Fire departments get new engines

By Andrea Iglar

10-Foot Light Tower

The Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, stationed along Washington Pike in South Fayette, has a new fire engine with a 10-foot light tower to help fight structural fires.

The 2021 Pierce Enforcer includes a 1,000-gallon water tank. The light tower can be raised, angled and lowered with a control box (pictured). The engine replaces a 1996 Pierce Quantum.

Total cost was about $600,000, a deal because the vehicle had served as the manufacturer’s lightly used demonstration engine, Assistant Chief Keith Dernosek said.

The engine is red, the color that Station 268 has used for trucks for 71 years.

The Fairview Volunteer Fire Department in South Fayette has added a fire engine with a 10-foot adjustable light tower.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Queen Bee

A new fire engine went into service in June at the South Fayette Volunteer Fire Department in Cuddy.

The 2020 Spartan fire engine is equipped with a water pump and hose, plus rescue equipment for car accidents. It replaces a 1991 Pierce Dash engine/pumper.

Total cost was about $1 million, including $600,000 to purchase the vehicle plus the cost to equip it.

Fire Chief Joe Janocha said no borrowing was needed because for 10 years, firefighters saved fundraising proceeds and annual contributions from South Fayette Township.

The new engine is named “Queen Bee,” in accordance with the firefighting bee mascot of Station 266 and the department’s 84-year tradition of using yellow trucks.

The South Fayette Volunteer Fire Department has a new engine in the station's traditional color scheme of yellow and black.

Photo by Andrea Iglar