Crimson Fire Debuts One-of-a-Kind Wildfire Interface Unit

Custom Pumper Features Pump-and-Roll Technology, All-Terrain Suspension to Battle Forest Fires

CHARLOTTE, Mich., April 3 -- Deadwood, S.D., home to the legendary Wild West outlaw Wild Bill Hickock, will be the new home of the toughest truck in the West -- and forest fires are running scared.

Crimson Fire, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , today unveiled a custom-built all-terrain fire truck featuring an enhanced heavy duty suspension, four-wheel drive and an innovative new compressed air foam pump system that allows the truck to battle forest fires while on the move and with less water. The Wildfire Interface Unit by Crimson Fire will be on display at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Apr. 3-5.

The custom truck was designed and built to serve the Black Hills region of South Dakota which, like many other areas of the country, is characterized by mountainous terrain, limited water resources, and the need for mobility while battling forest fires. Crimson Fire teamed with leading pump maker W.S. Darley & Company to develop the Wildfire Interface Unit's innovative foam pump system that allows for continuous flow while the vehicle is moving. This proprietary technology is a new development that, when combined with the rugged responsiveness of the Wildfire Interface Unit, is a major step forward in battling forest fires.

"The Wildfire Interface Unit was co-developed with the Deadwood, South Dakota firefighting team and was built by listening to their needs and the limitations of their existing equipment, and simply designing a better truck," said Jeff Lautt, president of Crimson Fire. "This unit is a great example of the engineering expertise and custom-built approach that sets Crimson Fire apart. We build emergency vehicles specific to a situation or department, we partner with suppliers for the latest innovations and applications, and the result is better performance, better responsiveness and a truck that fits the individual needs of a fire district."

Crimson Fire specializes in producing custom built fire trucks for rural communities as well as major metropolitan areas. The Company's products include Tor-Max(TM) Body Structure, Vibra-Torq(TM) Mounting System and MultiPlex Electrical System that provide safety, reliability and durability. Crimson Fire has over 130 years of experience manufacturing fire apparatuses and is known for quality, value, innovation and service.

About Crimson Fire

Crimson Fire, a Spartan Motors company, is a leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles, representing quality, value and innovation. Crimson Fire was established in 2003, when Spartan Motors, Inc. merged its two fire apparatus-building subsidiaries, Quality Manufacturing and Luverne Fire Apparatus. Crimson Fire is headquartered in Brandon, South Dakota, and draws on more than 130 years of combined history and excellence in fire truck manufacturing.

About Spartan Motors

Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire truck, ambulance and emergency-rescue markets. The company's brand names -- Spartan(R), Crimson Fire(R) and Road Rescue(R) -- are known in their market niches for quality, innovation, value and service. Spartan Motors employs more than 750 at facilities in Michigan, South Dakota, Alabama, Minnesota and South Carolina and is publicly traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market.

NOTE TO EDITORS: See Crimson Fire products at FDIC in Booth #2427 & #2627.