The Salem Fire Protection District has a new Class A pumper.
Fire Chief Dave Duncan says the pumper will replace a 35-year-old pumper and not only has firefighting capabilities but also carries rescue equipment.
“It will be the first out engine on most all structure fires and many other incidents like traffic crashes and so forth.”
Duncan notes this is the first new truck for the district in 12 years, with a goal of replacing a unit every ten years.
Fire Trustee President Mike Squibb says the pumper was custom built and equipped to specifically serve the needs of the Salem Fire Protection District.
“ISO requires us to have a certain amount of pumping capabilities. This truck and the next truck behind it will meet those requirements to maintain our Class Three. It also allows us to serve a large rural district and with that rural district the 2,000 gallons of water on this truck plus the next truck has 2,000 gallons of water. It allows us to really hit hard and hit fast. Rescue and fire go hand in hand. Fire we try and save all we can. Rescue we can save lives every time.
Squibb notes firefighting is expensive. It costs about $10,000 to equip each fireman and the new truck is costing the district about $650,000.
“We were able to secure this truck with financing from USDA Rural Development and we have been saving and planning. There will be no bond issue or tax referendum is involved with this. This is part of our operational planning.”
A committee comprised of Chief Dave Duncan, Assistant Chief James Cerny, Deputy Assistant Chief Greg Miller, Captain Bryan McIntosh, and Engineer Mark Lee outlined the needs and capacities needed, then compiled specifications for the bid process.
Sentinel Emergency Solutions of St. Louis, MO was awarded the bid and the pumper was built by Rosenbauer South Dakota LLC in Lyons, South Dakota for which Sentinel Emergencies Solutions is a dealer.
The public is invited to stop by the Salem Fire Protection District and look at the new piece of firefighting equipment anytime between 7 am and 7 pm.
The controls for the new Pumper Truck at the Salem Fire Protection District.
One of many equipment compartments on the new pumper truck.
