The engine truck is a rescue pumper, and responds to fire calls, motor vehicle crashes and all “high-priority” medical calls, Grenno said.The truck was purchased from Ocala, Fla.-based E-ONE, officials said. It carries the Jaws of Life equipment to rescue people who are trapped inside a vehicle, and it has advanced life support equipment such as cardiac monitors and medical equipment, Grenno said.“It’s a great truck. It’s a big truck and it’s going to serve all of our needs for the next 20 years,” the fire chief said, adding that the truck is being paid for with the ambulance revolving account, or insurance monies received by the department when patients are transported to the hospital.On Wednesday, Whitman firefighters/paramedics Steve Foster, Pat Travers, Fire Lt. Al Cunningham and Brian Trefry unveiled the new truck to the newspaper.Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Feeney said the new truck came in handy to help battle a raging, 7-alarm blaze that engulfed a wooden warehouse building in Brockton on July 14. Whitman was among a dozen area towns that provided mutual aid to Brockton for that blaze.

“It was custom designed just for us by Ferrara Fire Apparatus of Louisiana, and it took a year to build it,” said Trent Turner, a 31-year CTVFC veteran and Fire Chief for 11 years.

“In order to provide the best possible services to those we serve, our fire company takes a very proactive approach to outfitting our responders with the most up-to-date equipment that’s fiscally possible,” said Turner.

“About two years ago, Company 18’s membership approved securing a new Heavy Rescue truck to replace our older model. We’d sold the old rig in January last year, and for interim use had purchased a reserve rescue from the Wissahickon Fire Department near Ambler PA. Once the truck’s design was confirmed and the funding approved, the order was finalized. The new truck is a beauty, and we’re glad it’s here and ready for use.”

When Company 18’s new rig responded to its maiden call on May 8th, everyone was thrilled that it performed just as it was designed to do. CTVFC’s new “pride and joy” provided its crew with all of the requisite equipment needed to save multiple lives in this recent tragic multi-vehicle accident.

“Accidents on today’s roadways are very different from those of years ago,” said Turner. “Everybody’s in a hurry mode, and today’s cars and trucks are faster. They’re also more secure and better built to better absorb entrapment of the passengers.

"Today’s vehicles are what our new Heavy Rescue was made for. Outfitted with additional tools and specialized equipment, this truck is equipped to meet every possible situation to give us what we need to open, cut, saw and do whatever we need to rescue the victims from their vehicle. And when we put our new truck into the vehicular accident planning phase, it didn’t fail us during its initial call on May 8th. It did absolutely everything we needed it to do.”