That truck and Engine 9, from 1989, will be replaced in the next few weeks by the new vehicles. The retired engines will be used as backup trucks. The new vehicles cost about $1 million combined, and the fire chief noted this is the first time since 1997 the Fire Department received more than one apparatus at a single time.The new trucks - E-One Cyclone custom pumpers – were blessed with holy water by the Rev. Walter Riley in a short service Tuesday morning at Fire Department headquarters on Grove Street.“Watch over those who use these vehicles from this day forward,” the department chaplain said as he spritzed the fronts of the cabs.Dignitaries at the ceremony included City Councilors Khrystian King and Kathleen Toomey, City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. and District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.“There are so many tough jobs that we ask our public employees to do, it’s incumbent upon us to make sure they have the resources and equipment to do the job right,” Mr. Augustus said in his remarks.

“I need to thank the people of Middleton who understood the importance of and approved this new truck.”Town Administrator Andy Sheehan echoed Twiss’ gratitude. “It is a great asset to the Town.”A custom designThe truck took 380 days to build, specifically for Middleton’s requirements at a cost of $461,660.“This truck carries 950 gallons of water and 50 gallons of foam,” noted Twiss, who traveled to Pennsylvania to do the final inspection of the new fire engine before it was delivered.“The foam is important, especially in a commercial, industrial or roadway setting, because it allows us to at least make an initial attack. We can and will still call for the regional foam truck, but when you consider the traffic on the roads these days, it can take a long time to get here. With the foam on board we have a chance to control the situation faster,” explained Twiss.The Middleton fire chief shows off the tools of the new fire truck with great pride as he played a key role in designing it. He cites important elements and technologies like the on-board generator, more hose and the enhanced scene lighting features. Even the location and ease of use of the control panel is important as it makes the firefighter’s jobs easier and faster when just seconds can make a big difference in saving a life or controlling a fire.

The new piece of equipment has built in foam dispensers and is equipped with the latest and greatest gadgets.

While putting out fires is this engine’s main function, it comes with an additional benefit for the community.

“Every community goes through a rating system by the insurance companies that are called property protection class ratings and we went through a review and they were expecting this truck in that review and we improved our rating,” said Gladstone Public Safety Director Paul Geyer. “So people that pay home owner’s insurance and business insurance, the better rating we have, the better rates they get on their home owner’s insurance. It’s helping out the community in more ways than one.”

The department hopes the new truck will exceed the typical lifespan due to the high craftsmanship.

According to West, the truck has a 400-gallon water tank, a 10-gallon foam tank and will be used as the department's first out truck for all types of emergencies, including vehicle accidents, farming incidents and wildland and structure fires.

The department's previous truck was a 1985 truck that had passed through many departments prior to finding a home with Trout Creek.

"It is good to now have a dependable vehicle that can help us to serve our community with greater capacity and be a safer response vehicle for our volunteers," said West.

Texas A&M Forest Service is committed to protecting lives and property through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, a cost-share program funded by the Texas State Legislature and administered by Texas A&M Forest Service.