Published: August 19, 2008 11:05 pm      

Whitfield Fire Department gets new trucks

The Whitfield County Fire Department took delivery of three 2007 Pierce/International 1250 GPM pumper/engines recently. The cost of each engine is $ 197,914. The price includes the engines and equipment.

The need for these engines is to replace 1980 model trucks that are still being used as front line response apparatus. These 1980 models are worn out and unsafe for emergency response and are so out of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliance that it’s non-feasible to continue investing repair cost into them. These 1980 models will be put up for auction/bid.

The new engines will be assigned to Stations 2 (Varnell area), 4 (Valley Point area) and 7 (Tunnel Hill area). The areas will be better served by having more dependable and better equipped engines/pumpers.

The Whitfield County Fire Department is fortunate to have received the support of the county commissioners for the purchase of these new engines and equipment. Allowing the department to dispose of the 1980 model trucks will help cut vehicle maintenance costs and will provide better safety for firefighters. With the additions of these engines, 56 new NFPA-compliant Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) and 60 sets of firefighting turnout gear last year, the firefighters are better protected and can provide safer firefighting.