Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles wanted to do more for those in the community and the firefighting fraternity that are affected by the disease.  

So he asked Public Education Specialist Jerry Craddock to look into “wrapping” a reserve vehicle in pink.

 

“In my research, I did find quite a few pink fire engines in the country,” Craddock said. “But the problem I was having was, why should we only recognize breast cancer? We should recognize all of those that are affected by all types of cancers. The color that symbolizes all types of cancers is the color lavender. I really couldn’t find another lavender fire truck. I brought this information back to the fire chief; he said run with it, but we can’t have this be at the expense of our citizens.”  

So he assembled a team from local businesses to assist. Avery Dennison developed a custom lavender wrap, and Visual Graphics and MC Sign Company provided the labor to install it at no cost to taxpayers.

The projected cost of a new Freightliner truck is $405,000 in fiscal 2020 — at a point when the old engine is 40 years. The Hendrickson has already been removed from service because of rust and brake issues that aren't worth repairing. 

A Shreveport fire truck was involved in a crash Saturday afternoon.

The fire truck was on the way to motor vehicle accident call at the time of the crash.