Spartan Emergency Response, or simply Spartan, is a fire apparatus manufacturer with headquarters located in Charlotte, Michigan. All Spartan ER pumpers are built at the facility in Brandon, South Dakota. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and Snyder, Nebraska. The company also manufactures and supplies fire chassis to other fire body manufacturers. Spartan ER was a division of Spartan Motors prior to its purchase by REV Group.
History[]
Spartan Motors[]
Spartan Motors was formed in Charlotte, Michigan in 1976 by four engineers from the bankrupt Diamond-REO truck company. Spartan designed and manufactured a custom cabover chassis for fire services. Like Duplex, Hendrickson, Oshkosh and Pemfab, Spartan supplied chassis to apparatus body manufacturers - this market niche falls between custom apparatus built entirely by apparatus manufacturers (like Pierce or E-One) and commercial chassis rigs like Ford, Freightliner or GMC. Unlike their specialty competitors, Spartan would build chassis to end-user specifications, enabling smaller body manufacturers to offer a custom apparatus option. The Spartan chassis was popular, and apparatus manufacturers throughout North America offered (and continue to offer) Spartan-chassis apparatus.
In the 1980s, Spartan also began to build custom chassis for motor homes.
Early models included the CFC, CFG and CFH chassis. The Gladiator was introduced in 1983 and continues to be one of Spartan's most popular models. Other models introduced in the 1980s and 1990s included the Diamond, the Monarch, the rear-engine Silent Knight and the GT-One. The Metro Star and Advantage were introduced in the latter part of the 1990s and the Metro Star remains in production today.
Fire Body Manufacturing[]
In 1997, Spartan entered the apparatus body side of the industry through its acquisition of Luverne Fire Apparatus Ltd. of Brandon, South Dakota and Quality Manufacturing Inc. of Talladega, Alabama. Initially, the two facilities continued to operate as subsidiaries under their original names, but were merged in 2003 to form Crimson Fire. Spartan also acquired Road Rescue Inc., an ambulance manufacturer in St. Paul, Minnesota. Road Rescue was later sold to Allied Specialty Vehicles. In 2011, Spartan acquired Classic Fire of Ocala, Florida.
The last Crimson Fire branded apparatus was delivered in 2013 to Tatamy Volunteer Fire Company.
Spartan ER[]
In 2012, Spartan rebranded Crimson as Spartan ERV. In 2017/2018, Spartan Motors rebranded Spartan ERV as Spartan Emergency Response. Spartan purchased Smeal in 2016 and acquired all their brands: Smeal, Ladder Tower Company (LTC), and US Tanker.
Spartan ER and Spartan Chassis were consolidated under the Spartan Motors brand. In 2018/2019, Spartan ERV was rebranded again under the Spartan ER banner.
REV Group[]
On 03 February 2020, the REV Group announced its acquisition of Spartan ER effective 01 February 2020. Spartan Emergency Response and its brands, Spartan Fire Apparatus and Chassis, Smeal Fire Apparatus, Ladder Tower (LTC), and US Tanker (UST), will immediately become part of REV’s Fire & Emergency (“F&E”) segment. REV Group also purchased the rights to the “Spartan” name and logo, which it is licensing back to Spartan Motors for its RV chassis business.
Timeline[]
| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 1975 | Spartan is founded by four young engineers from the Diamond Reo Truck Company. |
| 1997 | Spartan acquires Luverne and Quality. |
| 2003 | Luverne and Quality are merged to form Crimson Fire. |
| 2011 | Spartan purchases Classic Fire. |
| Late 2012 | Crimson Fire is rebranded as Spartan ERV. |
| 2017 | Spartan acquires Smeal, LTC and US Tanker. Spartan ERV and Spartan Chassis are consolidated under the Spartan Motors brand. |
| 2018/19 | Spartan ERV is re-branded as Spartan Emergency Response (Spartan ER). |
| February 2020 | Spartan ER and its subsidiaries and brands are acquired by REV Group. |
In 2020 the remainder of the business units not acquired by REV Group rebranded under the name The Shyft Group. These included:
- Royal Truck Body,
- General Truck Body,
- Strobes-R-Us,
- Utilimaster,
- Duramag,
- Spartan RV Chassis, and;
- Builtmore Contract Manufacturing.
