The Patoka Fire Protection District has a new fire truck.
Fire Chief Blake Hyde says it was delivered on Wednesday.
“We are actually taking 2 trucks out of service. This truck carries 2500 gallons of water and has a 2000 gallon pump in it. It is replacing two trucks that do the same thing, with the only thing we are losing is the seating capacity. But with the lack of manpower and volunteers these days, we are having to consolidate our trucks to be able to serve multiple purposes. So this one can act like a pumper or a tanker if we need it to.”
And Hyde says the truck will do more on the fire scene.
“With this truck, two guys can pull up on the scene and pump 2.5 times longer than they could with one of our other engines.”
Hyde says the truck cost just under $400,000. He reports they saved for six years from their property tax revenue to be able to purchase the truck. Hyde says they did not have to borrow any money.
When the two older trucks are taken out of service, Patoka will have eight vehicles including their two ambulances.
Patoka’s new fire truck. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
