Standing in front of the newly arrived Freightliner pumper-rescue truck, Fire Chief Mike Demers welcomed area firefighters. Wiscasset, Dresden, West Bath, Bath, Randolph and other area fire departments were represented. Demers said Woolwich’s first responders were very grateful to the community for its support in buying the truck last April. The vehicle was custom-built to the department’s specifications over the last nine weeks.

Edwards also reported on a health and safety upgrade that has been undertaken at minimal cost, including a laundry room with appliances donated by the Local 616 and fixtures installed in-house by the city’s electrical and plumber. The department also received a grant for a special washer.

“We got a FEMA grant for an industrial-sized, they call it an extractor, it’s just a big washer. It’s a unit that’s used to wash firefighter turnout gear so that gear cannot just be washed in a washing machine, it’s a specialized way that it has to be washed so that it doesn’t wash out the material and the chemicals that are used to protect that gear.

A contract for $3,650,828 to build Fire Station 2 for the Katy Fire Department was approved. Bass Construction Company out of Rosenberg, Texas, was awarded the contract to build the station, which was designed by Slattery Tackett Architects, LLC. Fire Chief Russell Wilson expects the station to open in late 2018, he said.

The purchase of a portable skid unit to improve KFD’s ability to respond to small outdoor fires was approved for $22,343. The skid unit will consist of a portable water tank that can be mounted to the department’s new high water vehicle, which will diversify the vehicle’s use. The vehicle itself cost about $5,000. Wilson said that buying the rig will save the city money because a skid truck can cost $80,000 or more.