Products[]
Spartan Emergency Response sells a full line of pumpers, aerial devices, tankers, rescues and brush trucks on custom Spartan and commercial chassis through a Western Hemisphere-wide dealer network. Major customers include Chicago Fire Department, Philadelphia Fire Department, Houston Fire Department, and Toronto Fire Services. The company has also received major contracts from Peru, Chile and Brazil.
Custom Chassis[]
Current Models[]
- Spartan Gladiator (1983-Present)
- Spartan Metro Star (1991-Present)
- Spartan Sirius (2004-Present)
- Spartan FC-94 (2020-Present)
Discontinued Models[]
- Spartan Advantage (1996-2010)
- Spartan Advantage "Big Easy" (2003-2007)
- Spartan Baron (199? -????)
- Spartan Charger (199? -????)
- Spartan Diamond (1989-2007?)
- Spartan Furion (2007-2012)
- Spartan GT-One (1995-1997)
- Spartan Monarch (1987-1994)
- Spartan Metro Star-X
- Spartan Silent Knight (1990-?)
Cab Lengths[]
- ER - Two Door (77.10")
- LTD - Long Two Door (+33")
- SMFD - Short Medium Four Door (+45")
- MFD - Medium Four Door (+54")
- EMFD - Extended Medium Four Door (+60")
- LFD - Long Four Door (+67.5")
- ELFD - Extended Long Four Door (+74")
Measurements are from front-wheel centerline to back of cab (except the ER which is bumper to back of cab.)
Roof Configurations[]
- flat
- 5" raised
- 10" raised (shown above)
- 20" raised
- 24" raised
Evolution Fascia Option[]
The Evolution is a front fascia design available on Gladiator and Metro Star cabs. It is standard on the Metro Star-RT cab. It provides a "more modern design" to the cab front.
Aerials[]
Ladders[]
| 75' Rear-Mount Ladder | 75' Rear-Mount Ladder | 100' Rear-Mount Ladder | 105' Rear-Mount Ladder | 107' Smart Reach Ladder | 110' Rear-Mount Ladder | NXT 110' Aerial | 125' Rear-Mount Ladder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Smeal | Ladder Tower | Smeal | Smeal | Smeal | Ladder Tower | Ladder Tower | Smeal |
| Rear Axle | Single or Tandem | Single | Tandem | Tandem | Tandem | Tandem | Tandem | Tandem |
| Aerial Extension Capacity | 75' vertical 71'-6" horizontal |
75' vertical 66' horizontal |
100' vertical 97' horizontal |
105' vertical 101'-5" horizontal |
107' vertical 101'-5" horizontal |
110' vertical 99' horizontal |
110' vertical 99' horizontal |
125' vertical 121' horizontal |
| Operating Range | -6° to 72° | -7° to 78° | -6° to 72° | -8° to 72° | -8° to 72° | -7° to 78° | -7° to 78° | -12° to 72° |
| Payload Capacity | 750 lbs dry or wet | 500 lbs dry or wet | 500 lbs dry or wet | 750 lbs dry or wet | 750 lbs dry or wet | 750/500 lbs dry/wet (14' jack spread) 500/250 lbs dry/wet (12' jack spread) |
750/500 lbs dry/wet (14' jack spread) 500/250 lbs dry/wet (12' jack spread) |
750 lbs dry or wet |
| Water Flow Capacity | 1500 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 1250 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 1500 US GPM |
| Stabilizers | 1 set of H-style outriggers (18' jack spread) w/ optional 2 downriggers | 1 set of H-style outriggers (14' jack spread) | 1 set of H-style outriggers (18' jack spread) w/ 2 downriggers | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (16' or 18' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (16' or 18' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (12' or 14' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (12' or 14' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' spread) |
| Body Styles | Quint or truck | Quint or truck | Quint or truck | Quint or truck | Quint or truck | Quint or truck | Quint (equipped with NXT pump) | Quint or truck |
| Tank Capacity | Up to 600 USG (tandem axle) | Up to 500 USG | Up to 600 USG | Up to 600 USG | Up to 500 USG |
Platforms[]
| 85' Mid-Mount Platform | 93' Mid-Mount Platform | 100' Mid-Mount Platform | 100' Rear-Mount Platform | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Smeal | Ladder Tower | Smeal | Smeal |
