• Golden State Prioritizes Customers in Face of Parts Crunch

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Golden State Prioritizes Customers in Face of Parts Crunch

Just as there is no one reason why parts for fire apparatus have been difficult to come by in the past couple of years, there is no one simple solution to solve the problem.

The COVID pandemic certainly had an impact on parts manufacturing – both in terms of access to raw materials as well as in contributing to labor shortages that have reduced how many parts were built and drove prices up. Couple that with international supply chain issues and other logistical headaches and it’s clear why many owners of emergency vehicles as well as the companies that service them have had so many sleepless nights lately. 

“We have found over time there is no consistency to the issues or parts,” said Daron Wright, President of Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service in Sacramento. “You cannot pattern which parts are solely affected nor can you predict which parts are going to be affected into the future. The issue is beyond just parts. It is with labor, it is with materials, it is with logistics, it is with price, it is with administration (getting quotes or invoices so we can close out our interaction with our customer, etc.).”

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In Golden State’s case, the situation has led to unprecedented steps to keep customers’ vehicles in operation to protect their communities. The company has worked closely with Pierce Manufacturing – the maker of most of the vehicles GSFA sells and services – to prioritize access to parts. Where necessary to support existing departments that have out-of-service vehicles, Pierce is diverting parts that otherwise would have gone to new vehicle production or to another customer whose need is not deemed as urgent.

In one case, Wright said a customer needed a new radiator; without it, the vehicle would have been grounded going into peak fire season. Golden State was able to convince Pierce to ship a radiator that would have been part of a new vehicle – allowing GSFA’s customer to return its vehicle to service after a long delay.

“Usually when that request is made, we are desperate,” Wright acknowledged. “It is a last-ditch effort because we are asking Pierce Manufacturing to take a part from a new truck or another customer that is in active production. And we are asking them to ship it to us so we can get our customer back up and running. The importance of that is we are asking Pierce to take a hit and disrupt their production schedule with another customer so we can help another customer in immediate need.”

The Golden State leader is complimentary of Pierce’s response to the parts shortage.

“Everyone is dealing with the same issues,” Wright said. “I believe Pierce is much like all of its dealers where they are not accepting just the normal excuses. This is an industry where you cannot accept the norm. If you do, people and communities are impacted. We are all working together, more creatively than we ever have, to deliver upon the daily needs of our customers.”

Stocking More Inventory

One thing Golden State has done in response to the parts shortage is increase its own inventory, investing an additional $200,000 to stock up on critical parts when they become available. Key input has come from the company’s own service technicians, who have recommended which parts should be targeted based on what they’re seeing from units in GSFA’s shop and on the road.

The company also has cast a wider net to acquire parts – whether from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or by cooperating with other Pierce dealers to swap parts. Golden State also has added new parts sources within Northern California, something that is likely to continue even if the current parts crunch eases.

“Any part we can identify locally, we will, as having the part closer to us benefits the customer in terms of time to get the part in their hands as well as saving on (shipping) costs,” Wright said.

Creatively Working Together

Golden State also suggests that customers stock up on “mission critical” parts themselves in an effort to avoid downtime for vehicles.

“Mission critical parts are anything that would deem the unit out of service,” Wright explained. “Out of service criteria is different from customer to customer, but generally anything that restricts the unit from starting, pumping water, stopping safely, fuel leaks, aerial operations, etc. Anything that would not allow that unit to safely operate and tend to a person in need of help or suppress an active fire.”

Wright is encouraged by how customers have responded.

“I think, by now, everyone understands what we are and have all been dealing with,” he said. “I have been impressed with customers’ understanding and willingness to be creative with us in addressing outstanding parts issues. This is not an easy problem to deal with, and these are emergency response vehicles, where there are no excuses as to why something is not available. Folks are coming to work every day with the right mindset … which is we will figure this out one way or another.”

Susanville Fire Department wins 4th annual Fire Truck Face-Off

The small Susanville Fire Department – tucked in the remote northeastern corner of California – never had participated in the Fire Truck Face-Off before this year. But lack of experience was no hurdle for Fire Chief James Moore and his energetic crew, who emerged victorious in the 4th annual competition sponsored by Golden State Fire Apparatus of Sacramento, Northern California’s fire truck sales and service leader.

Susanville’s sparkling white Quint Ascendant 107-foot Aerial was runaway winner, collecting 2,411 votes in the monthlong online competition, including a dominant 842-373 victory over the Oakland Fire Department in the championship showdown.

Moore – a 34-year veteran of the Susanville department who is in his eighth year as chief – said the victory is gratifying on multiple levels.

“It not only brings value to an organization, but it brings value to the community,” he said. “It helps communities remember they can get together to do good things.”

For the uninitiated, Fire Truck Face-Off is a friendly competition put on for a good cause. Each March, Golden State randomly selects 32 of the fire apparatus it has sold or leased in the previous calendar year. Those vehicles then are organized into brackets – think of the March Madness college basketball tournament applied to fire equipment.

