Once the money is approved, and city administration gives the OK to make the purchase, it’s just a matter of making a phone call to get the ball rolling in having the city’s newest fire engine built, Fire Chief Guy Santone said.  

“It’s all spec’d out and ready to go,” Santone said, adding that he hopes to see the new rig put in service by summer.

The truck the city fire bureau wants to buy is a Pierce Manufacturing rescue pumper. The 1999 Kovatch Mobile Equipment rig it will replace as the front-line vehicle at Engine Co. 6 will become a reserve truck at the station.

They’re hoping to get it out into the community and use it to educate the public on the fire department’s history.  

“Local parades, county parades, more than likely some of the surrounding towns,” said Dimmitt VFD Cpt. David Stephens. “Fire prevention week to help educate some of the younger kids on how the fire service has changed throughout the years.”

But they said it’s going to take a lot of costly work to get it up and running again.

Robert DePalma and William Erlbacher, both of Concow, face five felony counts including looting, vehicle theft and possession of stolen property after they allegedly burglarized a Cal Fire station in Butte County, according to the news release.  

DePalma and Erlbacher were booked into jail, each in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Firefighters and EMS crew members began moving in October, Fire Chief Gene Daniels said, and they will host an open house for the public 10 a.m. Dec. 1.

 

The most immediately noticeable difference between the old fire station near City Hall and the new station at 100 Rodeo Drive is the size. At 33,000-square-feet, the facility is more than three times larger than the 9,000-square-foot building that housed fire and EMS services for about 30 years.

As the population of Los Fresnos grew, so did concern about traffic congestion and pedestrian safety as fire vehicles went in and out of the 233 S. Alamo St. location, Daniels said.

A study done by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows firefighters are nine percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the general population. They also have a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer.  

Even though firefighters have most of their skin covered on the job, Winter Haven officials say the risk of being exposed to toxic contaminants continues if they don't address decontamination on the scene. The gear they wear and take off after a job can transfer residue to the fire truck and the fire station, and eventually into their homes.