A new, $1.2 million ladder truck is replacing a 25-year-old piece of equipment for Columbus Fire & Rescue and, Chief Martin Andrews hopes, improving the department’s capabilities in the process.
The truck was purchased from Wisconsin-based Pierce Manufacturing. City officials traveled to Appleton, Wisconsin, a few weeks ago to inspect the truck prior to delivery.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith said the truck was delivered to Horn Lake on Tuesday and arrived in Columbus on Wednesday. The department conducted Mississippi State Rating Bureau-mandated testing early Wednesday afternoon before celebrating the truck’s arrival at Fire Station 1.
“It’s a great investment for the city and will be used very wisely,” Smith said. “It will reach any building within the city.
“This is a great asset,” Smith later added.
The ladder truck boasts a 1,500 gallon per minute pumping rate, compared to the 1,250 gallon per minute rate of its predecessor. The ladder is 100 feet, compared to the old truck’s 95 feet, and Andrews said its more narrow design should allow firefighters to maneuver it into more difficult-to-reach places.
Andrews said he’s happy to have the truck.
“It’s a great feeling, being on the cutting edge of technology,” Andrews said. “We’re better able to serve the community and will allow us to keep our firefighters safer while they’re performing their jobs.
“This will also help us maintain our Class 4 rating with the State Rating Bureau,” he added.
The old ladder truck entered service in 1990. Andrews said the truck reached 25 years of service this year, and the rating bureau stops giving credit for first-line ladder trucks that are more than 25 years old. He said the department purchased the new truck because it plays a significant role in the city maintaining its fire rating, which helps keep fire insurance trucks.
“We’re going to keep the other truck as a backup unit because it’s in such good shape,” Andrews said.
The new truck will primarily serve the downtown area, but Andrews said it will also be used as needed at healthcare facilities, schools, retirement homes or other places as needed.
Smith lauded the fire department’s involvement in the process. He said some city officials went to Appleton to inspect the truck after it rolled off the assembly line. He said firefighters inspected it from top to bottom and made sure to point out any damage or flaws.
Andrews said a committee of 8 firefighters, along with truck salesman Mark Flanigan, designed the truck.
“They actually designed everything on it,” Andrews said. “This truck was specifically designed for the department.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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