Fire apparatus of all types from the chosen departments face off, with the winner in each round advancing based on the number of votes cast via the Facebook stories poll feature. The key to winning, of course, is for each department to use social media and other methods to encourage its fans, followers and friends to vote.

This year’s friendly event reached more than 153,000 people in departments ranging from the Bay Area to the Central Valley and the Sierra. More than 15,000 total votes were cast over four weeks. A website devoted to the competition kept everyone up to date about the results.

“We want to thank all the fire departments that participated,” said Golden State President Ryan Wright. “To everyone who voted, shared and commented, you made this experience absolutely tremendous. We look forward to next year!”

Despite not having participated before, Moore and his Susanville team quickly sprang into action before its first-round matchup against a tender from the Yreka Volunteer Fire Department. Moore appeared on a couple of popular Susanville radio stations to let community members know how they could vote. A press release was sent to local media. Administrative assistant Cheyenne Ratkey and Fire Capt. Leon Myers rallied people on Facebook by publishing and then boosting posts.

The result was an impressive 287-93 victory for Susanville, which followed that with closer wins over a similar 107-foot aerial from the Santa Rosa Fire Department in the second round and then a pumper from the Salinas Fire Department in the semifinals.

That qualified Susanville for the championship match against another pumper, this time from Oakland. Moore went back on the radio to encourage people to vote while Ratkey and Myers beat the drum online and reached out to other nearby agencies for support. The Susanville department – which turned 100 years old this year – even offered commemorative hats and glasses to people who voted.

The result? Votes streamed in from far and wide, including from Moore’s cousin who lives near Edmonton, Canada. Susanville was a runaway winner in the finals. Pretty impressive for a department with only nine full-time employees, 18 volunteers and just one fire station.

“It really engaged our community in a good way,” Moore said. “And all for a good cause.”

The victory comes with a $1,000 donation from Golden State to an organization of Susanville’s choosing. Moore selected Susanville Best of Broadway, a musical and stage production company that was hit hard financially when COVID kept it from presenting any performances the past couple of years.

“They were essentially broke coming into this season,” Moore said.

The attention being showered on the winning piece of equipment continues an interesting first year for truck No. 661, one of the busiest in Susanville’s fleet. It was completed at Pierce’s manufacturing plant in Wisconsin in mid-July, but wasn’t put into service until September. That’s because Pierce first asked to show it off at the FDIC industry trade show Aug. 2-6 in Indianapolis. The vehicle – painted a crisp white with red lettering – has room for seven firefighters and includes a carcinogen filter system that changes the air out every 3 minutes, custom storage and a 350-gallon water tank.

“My folks love it,” Moore said. “We designed a very functional piece of equipment that works in a rural community with a combination staff. It has everything we need and all the tools to handle any kind of call.”

About GSFA: Golden State Fire Apparatus is the No. 1 Pierce dealership in Northern California. Our trained staff of Emergency Vehicle Technicians works out of our 35,000-square-foot maintenance facility in Sacramento. We continually invest in tools and equipment so that your emergency vehicle receives the utmost care, while reducing the man-hours required to get the job done right. If you have any questions about any aspect of your equipment’s performance, we’re here to help. You can reach us at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com

To better serve customers, Golden State plans new Tracy service center

Customer convenience and customer service. Those two critical areas are the driving forces behind Golden State Fire Apparatus’ decision to pursue a second location in Tracy.

The new facility will be similar to the company’s 35,000-square-foot location in Sacramento. By doubling capacity and building in Tracy, Golden State is confident it can provide faster turnaround times and even more convenience for fire departments in the Bay Area and southern parts of its territory.

“Our vision is to closely duplicate and expand upon our current operation in Sacramento,” said Daron Wright, president of Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service.

Wright estimated the new location will open in approximately 18 to 24 months and is currently in the design phase. It will feature a complete parts department in addition to all of the functional service bays. It also will become the hub to service the next generation of fire apparatus (the Pierce Volterra).

By building a facility in Tracy, customers coming from the Bay Area and southern portions of the territory can expect to cut their travel by approximately 50% or more. What won’t change is the reliable, professional service performed by trained and certified technicians.

Wright said faster turnaround times mean more in-service uptime for apparatus. 

“Having this additional room and labor capacity is not only going to benefit the customer, but it will benefit the communities those trucks are in,” he said. “Increased productivity and availability for EVT-certified repairs is something that the market and our customers specifically have been seeking for a long time.”

The new facility also will allow Golden State to double the amount of parts it has available in its two warehouses – another key factor in completing service and repairs as efficiently as possible.

“The big thing about this expansion is that our Sacramento location is not going away,” Wright said. “It will remain and continue to be enhanced in strategic ways. This expansion is to double down on service and parts and increase capacity, with the ultimate goal to reach new customers and complete repairs quicker.”

