Afterwards, tours were given of the new facility, located at 1450 State Highway 95 between Elgin and Bastrop, across the highway from Camp Swift. 

“From the 2011 Bastrop Complex Fire, very few good things came, but this is one of them,” said Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape. 

Funding for the station came after a wildfire burned 34,000 acres in 2011 from the state and federal governments. There will be five paid firefighters at this station now, with five trucks. 

Chief Daryl Blair explained that the new truck has 30 percent more compartment space, full air bags and a shorter wheel base that better allows for tighter turns on narrow city streets.

The original price for the truck was over a half million dollars, according to Cookeville City Manager Mike Davidson.

The city had budgeted $450,000 for a new truck, but Davidson said that he believed Chief Blair could make up the $19,650 elsewhere in the fire department budget.

Chief Daryl Blair explained that the new truck has 30 percent more compartment space, full air bags and a shorter wheel base that better allows for tighter turns on narrow city streets.The original price for the truck was over a half million dollars, according to Cookeville City Manager Mike Davidson.

The city had budgeted $450,000 for a new truck, but Davidson said that he believed Chief Blair could make up the $19,650 elsewhere in the fire department budget.