwide. Based on Oshkosh proprietary technology, the new Oshkosh Airport Products Striker Volterra was developed to meet the growing emergency response and environmentally conscious needs among airports of all sizes.

Available on the 4-x-4 and 6-x-6 chassis platforms, the Striker Volterra offers the highest caliber chassis performance, advanced safety systems, innovative fire suppression technology and superior reliability and durability.

Well-Built Fire Trucks to Withstand Canada’s Extreme Environmental Conditions

Regardless of where a fire department is located throughout North America, each one endures unique challenges that put different physical demands on a fire apparatus. Pierce’s reputation for innovative fire truck features, extensive customization, expert sales representation and far-reaching service support is expanding across Canada to meet these fire departments’ distinctive requirements.

Some notable Pierce fire truck features most often considered in Canadian regions include:

• Pump house heaters installed to keep the gauges, plumbing, valves and the water pump from freezing.
• Heating tape on and around gauge lines to help keep components warm in cold weather.
• Heat shields to protect the pump accessories underneath and inside the pump house, which enclose the pump area to retain heat.
• Automatic tire chains – with the push of a button, tire chains drop in front of the tires to improve grip in less than six inches of snow.
• Enclosed pump panel controls – specifically, the pump operator's panel on the Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC™) is enclosed in the front body compartment to keep it clean of moisture, grit and grime. The panel features large lever handles with a locking feature to prevent valve creep under pressure. In addition, the pump panel monitors fuel levels, pump prognostics and includes a large engine RPM display. The Control Zone™ pump panel is designed for optimal operator’s awareness.

Fire Truck Corrosion Protection in Cold Climates

In addition to the features listed above, Pierce offers solutions for fire departments in cold climates where rust and corrosion may be a concern. During the fire truck design process, it can be determined what elements would be best for your fire truck so that it performs optimally given the demands of its environment.

Pierce has a number of steps in the manufacturing process that are designed to help combat corrosion.

• Electrodeposition coating, or E-Coat, is a hard coat primer applied to a physical substrate that offers corrosion resistance and exceptional resistance to peeling. The E-coat process offers 100 percent surface coverage, including all through holes, crevices and uneven edges. E-coat immersion provides coverage for fire truck chassis, frame rails and many parts of apparatus undercarriage.
• Hot Dipped Galvanized Coating is an option for frame rails and undercarriage areas in place of E-Coat.
• Dielectric tape or grease is used in the assembly process to keep dissimilar metals from causing galvanic corrosion.
• Protective adhesive coverings are used to ensure that painted surfaces are not chipped, scratched or otherwise damaged in the assembly process.
• Extra coatings of paint, joint sealer and/or topcoat are often available for frame rails to add additional protection from corrosion.
• Undercoating and rustproofing are available for cabs, bodies, doors, frames and substructures as well.
• Wire harness connectors are rated for corrosion and water protection and are placed to prevent water intrusion.

These are just a few examples of what sets Pierce fire apparatus apart - particularly when designed for communities that experience extreme cold and snowy terrain.

Learn more about fire truck design for cold climates.

Pierce’s Continued Growth in Canada in the Years to Come

One of the most invaluable outcomes of Pierce’s dealership, sales support and service center expansion across Canada are the relationships that have developed and will continue to be fostered in years to come. These collaborative teams have set their sights on further establishing a deep understanding of the unique needs of fire departments in these regions. These relationships will support Pierce’s quest to continue the development of leading-edge fire apparatus products, custom solutions and advanced technology designed to support environmentally conscious initiatives.

Do you represent a Canadian fire department and would like to learn more about Pierce products and our extensive dealer and service network? Leave a comment below or contact us today!