About GSFA: Golden State Fire Apparatus is the Pierce dealership in Central and Northern California. It also sells apparatus from BME, Frontline, Firematic and Skeeter. Our trained staff of Emergency Vehicle Technicians works out of our 35,000-square-foot maintenance facility in Sacramento. We continually invest in tools and equipment so that our customers’ emergency vehicles receive the utmost care, while reducing the man-hours required to get the job done right. We can be reached at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com.

Susanville fire chief thrilled with new truck, unique service arrangement

Through three fire chiefs and nearly two decades, the city of Susanville has been writing grants to the federal government trying to find a way to buy a new fire truck.

Finally last fall, good news arrived in the email inbox of Chief James Moore. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had approved a grant for $720,000, which required an $80,000 match from the city.

Armed with $800,000, Moore began shopping for a Quint aerial that would replace two 40-year-old vehicles. Moore invited Golden State Fire Apparatus – the Pierce Manufacturing dealer in Northern California – and one other national brand dealership to participate. Only Golden State was willing to work within his budget.

“The competition to Pierce said, ‘No way,’ ” Moore said. “Golden State got back to me two weeks later and said Pierce cut the cost of the truck. … My math says they cut all their profit out and ate the taxes to make this work.

“I thought maybe they’d offer me a demo unit that had been driven all over North America. That would have been all right, but they offered me a brand new truck. It blew my mind. I ran to my City Council and said, ‘We need to do this.’ We ordered the vehicle.”

Not only did GSFA come through with a sweet deal on the truck, it also crafted a one-of-its-kind service plan for Moore and his department. Golden State has a terrific service department at its Sacramento facility that is centrally located to many of its clients in Northern California. But Susanville sits in the northeast corner of the state on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada – a 400-mile roundtrip that would mean two climbs over 7,057-foot Donner Pass.

Instead, Golden State leveraged its relationship with the Pierce network to accommodate Susanville. When the new truck needs service, Moore and his team will be able to make a flat 82-mile drive to Reno to have the vehicle worked on at new the Siddons-Martin Emergency Group’s service center. Siddons-Martin, based in Houston, sells and services Pierce trucks and apparatus in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah.

“Even though the customer bought the unit from us, they are able to get service from another Pierce dealership that is logistically closer to them,” explained Daron Wright, president of Golden State Emergency Vehicle Service. “This is not a typical scenario, but being that we have a wonderful relationship with Siddons-Martin and we are all here to help out each other, this was the best situation for everyone — Susanville, Golden State, Siddons-Martin and Pierce Manufacturing.  Everyone is on the same page with this arrangement.”

Moore is appreciative of the flexibility and time savings the service deal will mean for years to come.

“It’s one more reason to like Golden State,” he said. “They know what we need and they know how to treat us.”

Susanville’s new truck was completed in mid-July, but wasn’t put into use until September. That’s because Pierce first asked to show it off at the FDIC industry trade show Aug. 2-6 in Indianapolis. The vehicle – painted a crisp white with red lettering – has room for seven firefighters and includes a carcinogen filter system that changes the air out every 3 minutes, custom storage and a 350-gallon water tank.

The truck – No. 661 — arrived in Susanville during the Dixie Fire. That blaze, which began July 13 in Plumas County, has charred more 960,000 acres and burned within a mile of Susanville’s southwest border before it was pushed back. The new truck was on call but ultimately not needed for the Dixie Fire. Still, it already has become a favorite with Moore’s team.

“It typically responds to any call,” he said. “It’s the first out on any commercial fire or structure fire. It will be first out on technical rescues. The staff loves it. They like the fact it feels safe. They know it’s been engineered to our specifications and that it’s ergonomic. They also like the fact it’s all in one – pump and ladder.”

Each time he thinks about the new truck and what it means for his city and staff, Moore once again appreciates the lengths to which Golden State went to make the deal and service arrangement happen.

“If I can get some funding, we’ll buy a Pierce pumper from them,” Moore said. “These guys went above and beyond. These people know how to treat a customer. I have a thank you card from them in my office, but they deserve one from me. They are off the board.”

About GSFA: Golden State Fire Apparatus is the No. 1 Pierce dealership in Northern California. Our trained staff of Emergency Vehicle Technicians works out of our 35,000-square-foot maintenance facility in Sacramento. We continually invest in tools and equipment so that your emergency vehicle receives the utmost care, while reducing the man-hours required to get the job done right. If you have any questions about any aspect of your equipment’s performance, we’re here to help. You can reach us at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com

Boulder Creek earns 2021 Fire Truck Face-Off championship

Boulder Creek - FTFO winner 2021

Like the firefighters who use it, Engine No. 2112 of the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District is a hard worker.

It is a Pierce pumper that has rolled out to just about every call since its delivery last spring. It was especially busy in September during the horrific CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which burned 85,509 acres across two counties near Santa Cruz, destroyed 1,500 structures, damaged 140 more and, tragically, left one person dead.

So, it is fitting that a piece of equipment that serves such an important purpose in the volunteer district is being recognized as the winner of the 2021 Fire Truck Face-Off competition sponsored by Golden State Fire Apparatus of Sacramento, Northern California’s fire truck sales and service leader.

