By KEVIN YOUNG
GLASGOW — The East Barren Volunteer Fire Department has added a new tool to its firefighting line of defense. The department is now using the services of a newly-renovated rescue truck on calls and checks around its section of the county.
Fire Chief Frankie Pace said East Barren’s newest truck, Rescue 7, is a 2001 International 4800 rescue truck and comes as a welcome addition to the department’s six other fire engines.
He said the truck replaces the previous Rescue 7, a 1989 Ford F350, and includes many amenities that will assist members of the department with their duties, such as a two kilowatt generator and tower light that can illuminate the entire scene of an accident or a fire scene at night.
The automatic diesel truck also includes a preplumed turret nozzle mounted to the front bumper to assist in fighting grass fires. The nozzle is remote controlled from inside the cabin, which is helpful in case of an inferno, he said.
The new Rescue 7 comes equipped with extrication tools, or Jaws of Life, mounted to the front bumper as well.
“We’re the only department in the county that has the extrication tools mounted on the front bumper,” Pace said.
The truck has been in service for just a few weeks, but firefighters in the department are already very familiar it. Pace said the volunteer firefighters have completed all of the renovation work on the truck during the last two years.
“We worked on the truck here at the department, did all of the renovating and building that it needed,” he said.
By working on the 2001 truck instead of buying a brand new truck, the department was able to save thousands of dollars.
“It cost us about $40,000 to put this one into use, while a brand new truck would run anywhere from $120,000 to $125,000,” he said.
Pace said the department covers roughly 25 square miles in the area between Burkesville Road and Edmonton Road, so the addition of the new Rescue 7 will help firefighters better serve the public.
“Residents can expect that we will have better, quicker response with this truck,” he said. “We’re proud to have it in service. It’s been a long time coming.”
