The Minneapolis Fire Department has ordered three Pierce Enforcer Pumpers as part of a fleet modernization initiative aimed at improving maneuverability, safety and long-term reliability for firefighters operating in Minnesota’s largest city.
The order was announced by Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) business, and was secured through Pierce dealer MacQueen. The new apparatus will mark the department’s transition from commercial chassis pumpers to Pierce custom fire apparatus.
“Moving away from a commercial chassis was a major priority for us,” said Deputy Chief Sean Olson of the Minneapolis Fire Department. “We wanted to ride on a fire truck that’s built to be a fire truck. Pierce’s Enforcer Pumpers give us a roomy cab, excellent turning radius, and customized space for our crews and equipment, while keeping the overall layout familiar so the transition is seamless. Most importantly, we’re getting apparatus designed specifically for firefighting, which means low downtime, few repairs and vehicles built to do exactly what we need.”
The Minneapolis Fire Department operates 19 fire stations and is supported by 434 firefighters. The department serves a dense urban environment that includes major interstate corridors and severe winter road conditions, factors that influenced the decision to invest in custom apparatus designed for maneuverability, crew safety and reduced maintenance requirements.
According to MacQueen, the apparatus were configured using Pierce Manufacturing’s Build My Pierce program to accelerate delivery while maintaining operational customization.
“Designing these pumpers through the Build My Pierce program allowed us to move quickly while still delivering apparatus tailored to Minneapolis’ operational needs,” said Brad White, Fire Apparatus Sales Representative for MacQueen. “Minneapolis has been a Pierce fleet customer for years and has operated Pierce aerials since 2015, so this transition to Pierce custom chassis pumpers builds on an established partnership focused on reliability, performance and long-term support.”
The department cited Pierce’s custom cab and chassis safety systems, along with MacQueen’s fleet maintenance support, as key reasons behind the purchase decision. Officials also noted that the lead times for the new apparatus were significantly shorter than previous orders.
The new Pierce Enforcer Pumpers will feature an Enforcer custom chassis powered by a PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 510 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque. Additional specifications include Pierce TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension with rear air ride suspension, a Waterous 1,500 gpm CSU single-stage pump, a 500-gallon water tank, customized compartmentation, dual cab step access, Frontal and Side Roll Impact Protection, low hosebeds and OnSpot automatic tire chains for winter operations.
Deputy Chief Olson said the procurement process also involved close collaboration with the City of Minneapolis Fleet Department and Fleet Manager Chris Metcalf to evaluate repair costs, maintenance demands and long-term apparatus uptime.
“Partnering closely with our Fleet Manager, Chris Metcalf, was critical in evaluating long-term maintenance, repair costs and overall downtime,” Olson said. “That collaboration helped reinforce our decision to invest in apparatus designed specifically for firefighting. The new Enforcer Pumpers will give us the maneuverability we need in an urban environment, the safety features our crews expect and the confidence that these units will spend their time in service and not in the shop.”
The City of Minneapolis Fleet Department and local service partners also supported the procurement process by helping assess long-term operational costs and fleet performance considerations.