Each March, Golden State randomly selects 32 of the fire apparatus it has sold or leased in the previous calendar year. Those vehicles then are organized into a bracket – think of the March Madness college basketball tournament applied to fire equipment.

Fire apparatus of all types from the randomly selected departments face off, with the winner in each round advancing based on the number of votes registered on a website devoted to the competition. The key to winning, of course, is for each department to use social media and other methods to encourage its fans, followers and friends to vote.

This year’s friendly competition reached more than 81,000 people in departments ranging from the Bay Area to the Central Valley and the Sierra foothills. Voting for each match took place over 24 hours so departments had to have a strategy to get the vote out when it was their turn.

Some of the matches were lopsided, but many were close. In the quarterfinals, the fire departments in Piedmont and Fairfield actually ended up in a tie, which was broken by a Zoom coin flip won by Piedmont.

I have found that over the years many people in the fire industry are very competitive and when they have the chance to win at something and also support something they believe in, they are very passionate about it.

Ryan Wright, President of Golden State Fire

The final four matched Boulder Creek’s pumper against Piedmont’s pumper and Napa County’s tender vs. Sacramento’s pumper. Boulder Creek and Napa County advanced, with Boulder Creek scoring a relatively easy 295-135 voting victory in the championship match.

The win earned Boulder Creek a $1,000 donation from GSFA to the organization of its choice – in this case, the local parks and recreation foundation – plus a badge to put on its vehicle and bragging rights for a year.

Boulder Creek check presentation

“We are very excited to support Boulder Creek and their win. They have a very tight-knit community in addition to a fantastic looking Pierce fire engine that made many people want to vote for them,” said Ryan Wright, Golden State’s president.

Battalion Chief Chuck Wise was Boulder Creek’s point man during the competition. Though admittedly not experienced in social media, Wise leaned on co-workers when it came time to post on Facebook and even enlisted his 20-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter to help spread the word on social media that it was time to vote.

“We shared the Golden State posts about the competition, and we reminded our community members how they had passed Measure N a few years ago,” said Wise, referring to the parcel tax that allowed the department to buy Engine 2112 last year. “We tried to engage with a lot of groups in our community and have them share it all over the place. People were happy that we won.”

The closest vote, Wise said, came in the matchup with Marysville, which Boulder Creek won by about 20 votes.

The winning pumper – like many of those across the region – is in use virtually every day.

“It carries hoses and water and helps us respond to various emergencies,” Wise said. “It’s like a one-stop shop. It has the Jaws of Life, ladders and other tools. Pretty much everything we need to help the community.”

It is not the first connection between Golden State and Boulder Creek.

Last fall, after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire had destroyed key pieces of the water system that serves about 10,000 people in the area 10 miles northeast of Santa Cruz, Golden State and W.S. Darley & Co. of Chicago, which makes water pumps, teamed up to deliver 5,000 gallons of drinking water to residents.

“In the end, it’s all about charity and our social responsibility that we take seriously at Golden State,” Wright explained. “We are thrilled to support this community last year with the water donation, this year with the Fire Truck Face-Off win and to support the department for years to come on their Pierce apparatus.”

“We also want to thank all the fire departments that participated. To everyone who voted, shared and commented, you made this experience absolutely tremendous. We look forward to next year!”

About GSFA: Our trained staff of Emergency Vehicle Technicians works out of our 35,000-square-foot maintenance facility in Sacramento. We continually invest in tools and equipment so that your emergency vehicle receives the utmost care, while reducing the man-hours required to get the job done right. If you have any questions about any aspect of your equipment’s performance, we’re here to help. You can reach us at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com

GSFA founder remembers his good friend, Dave Boyd

Dave Boyd’s official title at Golden State Fire Apparatus was “new arrivals coordinator.” But his influence was felt in so many more ways.

He was a role model for what a loyal employee should be. A great teammate. A barbecue chef extraordinaire. And, most of all, Boyd was a trusted confidante to the boss.

“He was one of those rare individuals who was just a real man’s man. A real gentleman’s gentleman,” said GSFA founder and CEO Bill Wright about his friend, who died Jan. 30 from COVID-19. “He was a very down to earth, genuine, sincere person. He was very honest and a hard worker. Our society today in America needs a lot more Dave Boyds.”

He was so demanding of himself before he was demanding of others. He was a man of very high standards. Everybody respected that.

Bill Wright, GSFA founder and CEO

Wright and Boyd first met in 1987, when Boyd was still working as the assistant chief in the Salida Fire Department. Golden State sold a Pierce pumper to Salida and it was Boyd who volunteered to go to Wisconsin, inspect the vehicle and then drive it home. It was the first in what would end up being hundreds of one-way journeys Boyd would make delivering trucks from the Pierce manufacturing facility to California.

Even before retiring from the Salida department in 1998, Boyd was already working with Wright’s team at GSFA in his spare time to drive trucks from Wisconsin to Golden State’s headquarters. That relationship continued following his retirement as a firefighter.