| Aerial Extension Capacity | 85' vertical 81' horizontal |
93' vertical 88'-6" horizontal |
100' vertical 99' horizontal |
100' vertical 98' horizontal |
| Operating Range | -12° to 72° | -10° to 78° | -12° to 72° | -12° to 72° |
| Payload Capacity | 1000 lbs dry 500 lbs wet |
1000 lbs dry 500 lbs wet |
1000 lbs dry 500 lbs wet |
1250 lbs dry 500 lbs wet |
| Water Flow Capacity | 1500 US GPM | 2000 US GPM | 1500 US GPM | 2000 US GPM |
| Stabilizers | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' front spread, 16' rear spread) w/ 2 front bumper downriggers | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' spread) |
| Body Styles | Quint or truck style | Quint or truck style | Quint or truck style | Quint or truck style |
| Tank Capacity | Up to 300 USG | Up to 300 USG | Up to 400 USG |
Booms[]
| Model | Brand | Ladder Reach | Operating Range | Payload / Flow Capacity | Stabilizers | Tank Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28' Boomer[1] | Crimson | 28' | -10° to 90° | 1000 lbs/ ? | None | |
| 50' and 65' TeleSqurt | Ladder Tower | 50' and 65' vertical / 42' and 60' horizontal | -10° to 85° | 750/250 lbs dry/wet / 1000 US GPM | 1 or 2 sets of A-frame outriggers (11'-9" spread) | |
| 54' Squrt | Ladder Tower | 54' vertical / 45' horizontal | N/A | N/A / 1000 US GPM | 1 set of A-frame outriggers (11'-9" spread) | |
| 55' Snorkel | Ladder Tower | 55' vertical / 32' horizontal | N/A | 750/500 lbs dry/wet / 1000 US GPM | 2 sets of A-frame outriggers (11'-9" spread) |
Tractor-Drawn Aerials[]
| Model | Brand | Ladder Reach | Operating Range | Payload / Flow Capacity | Stabilizers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100' Tractor-Drawn Aerial | Ladder Tower | 100' vertical / 94'-5" horizontal | -2° to 75° | 250 or 500 lbs / no waterway | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (14' or 16' spread) |
| 105' Tractor-Drawn Aerial | Ladder Tower | 105' vertical / 100' horizontal | -7° to 78° | 500/250 lbs dry/wet / 1000 US GPM | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (16' spread) |
Discontinued Aerials[]
The LTC brand discontinued the:
- 75' TeleSqurt
The Crimson brand discontinued the:
- 28' Boomer
The Smeal brand discontinued the:
| 55' Rear-Mount Ladder | 85' Rear-Mount Platform | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Axle | Single | Tandem |
| Aerial Extension Capacity | 55' vertical 50' horizontal |
85' vertical 81' horizontal |
| Operating Range | -6° to 72° | -12° to 72° |
| Payload Capacity | 500 lbs dry or wet | 1250 lbs dry 500 lbs wet |
| Water Flow Capacity | 1250 US GPM | 2000 US GPM |
| Stabilizers | 1 set of H-style outriggers (13'-6" jack spread) | 2 sets of H-style outriggers (18' spread) |
| Body Styles | Quint or truck style | Quint or truck style |
| Tank Capacity | Up to 750 USG | Up to 400 USG |
The Spartan ERV brand of aerial products was discontinued upon re-branding.
- 75' Rear-Mount Ladder
- 75' Mid-Mount Platform
- 93' Mid-Mount Platform
- 100' and 103' Tractor-Drawn Aerial
- 100' Mid- and Rear- Mount Platform
- 103' Rear-Mount Ladder
Quick Delivery Pumpers[]
Commercial Pumpers[]
- Side-Mount
- Top-Mount
Custom Pumpers[]
- Intelligent Pump Solutions [2] (IPS-NXT)
- Transformer
- Side-Mount
- Top-Mount
- Top-Mount Enclosed
- Rear-Mount
Rescues[]
- Walk-in
- Walk-around
Tankers[]
US Tanker[]
- Heritage dry-side tanker
- Heritage wet-side tanker
- Patriot elliptical tanker
Wildland Apparatus[]
- Water Tender
- Types 3 and 4
References[]
- ↑ Crimson Fire introduces the Boomer. FireRescue1.com. May 9, 2007. Retrieved Oct. 4, 2021.
- ↑ Spartan Emergency Response Introduces the IPS-NXT. fireapparatusmagazine.com. Apr. 25, 2019. Retrieved Feb. 19, 2022.