Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, has announced the Frederick County, Maryland Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) has placed an order for a Pierce Volterra electric fire truck.
This order intends to reinforce its commitment to environmental sustainability and firefighter health and safety.
The order, secured through Pierce dealer, Atlantic Emergency Solutions, includes six additional fire apparatus to enhance operational readiness and emergency response capabilities across the county’s 29 fire stations.
The Pierce Volterra electric pumper is scheduled for delivery in late 2025, allowing Frederick County time to complete necessary infrastructure upgrades to support the new apparatus.
The purchase was partially funded by a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration, which helps municipalities invest in clean energy solutions for public services.
Frederick County Fire Chief Thomas E. Coe shared: “Placing the Pierce Volterra EV into service reaffirms our commitment to environmental sustainability and, more critically, to the health and safety of our first responders.
“We feel strongly this new electric fire engine not only allows us to provide critical emergency services in a sustainable manner but also helps us achieve our goals of a healthy work environment for our fire/rescue responders.
“The reduced diesel emissions, when running on batteries, will help protect our firefighters from carcinogenic exhaust exposure and help contribute to clean air in our communities.”
Frederick County responds to approximately 40,000 emergency calls annually, serving a population of nearly 300,000 residents.
The department has maintained a 100 percent Pierce fleet, purchasing annually.
Rodney Guessford, Regional Account Manager at Atlantic Emergency Solutions said: “Atlantic Emergency Solutions has had a long-standing relationship with Frederick County, and we appreciate their continued trust in our team and in Pierce Manufacturing.
“After visiting the Pierce facility and conducting a full demonstration of the Pierce Volterra EV, Frederick County was confident this new electric engine would provide the reliability, performance, and sustainability they were seeking.”
The Pierce Volterra electric fire truck operates with significantly reduced noise levels in electric mode, enabling easy communications in route and on the fireground which helps address hearing problems—a prevalent issue among firefighters.
The Pierce Volterra platform is designed to maintain all operational capabilities of a traditional fire engine, while managing diesel fuel consumption and addressing emissions when running on batteries.
Pierce Manufacturing has announced that Frederick County will be receiving a Pierce Volterra electric fire truck alongside six other pieces of fire apparatus.