“His title was new arrivals coordinator,” Wright said. “When a truck was finished in Wisconsin, he was one of the people who would get an email that it was ready to be picked up. Dave would pack up his bag, get his briefcase and computer, and get on a plane, fly to Minneapolis and then a commuter plane to Appleton.

“He knew every highway to travel on. If it was snowing, he would head to Texas and then to California. And if it was nice, he would go on Highway 80. It took four days… When he arrived back in California, he would inspect the truck again and make sure it was functioning, then contact the customer and have them come to Sacramento. He arranged for a date to deliver the truck to them and then he would arrange another time to do the training with them. Dave was a key individual in our business. A lot revolved around him.”

Dave Boyd airport

Boyd lived in Salida; Wright’s home is in Stockton. Since both were driving almost every day to Sacramento, they decided it made sense to commute together. Soon, a bond was formed that was more than about saving money on gas. The two became very close friends. They found they shared similar interests in airplanes, target shooting and the events of the day. With their wives, they went out to eat on occasion and vacationed together on the coast.

“We had 45 minutes each way to discuss politics or any number of things,” Wright said. “When Dave came on board, I found it very comfortable to talk to him and, little bit by little bit, I would share things with him to see how far I could trust this man. Over the years, he was probably my greatest confidante. I never had to remind him to keep things to himself. He would always respond with, ‘Here is what I think,’ or, ‘What I would do.’ ”

Dave Boyd Barbeque

In one way or another, Boyd interacted with almost all of Golden State’s 42 employees, who universally admired and respected him. One of his most endearing qualities was as the chef overseeing the company’s barbecues every few months. Boyd had a professional grill that he would tow to Sacramento behind his pickup. Often, his wife Phyllis would make pies or other side dishes. Their son Eric – a firefighter in Turlock – also would attend on his days off.

“He took it very seriously,” Wright recalled of Boyd’s culinary skills. “He would use charcoal, but always brought almond wood that was dried to a certain percentage. He was very meticulous about getting the fire going and keeping the grill clean.”

In fact, Boyd was so admired as a cook that he was often asked to serve at various gatherings in the Salida area. Once, he even hauled his barbecue all the way to the Dakotas to cater the wedding of a friend’s daughter.

“Dave would never do anything in a mediocre way,” Wright said. “It had to be done to perfection – whether it was working on a truck or barbecuing. He was so demanding of himself before he was demanding of others. He was a man of very high standards. Everybody respected that.”

Though he was 75 when he died, Wright said that Boyd still liked to work despite having operations to replace both knees and one hip.

“In the last three or four years, he would say, ‘Bill I need to slow down.’ But he never did,” Wright said. “He loved what he was doing. He probably worried about what he would do. He would say, ‘I can’t retire now, Bill. I’ve got trucks coming in for Contra Costa or San Jose.’ It was like these trucks were Dave’s kids and he was going to see that truck through to completion.”

Sadly, after Boyd contracted COVID, Wright was only able to talk to his friend by phone. Phyllis Boyd also came down with the disease. If there is a silver lining, it was that they were able to share a hospital room in Modesto, allowing them to talk and hold hands. She was able to be with him when he died.

“The next day, the most amazing thing happened – she was discharged,” Wright said.

The death of his friend hit Wright hard.

“Until it affects someone you know and love, you don’t realize how devastating this disease is,” he said.

Boyd’s funeral in Salida attracted many admirers – family and friends, members of his church community, GSFA employees and even firefighters throughout Northern California who knew him as the guy who drove their truck from Wisconsin and then trained them on how to use it. To honor Boyd, his casket was taken from the church to the cemetery on a 1934 Mack firetruck owned by the Ripon Fire Department.

“The reverence, the respect … you would have thought some great dignitary was being buried,” Wright said. “I haven’t been to a service like that in my lifetime. It was an honor to be there.”

Wright will remember his friend as a man of few words who had “the heart of a servant and humility of mind.”

“Dave was a very loving, caring gentleman,” Wright remembered. “He was not a critical person. He never talked down to people. I respected him greatly for that. … He was a very strong believer in Jesus Christ and active in his church. He was very respected in his community. Dave always wanted to deflect the credit. He was a man of great integrity and great honesty. He was such a wonderful man. He would do anything to help you.”

About GSFA: Our trained staff of Emergency Vehicle Technicians works out of our 35,000-square-foot maintenance facility in Sacramento. We continually invest in tools and equipment so that your emergency vehicle receives the utmost care, while reducing the man-hours required to get the job done right. If you have any questions about any aspect of your equipment’s performance, we’re here to help. You can reach us at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com

Two companies with big hearts

One from California, the other from Illinois – provide water to fire victims

The CZU Lightning Complex Fire began late at night on Aug. 16 near Boulder Creek, a quiet little town deep in the redwood forest about 20 miles northeast of Santa Cruz, Calif. By the time it was contained Sept. 22, it had burned 85,509 acres across two counties, destroyed 1,500 structures and damaged 140 more. Tragically, one person was killed.

