The pumper was purchased with the help of the Congressional Delegation’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant provided $500,000 towards the new pumper. The E-One pumper is replacing a pumper bought secondhand in 1988 from the Valley Falls Fire Department, according to Diossa’s office. The old pumper has been removed from service and will be donated to Guatemala.

Reed is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. He wrote a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency, who offers the grant, in support of the application to provide funding for the new pumper. The grant is utilized by fire departments and emergency medical services to purchase new vehicles or equipment.

As a result, earlier last December, the fire department began developing a pilot program designed to enhance responses to mainly medical emergencies, reduce the wear and tear on fire engines, and save on fuel cost. With this new initiative a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) will be placed into service in February and begin responding to medical calls within the city limits, in a support role only to Bryan County EMS.

The fire department says it's 23-year-old standby engine is ready to be retired to keep their fleet reliable, but a replacement comes with a hefty price tag of $450,000 dollars.

That money will come from the city budget paid for by you, the taxpayer.