MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- "Musashi!" Raging fires shudder at the name. The Pierce Quantum 85-foot Arial platform truck, named for Japan's greatest swordsman, is the new flagship of the Station fire department's fire truck fleet.
The 75,000-pound rig comes equipped with a 700 cubic-inch diesel engine, an automatic transmission, and all-wheel steering.
According to Station Fire Chief Devin Johnston-Lee, the ladder platform accommodates three people and is used for rescue operations.
"The 85 feet allows us to gain access to every one of our midrises to the very top level," said Johnston-Lee. "The ladder extends to the top of a seven story building and every one of our hangars."
The rig boasts a hose nozzle capable of pouring out 1500 gallons per minute. According to Johnston-Lee, that is the equivalent to throwing the volume of a compact car every minute on the blaze.
Additionally, it holds a 15-kilowatt on-board generator, pre-plumed hydraulics for the rescue tools, all the complements of ground ladders, plus an assortment of tools, saws and forceful entry equipment that a normal truck company should have under the guidelines of the National Fire Protection Agency.
"We've expanded the capabilities of the truck," said Johnston-Lee. "It can power all of our on-scene equipment for just about any incident. The truck's capability is such that it will provide a better level of protection to all the residents on base."
The enhancements also represent an increase in efficiency and effectiveness in modern fire fighting methods.
"The Fire Department is switching from the old fire fighting-only capabilities to multi-dimensions," said Johnston-Lee. "We're carrying medical aid on this truck, we're carrying (counter chemical warfare) equipment on the truck, rescue equipment on the truck and even monitoring equipment. Before we had to manufacture attachments, this truck comes with everything we need."
The rig is the largest the Fire Department has owned to date. Manufactured late last year, it arrived at the station on Christmas day.
Drivers are currently training with the vehicle and becoming familiar with it's maneuverability.
"Although the rig is 45 feet in length, with its all-wheel steering system, it has the same turning radius as a Toyota Surf and can also maneuver sideways to access optimum placement at the scene of the emergency," said Johnston-Lee. "Driving the rig is a very different feeling. It's a very large rig and you're sitting up so high, you actually feel like the road isn't big enough. You feel that way in a normal car in Japan. It's multiplied a hundred times in this ladder truck."
The drivers have had no problem adapting to the truck, however. Each has logged in over an hour of training according to Johnston-Lee.
"We've had no problems, everybody has been able to maneuver it and situate it," he said.