The fire also knocked out the water system that serves more than 10,000 people who live in the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. Stepping in to help to fill that critical need were two companies with limited connection to Boulder Creek, but plenty of heart to be of service.

Golden State Fire Apparatus, based in Sacramento, and W.S. Darley & Co., headquartered in the Chicago suburbs, teamed up to deliver a truckload of desperately needed water Monday morning to the water district. Golden State sells fire and emergency apparatus. Darley makes water pumps, many of which are found on fire apparatus.
Together, Golden State and Darley paid for and arranged a semi-truck loaded with 24 pallets of water – more than 5,000 gallons — to be driven from Dallas to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District office.

The timing was perfect as the water district was almost out of water when the truck arrived.

Ryan Wright, President of Golden State Fire
The donation came about after Wright corresponded with a California Office of Emergency Services representative about how Golden State might help fire victims in hard-hit communities. He was told that the people in and around Boulder Creek needed drinking water. That sparked a conversation Sept. 22 with Paul Darley, President & CEO of W.S. Darley & Co. By Sept. 25, the truck was on its way from Texas.

People are in need of water and we are fortunate to be in a position to help in any way possible to provide this vital resource.

Paul Darley, President & CEO of W.S. Darley & Co.

Holly Hossack, administrative assistant at the water district, said the district lost three water tanks and all of the pipelines leading to and from the water treatment plant. While some water service has been restored, people living in more than 350 homes are on “do not drink, do not boil” orders due to the risk of volatile organic compounds caused by the fire possibly being in the water. That order is expected to last another three weeks, she said.

The district goes through five or more pallets of water per day, Hossack said, with each household allowed two cases of water per day. Before the truck arrived Monday, “We were down to a couple of pallets,” she said.

Tanya Wright, Ryan’s wife and a Golden State employee, was in Boulder Creek with their 17-year-old daughter and a family friend on Monday when the truck arrived and parked in the middle of two-lane Highway 9, right in front of the water district office. Within an hour, the pallets had been offloaded and distribution begun to people patiently waiting in their cars to pick up water.

“People looked tired and worn out, but they were joyful despite what they have faced,” said Wright, who described driving through burned out areas nearby as “heartbreaking.”

“We saw four or five houses that had burned to the ground,” she said. “All that was left were ashes and hot water heaters. And then 100 yards away, there was a house that didn’t get touched. It was really tragic and humbling. It made you really see what these people are going through.”

Unfortunately, with more than 100 wildfires burning all over the Western United States in the past month, the scene near Boulder Creek has been far too common. The need for water and other supplies is acute in many states.

Golden State – carrying on the tradition established by its founders, Bill and Marie Wright – has donated before through the Red Cross and other relief agencies.

Kevin Sofen, Darley’s Business Development Manager, said the Illinois company is eager to work with other organizations that would like to arrange a water donation. Darley has an interest in a business called Box of Rain Water, which provides drinking water after emergencies and also to the military. The water – like what was delivered to Boulder Creek — comes in 2.64-gallon (10-liter) units. Think of boxed wine, just with water inside.

Sofen said interested companies should contact him at (310) 625-6248 or kevinsofen@darley.com.

Pierce, PACCAR team up for first time on new MX-13 engine

Brad Hansen spent 20 years driving fire engines for the Sacramento City Fire Department. In his last six years, he was an Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) instructor, teaching proper driving techniques to other firefighters, police officers and sheriff’s deputies. He knows his way around a piece of fire apparatus and appreciates the value of quality equipment.

All of which makes Hansen eminently qualified to evaluate the performance of the new PACCAR MX-13 engine that is now available in Pierce’s Arrow XT, Enforcer and Velocity Custom Chassis trucks. “The MX-13 delivers power in a smooth application with peak torque low in the RPM range,” said Hansen, now a sales consultant for Golden State Fire Apparatus, Central and Northern California’s exclusive dealer for Pierce apparatus.

The MX-13 delivers power in a smooth application with peak torque low in the RPM range

For drivers, low torque translates into great performance from a dead stop. The 510-horsepower MX-13 achieves maximum torque at 1,000 RPMs, improving responsiveness in congested city driving or on windy rural roads. “The fire engineer will feel that torque and power down low, helping him/her with initial off-the-line performance,” Hansen said.

The MX-13 engine incorporates industry-leading design features that improve uptime, optimize fuel economy, reduce maintenance costs and maximize the return on investment for buyers. It also marks the first time PACCAR and Pierce have worked together. “We are bringing together two premium brands, providing a first-class engine for custom fire apparatus,” according to the Pierce website.

The new engine features compacted graphite iron castings that are 75% stronger and 25% lighter than grey iron. High-pressure common rail fuel injection means improved combustion efficiency and better fuel performance. Rear engine gear train design reduces noise and makes for a smooth ride.

