The Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District has just acquired a new 3,000-gallon tender truck – commonly called a tanker truck – through an Assistance to Fire Fighter grant available through FEMA.
Chief Bradley George said Friday the new 2016 model truck was won after Paint Creek applied for the grant in 2014 and was awarded it in August 2015.
The truck was purchased from All American Fire Equipment in Washington Court House, and Charlie Chapman, vice president of operations for All American – who, like All American president Jeff Vossler, is a Highland County resident – was on hand Friday as firefighters underwent one of three days of training on the new equipment at the new fire station in Hillsboro.
George, assistant chief Dave Manning and Lt. John Strain visited the factory recently for final inspection of the truck, which was delivered to Paint Creek at its board meeting Tuesday.
Grant money covers about $271,000 of the total price of $310,000 for the truck, said George.
He said Paint Creek spent additional funds to further upgrade the truck, including increasing a standard 750-gallon-a-minute pump to one capable of pumping 1,250 gallons a minute. George said the new truck will be stationed in Hillsboro.
With the acquisition of the new truck, a 30-year-old engine will be retired by the department, said George.
According to FEMA, the primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants “is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire-related hazards by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTA) for critically needed resources to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operations efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.”
Reach Gary Abernathy at 937-393-3456 or on Twitter @abernathygary.
