Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company will unveil a brand-new fire engine at 4 p.m. Sunday, replacing an aged 1994 model with a red 2022 Pierce Enforcer, WinchesterStar.com reported. 

The arrival of the $615,000 engine marks the first unused piece of equipment the fire company in western Frederick County has purchased in several decades, the report said.

The modernized fire engine combines safety features for the benefit of fire and rescue personnel with efficiency enhancements to quicken response times, the report said. Its capabilities include increased turning radius and horse power, as well as greater compartmentalization so firefighters can respond to calls with more equipment and gear, according to the report. 

The permanent pump on the Pierce Enforcer has a capacity of 1,500-gallons-per-minute. Its tank can hold up to 1,000 gallons at one time. 

Douglas Fire Department honored early firefighters with a push-in ceremony Tuesday, the city announced in a news release. While Push-In Ceremonies have been held at fire stations for generations, this is the first that Douglas Fire Department has held one to welcome a new fire truck to Fire Station No. 2. 

“We are here today to honor early firefighters,” said Douglas Fire Chief Casey Wright. “We are excited to hold this Push-In Ceremony to share a part of fire service history with you.”

Fire Department Push-In Ceremonies date back to the early years of firefighting when horse-drawn steamer engines were the new fire trucks. Horses would not walk backward while the steamer engine was attached so when a new steamer engine was delivered, firefighters would have to push it into the fire station.

“Our firefighters bravely face danger when entering a burning structure without hesitation,” said Mayor Tony Paulk. “This new fire truck will help our Douglas team continue to provide safe fire protection for everyone.”

Words of encouragement were provided by firefighter and Pastor Marshall Dye of Jowers Chapel Church in Coffee County. First Assembly of God Pastor Marshall Adcock, who is the Douglas Fire Department Chaplain and Volunteer Firefighter, offered a prayer for the safety of all firefighters and the community. Following remarks, Douglas firefighters, Coffee County Firefighters, Coffee County EMS, and local dignitaries took part in pushing the new fire truck into the station.

The new fire truck is a Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper that has a 1,000 gallon water tank and is capable of pumping 1,500 gallons per minute.

In the coming days, approximately 1,200 Slocomb water customers will receive, along with their monthly bill, a flyer from Slocomb Fire and Rescue asking residents to donate money to help replace a pumper truck, wdhn.com reported.

The funds will be earmarked to replace fire engine 4, which has served for almost 34 years and has reached its end, the report said.

The fire department says it’s important to get a new truck not only for the city but will help in fighting mutual aid fires, according to the report.

If citizens would like to donate to a new fire truck, they can fill out the flyer, which will come in the mail with their water bill, and drop it off at Slocomb City Hall, or at the water board office.

By Alan M. Petrillo

The Go Green Clean Cancer Awareness and Prevention Program is using a donated Alexis Fire Equipment pumper to educate firefighters and fire departments about the risk of carcinogens at fire scenes and distribute decon equipment for gross decon turnout gear at fire incidents.

John L. Swan, chief at Colona (IL) Fire Protection District and past president of the Illinois Firefighters Association, founded the program, which is registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Swan points out the program’s mission statement says the initiative is dedicated to developing and promoting an effective health intervention program to reduce the risks of cancer to firefighters at the local, state and national levels.

As part of the program, Swan accepted the donation of an Alexis pumper used to carry and distribute the decon equipment, which is then donated to fire departments after they go through a brief training on its use.

“We want to provide training and educational materials to all firefighters to raise their awareness of the firefighter cancer crisis,” Swan says. “So the program assists in the procurement of equipment necessary for post-fire or post-exposure cleaning and decontamination.”

Jeff Morris, president of Alexis Fire Equipment, notes that the pumper his company donated to the Go Green Clean program is a 1995 engine built on an HME chassis and cab with a 1,250-gallon per minute (gpm) pump and a 750-gallon water tank. “The pumper is a fully functioning unit that was originally built for Rochelle (IL) Fire Department,” Morris observes. “Whe