Improved bearing clearance, higher strength joints, increased uptime and longer service life PACCAR’s fractured cap technology makes it possible to tune the engine to produce what the company describes as a “wide horsepower range and longer torque and power curves for more efficient operation.” The technology also provides “improved bearing clearance, higher strength joints, increased uptime and longer service life.”

The MX-13 engine also plays an important role in improved braking. “The MX-13, designed and built at PACCAR, uses a complete integrated system utilizing a compression release, the turbocharger and a backpressure valve, which is able to generate continuous braking power,” said Marc Faluotico, the West Regional Vice President for Pierce Manufacturing. “It adds reliable and safe braking power to the vehicle, reducing service brake wear.”

The new engine comes with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Service can be performed at any Kenworth or Peterbilt service center. Golden State’s technicians also are certified to work on the MX-13 engine at the company’s state-of-the-art 35,000-square-foot facility in Sacramento.

About GSFA: Golden State Fire Apparatus has been the exclusive Pierce dealer in Central and Northern California for more than 30 years. Our sales, service and parts professionals are proud to work with many highly respected fire agencies all across our region. We partner with our clients to create custom fire and rescue apparatus built specifically for their needs. You can reach us at (916) 330-1638 or at info@goldenstatefire.com.

About PACCAR: PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of premium light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines. PACCAR is based in Bellevue, Wash. The MX-13 engine is designed and built in Columbus, Miss.

Hanford earns title in 3rd annual Fire Truck Face-Off

College basketball fans across the country were disappointed this year when the NCAA cancelled the men’s tournament – commonly known as March Madness – because of health concerns related to COVID-19. That wasn’t the case, however, for the 3rd annual Fire Truck Face-Off sponsored by Golden State Fire Apparatus. Not even a pandemic could dim the enthusiasm of Central and Northern California’s firefighters, their families and friends, who voted and participated in record numbers between late February and early April.

“The feedback has all been positive. From the chief officers to firefighters to residents, everyone had a ball with the contest,” said Jason Dinkel, Golden State’s operations manager and the architect of the contest.

Tournament Participants Were Selected Back In February

The premise is simple and, just like the NCAA Tournament, there is plenty of drama. In February, Golden State created a ping pong ball for each customer that purchased a vehicle in the previous fiscal year. The name of the purchasing agency and type of vehicle was written on the ball, and then drawn randomly to fill out a 32-vehicle bracket, just like the individual schools in the college basketball playoffs.

Beginning in Feb. 24, people could go to the GSFA Facebook page to vote for their favorites in head-to-head contests. Each day featured a different matchup – a San Jose heavy duty rescue vs. a Rocklin type 1 engine, a wildland engine from Corning vs. a City of Sacramento type 1 engine, a Fortuna platform vs. a Calaveras Consolidated type 3 wildland engine.

The Final Match was held on April 2nd, where Hanford emerged victorious

By early April, the field had been winnowed to two 110-foot ascendant aerial platforms – one from Hanford and the other from Clovis.

The winner? Truck 43 from the Hanford Fire Department. It received 58% of the votes to run away with the title against its regional rival. The two cities are about a 45-minute drive apart. Hanford defeated another nearby department – Tulare – in the semifinals. “A couple of guys who worked here work for Clovis now,” said Hanford Fire Capt. Derek Weisser. “Same with Tulare, which is about 30 minutes away. We all do training together. There were some good conversations had.”

Departments were encouraged to do whatever they could to drum up support. Many leveraged the reach of their own social media sites to encourage voters. Some attracted media attention, including a report on Fresno television station Channel 24 on three of the four semifinalists being from the same region.

Golden State sales consultant Dewayne Young’s territory includes Hanford, Clovis and Tulare. He offered the three agencies advice about the contest, which was won in 2019 by Merced – where Young also is a fire captain. “All three departments had a lot of support,” he said. “It was pretty phenomenal.”

At first, Weisser said his department of 30 was uncertain about how to proceed. “This was our first Fire Truck Face-Off,” Weisser said. “Dewayne explained it to us. He gave us some pointers and we went for it.” One of the first things Hanford did was create some videos of Truck 43. One showed a Dalmatian dog sitting in the cab; others portrayed the aerial apparatus in action at fire scenes. “We started getting video footage right away,” Weisser explained. “We posted a lot of it between rounds. The video changed a couple of times. We even tried to incorporate the downtown area of Hanford that everyone enjoys. “The city of Hanford is interesting. It’s about 55,000 people and has a pretty strong community base. We knew we had outlets we could tap into. … We shared the contest on our Facebook page and got all our friends and family to share it with their social media groups.”

Fire Truck Face Off was a huge success, bringing in over 50 thousand votes

Dinkel said it’s just that kind of community pride and engagement the Fire Truck Face-Off hopes to inspire. “The departments and communities are very proud of their equipment and where they live and serve,” he said. The response to this year’s contest was impressive – more than 575,000 users reached and in excess of 50,000 votes, 7,600 shares, 3,900 likes and more than 800 comments. Many of those numbers are double from 2019. “Since anyone can see who voted, I have heard of departments actually reaching out to make sure that everyone’s vote has been cast,” Dinkel said. “And, of course, there are a lot of Facebook page shares and comments made to help encourage others to jump on board.”

