According to a report from WLBT, the McComb (MS) Fire Department (MFD) recently lost one of its spare fire trucks after it broke down. MFD Chief Gary McKenzie now says the loss has put the city close to a “crisis level” if one more truck malfunctions.

McComb leaders are now trying to find the money needed to fill that void for the city. However, this need has become more common all over the state. Many Mississippi fire departments just don’t have the funds to buy new trucks.

Copiah County Emergency Operations Center Director Randle Drane said that this issue is affecting all of his county’s departments, even with the state’s Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance funds. although the national Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) offers a lot more money to departments that need it, the municipality or county must match 5 percent of the cost if they’re able to acquire the grant.

Even with the matching of funds, small fire departments and counties often don’t have the thousands of dollars it still takes to get a truck, which could run anywhere from $300,000 up to a $1 million, depending on the type of apparatus needed.

When grant writer, attorney and firefighter Jared Evans joined up in 2001, his department had two trucks that dated back to the 1950s. He says that some of those trucks are still in use around the state today, some dating as far back as the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Evans, who specializes in writing AFGs, said many departments that could get the grant are convinced they won’t, and he encourages them to try anyway.

The post The McComb (MS) Fire Department, Among Others, in Need of a New Truck appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from KHOU, a suspected intoxicated driver was arrested after trying to strike a Harris County (TX) deputy with his vehicle, crashing into a fire truck, and leading several other deputies on a brief chase through the eastern part of the county.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Paul Bruce said the deputy who was working at a car crash site in the 16600 block of Wallisville Road was directing traffic away from the crash. The deputy then tried to stop a vehicle. 

The deputy was not injured.

Bruce said the driver then attempted to hit the deputy before crashing into an on-scene fire truck. The driver then reversed his vehicle and crashed into the fire truck a second time. The driver then drove away, and a chase began. 

The chase lasted several minutes before the driver crashed out at a dead-end road in the 21000 block of Rio Villa Drive. The driver exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but he was quickly apprehended and arrested.

Bruce said the driver appeared to be intoxicated and will likely be charged with assault on a peace officer; evading arrest; and, possibly, DWI.

The post Chase Ensues After DUI Driver Attempts to Hit Deputy, Crashes into Apparatus in TX appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from 9News, the Denver (CO) Fire Department (DFD) updated the public on Saturday’s deadly crash involving one of its rescue vehicles.

The accident occurred at 1:37 p.m. at North Broadway and Speer Boulevard, according to the Denver Police Department (DPD). The DFD said its rescue vehicle was using lights and sirens on its way to a report of smoke in a building and that it the vehicle had slowed down to clear the intersection when the crash happened.

DFD said the lights were changing as the vehicle approached the intersection and slowed down.

A person in the other vehicle died, and two more people in the car were severely injured, according to the DPD. One DFD firefighter was treated for a knee injury.

A woman, Britney Garcia, who witnessed the accident as she was driving on Broadway said that, although the light was green, she stopped when she heard a siren. However, Garcia said another car failed to stop, and was “T-boned” by the DFD vehicle. 

The Denver Police Traffic Investigations Unit and the Denver District Attorney’s Office will conduct a full investigation.

The post Denver (CO) Fire Department Vehicle Involved in Deadly Crash appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

Rosenbauer America, a leading global manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, announced today the hire of Mark Fusco. Fusco will be assuming the role of Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Fusco brings more than two decades of marketing and sales experience to Rosenbauer America. Mark’s expertise includes channel development; go-to-market strategy; sales, inventory and operations planning (SIOP), precision technologies and data insight generation, amongst others areas.

“Rosenbauer is committed to providing innovative solutions for the fire industry,” said John Slawson, CEO of Rosenbauer America. “We are excited to have Mark join our team of dedicated employees.”

Fusco holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from The College of William & Mary, and a bachelor of science degree from West Virginia University. Mark will be located at Rosenbauer’s Sioux Falls, South Dakota campus.

“It is an honor to join one of the world’s leading manufacturers of firefighting technology and resources,” said Mark Fusco. “I’m thrilled to work with the valued customers, dealers and talented employees at Rosenbauer America.”

About Rosenbauer America

Rosenbauer America is a leading manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. The company offers a full line of custom and commercial pumpers, rescue pumpers, mini and rescue pumpers, tankers, aerial ladders and platforms featuring Smart Aerial Technology.

The post Rosenbauer America Welcomes New Vice President of Sales & Marketing appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

According to a report from The Coppell Gazette, the Coppell (TX) Fire Department (CFD) announced the opening of its fourth fully operational station on Tuesday, January 19. It will provide 24 hours-a-day service.

Located at 440 Northpoint Drive, Fire Station No. 4 will serve residents, businesses, and the recent increase of commercial properties on Coppell’s west side and will allow the CFD to continue to meet safe and efficient service levels; reduce emergency response times; and maintain the city’s ISO-1 rating, which determines homeowner and business insurance premiums.

CFD Chief Kevin Richardson said that the new station has been a project several years in the making. He attributed the new station to allowing the CFD to save lives and decrease property damage, exceeding industry and community service standards.

Fire Station No. 4 features three apparatus bays; all-day living and working accommodations for on-duty firefighters; and a 5,000-square-foot attached centralized resource management facility, which will primarily be used for apparatus, supplies, tools, and equipment storage.

There is a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony expected sometime in February.

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