host posted on November 20, 2009 13:57
By Adam Smith
The North Jefferson News
Christmas came early for the Fultondale Fire Department this week.
On Thursday, the city received its latest public safety tool — a new pumper truck.
The truck’s arrival wasn’t exactly a surprise. The city had paid for half of the $345,000 vehicle last year and paid the rest off from this year’s budget. The white and red pumper truck was purchased from Southeastern Apparatus Sales, LLC, out of Talladega.
Fultondale Fire Chief Larry Holcomb said he and his fellow firefighters were excited about the truck’s arrival, though the department will have to outfit the truck’s amenities.
“We’re happy about it, but it’s also a headache because we’ve got to figure out where to put everything on it,” Holcomb said. “It’s going to help out the department quite a bit.”
The city used a $50,000 grant from the Alabama Forestry Commission to purchase equipment that will be added to the truck, including air packs, hoses, nozzles and firefighting tools.
Holcomb said though most of the new equipment had arrived, the department was still waiting on other pieces to be delivered.
Two months ago, the city also added a new rescue truck to its public safety fleet. Holcomb said some of the city’s public safety vehicles would be transferred to Station No. 3, located on the campus of Fultondale High School, to make room for the new truck.