Hanford’s closest call came in the quarterfinals against an aerial from the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department. “They gave us a serious run for our money,” Weisser said. “I think it was small-town pride. We were within a few votes of each other. At one point, it was 51 to 49 percent. It was a battle during the entire 24 hours.” Hanford eventually collected 52% of the votes to win, a pattern it repeated twice more to take home the championship.

Good fun, and a good cause

The victory comes with bragging rights for sure, but more importantly, Golden State donates $1,000 to a nonprofit chosen by the winner. Young generously chipped in $500 out of his own pocket as well. This year, all that money will be sent to the Porterville Fallen Firefighters Fund. Tragically, the Porterville department had two men – Capt. Ray Figueroa and firefighter Patrick Jones — killed in February while battling a blaze at the city library. “Porterville is about an hour east of us in Tulare County,” Weisser said. “We just felt it was right that the money would straight to the families there. We try to do what we can to our brothers and sisters.”

Added Dinkel: “At the end of the day, this is really the most important aspect of this contest. All of the charities selected are worthy of these funds. Our hope is that this dollar amount continues to grow each year. We’re super proud of everyone keeping this the focus and we couldn’t be more pleased with others stepping up to contribute as well.”

Need parts? Golden State has just what you’re looking for

Each piece of equipment sold by Golden State Fire Apparatus is expected to perform under the most rugged and demanding conditions. When lives are on the line and property is at risk, nothing else is acceptable.

Given the circumstances in which vehicles routinely operate, the need for quality maintenance and timely repairs is crucial. Expensive equipment is of no use when it’s not available.

Golden State understands that urgency. That’s why it’s service department and body shop is staffed with trained professionals with decades of experience. The same commitment to customer service is evident in the parts department, which has grown dramatically in the past six years and now occupies more than 4,500 square feet of space over two levels at the company’s headquarters.

Details in the Inventory

Golden State stocks nearly 7,000 individual parts, from valves to pumps to lights, radios, computers and virtually anything else that is found on a piece of fire apparatus. The inventory has grown rapidly in the past few years based on customer feedback and needs. And if a part is not in stock, it can be obtained in less than a week – or even sooner in cases where the vehicle is out of operation, said parts manager David Myers.

GSFA retains the specific schematics and list of parts for every vehicle it sells. It has an ever-growing library of parts descriptions, complete with photographs and more than 33,000 illustrations. The company also created a 1,500-square-foot mezzanine in its parts department devoted entirely to pumps, also in response to what customers said they wanted.

In an average week, Myers and his three-member team deal with 25 to 50 fire departments. Since Golden State sells vehicles all over Northern California, virtually all of that engagement is over the phone or via email.

The Exact Part You Need

Myers welcomes a chance to consult with customers to ensure they’re ordering the exact part they need. Pierce Manufacturing – which builds most of the apparatus sold by Golden State – has a robust website that allows fire departments to see all the parts for their vehicles while on the phone with Myers and his staff. Customers can go to pierceparts.com to access parts information, ID numbers, component catalogs and operator manuals; watch training videos; and research exactly what they need for their equipment.

Best yet, Myers and his staff can log in to Pierce website simultaneously so they can have a real-time phone conversation with the customer about parts.

“They see what we see,” Myers said.

In instances such as those – when the vehicle owners or fleet managers are going to install the new part themselves – Golden State can ship the part within a few days, if it’s in stock. Ordering from Pierce or another supplier typically adds a few days because parts are often coming from the Midwest. But some situations are different. If the vehicle is grounded and cannot safely respond to calls, those parts orders become of priority for Golden State as well as Pierce. Myers and his team will gather the information to verify an “out of service” request before relaying it to Pierce, which moves it to the top of its queue to fill.

“That may happen 10 or 15 times a week, but it goes way up during fire season,” Myers said.

Our Proactive Approach

Another aspect of Golden State’s customer-focused service culture is to stay on top of which parts have been requested – whether they’re sent directly to the client or being delivered to Golden State’s technicians to install.

“Every other week, we go through everything the shop is waiting on and determine why a part isn’t here,” Myers explained. “We are proactive and go through all of our open orders just so the customer is aware of the process and updated about what to expect.”

Golden State’s parts department is open 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Myers frequently responds on weekends to questions via text or email. The company also features an online payment portal to make it convenient for customers to process and pay for parts.

Looking to the future, Myers said it’s possible that Golden State will begin to offer promotions or bulk order discounts to reduce the cost of parts. An example might be a deal to upgrade an older piece of equipment from halogen to LED lights, which are standard on many new models. He also expects to do more outreach via Golden State’s social media sites.

“We want to stay out front of whatever trends there are,” Myers said. “We check everything coming down the pipeline. Our sales guys tell me about new features, so we start stocking those parts. We want to stay ahead of the curve as well as get rid of something that isn’t hot today.”