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DeLeon firemen took delivery of the
latest addition to the Volunteer Fire Department's fleet of
firefighting vehicles on Thursday afternoon, June 29, when a new
International 7300, 255 h.p. all-wheel-drive diesel truck was
delivered. The new truck, which consisted only of a cab and chassis,
was acquired at a cost of almost $75,500.
When outfitted with a 1,000 gallon water
tank and a gasoline V-6 engine powered high volume water pump and air
compressor, the truck will have the capability to fight wildfires with
either a conventional water spray, or with a powerful jet of soapy
foam that has superior fire suppression performance. It will be the
Department's first truck with foam capabilities.
The new truck, designated #436, will join
the Department's other International 7300 as a second large brush fire
fighting truck. It replaces a 1961 model Army brush fire truck, which
will likely be donated to another area volunteer fire fighting
department. In addition, the DeLeon VFD has two smaller Ford V-10
powered all-wheel-drive trucks with 250 and 300 gallon water tanks
that are also specifically designed for brush fire fighting.
Fire Chief Doyle Rone estimates it will
take three to six months for the local firemen to complete
construction of the bed, install the specially fabricated poly tank,
fabricate the pump assemblies and install the other fire fighting
equipment that will be fitted onto the rear of the new truck. He added
that numerous individuals, companies and organizations have donated
materials and components, and agreed to provide various types of
support for the construction effort.
Rone estimated the total cost to complete
the construction of the new fire truck to be in the $15-20,000 range.
He said that the Department may have to take out a relatively small
loan to complete the outfitting of the new truck. |
