After-Hours Emergency Repairs and Managing a Reserve Fleet During Peak Demand
By Mike Huber In today’s fire service environment, apparatus availability is more critical than ever. Fire departments rely on increasingly complex fleets made up of engines, ladder trucks, medic units, tankers, and specialty apparatus that must remain operational...
HVAC Systems: So, What Is a Micron, Part 2
BY KEVIN ROBERTS Last time, we left you hanging with a dilemma. How can we measure the same quantity using area [pounds per square inch (psi)] on the one hand, and length (in Hg) on the other hand. If you have not read that one, you should. The short version is that...
Rig Review: Logan Township (NJ) Engine 18
The Logan Township Fire Department is located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The department is made up of a handful of full-time career members, part-time members, and volunteers. The department was formed in 2007 with the merger of the Bridgeport Volunteer Fire...
Department Adds Two Commercial-Chassis Tankers
BY BOB VACCARO The Easton (ME) Fire Department consists of 25 to 30 paid/call firefighters providing fire suppression, hazmat, inspection, and fire-life safety education to the Town of Easton, as well as mutual aid to surrounding communities. Its response district...
ARTICLES
PA Department Operates Low-Hosebed Pumper
Engine 713 is a custom KME pumper. It is built on a Panther MFD Cab with a 10-inch raised roof and has seating for seven. This rig has a FLEX Long Pumper style body.
Fire Service Visionary George Sztykiel Passes Away
During George’s tenure at Spartan Motors, the company went public in 1984, launched the Fire Truck Training Conference in 1994, and branched into manufacturing complete fire apparatus solutions.
Mantua Township (NJ) Rescue-Pumper
Rescue 22 is a custom 2020 KME Severe Service cab with a rescue-pumper body. It is equipped with a 2,000-gpm pump and a 770-gallon water tank.
Darley Welcomes Jim Johnson to Board of Directors
Johnson’s appointment reflects Darley’s ongoing commitment to building on the strength of its board of directors with experienced industry leaders who provide strategic guidance and oversight.
PRESS RELEASES
Darley Welcomes General Joseph Votel to Board of Directors
General Votel brings a distinguished record of military leadership, strategic expertise, and a lifelong commitment to serving the nation’s warfighters.
Darley Releases New Uncrewed Systems Capabilities and Partner Brochure
This brochure showcases Darley’s integrated approach to uncrewed technologies, highlighting platforms, components, and support solutions that enhance operational effectiveness across air, land, and maritime domains.
Darley Welcomes Jim Johnson to Board of Directors
Johnson’s appointment reflects Darley’s ongoing commitment to building on the strength of its board of directors with experienced industry leaders who provide strategic guidance and oversight.
Coxreels® Compact 100W Welding Hose and 100WCL Welding Cable Hand Crank Reels
Coxreels® 100W Series welding hose reels and 100WCL Series welding cable reels are developed to meet the space-saving demands of industrial and automotive markets.
APPARATUS GALLERY
VIDEOS
Inside Darley: March/April 2026
Spring is here and that means it’s time for the spring/summer issue of the Darley Times newsletter, which features an article on new president Lee Wise, and more.
Inside Darley: January/February 2026
Darley starts the new year with a new five-year strategic plan called “3B30.” That’s a goal to be a $3 billion business by the year 2030.
Inside Darley: November/December 2025
In this edition, Paul Darley discusses the company’s growth with the U.S. Department of Defense. The company is also engaged in wildfire management, leadership development, and more.
Inside Darley: September/October 2025
Paul Darley discusses the success of the company’s internship program and offers tips for family businesses to continue family ownership generation after generation.
Inside Darley: July/August 2025
Paul Darley and more than 300 employees and their families enjoyed a weekend in the Wisconsin Dells to celebrate hitting a billion dollars in revenue. Deloitte presented Darley with the Best Managed Company award, one of 60 companies in the U.S. to received it.
Inside Darley: May/June 2025
Explore highlights from Darley’s May-June issue of Inside Darley, including record attendance at FDIC, new catalogs, and upcoming events like NDIA and the IL Fire Service Home Day.
LATEST
After-Hours Emergency Repairs and Managing a Reserve Fleet During Peak Demand
Apparatus failures do not wait for normal business hours. When these situations occur, fleet personnel must make rapid decisions that balance operational readiness, staffing limitations, and safety.
HVAC Systems: So, What Is a Micron, Part 2
Do you need a micron gauge? That is an economic decision, but if you are conscientious as well as under time constraints, you may find that a micron gauge saves time by avoiding either over pumping to be on the safe side or just hoping that you get enough of the air out.
Rig Review: Logan Township (NJ) Engine 18
Engine 18 is this 2025 E-ONE Typhoon stainless-steel pumper. It has a Typhoon 58-inch cab with flat roof and 4-inch lower steps.
Darley Welcomes General Joseph Votel to Board of Directors
General Votel brings a distinguished record of military leadership, strategic expertise, and a lifelong commitment to serving the nation’s warfighters.
Search
FOLLOW US
NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter
Get more from The Rig directly to your inbox by subscribing below.
RIGS
E-ONE Select Series Aerial in Service for KY Department
Ocala (FL) Fire Rescue Welcomes Groundbreaking Addition to Fleet
Vancouver (WA) FD Replaces Tractor Drawn Aerial With New KME Tiller
Equipment
Just Ask Engineering: What Makes a Part Reusable or Not?
When rebuilding a pump, deciding what to replace versus reuse is a common question. Fortunately, the process is straightforward: break the pump into individual components and evaluate each piece one at a time.
EV Tech Talk: What Happens When You Shift Out of Road Mode Into Pump Mode?
Fire department training divisions should include some input from the mechanical division. As a mechanic, I can’t teach someone the proper way to put out a fire. I’m not trained for that. In the same breath, firefighters aren’t expected to know how the equipment they use works mechanically. Although firefighters don’t need to understand how to fix the equipment, a general understanding of how something works affects how they use it.
Pump Packing vs. Mechanical Seal
In this article, we are going to discuss what packing and a mechanical seal are. But first we need to know what the purpose of these “seals” is in our pumping systems. To put it very simply, they keep the oil and water separated.
Five Top Preventive Maintenance Tips for Fire Pumps
The fire pump is arguably the most important piece of equipment on an engine, and pump manufacturers have specific guidelines for keeping fire pumps in the best working order. We spoke with two W.S. Darley & Company pump experts, Greg Field, vice president of pump manufacturing operations, and Shawn Kelly, training manager, about the subject and they gave us five preventive maintenance tips to keep your fire pump in top shape.
