TUTWILER — The Tutwiler Fire Department now has a new pumper truck as part of its firefighting arsenal.
Town officials took delivery of the 2016 E-ONE apparatus, which is built on a Freightliner chassis, early Friday afternoon.
The bright red truck, which boasts 1,000-gallon water and 30-gallon foam holding tanks, was purchased from Sunbelt Fire Inc. of Fairhope, Alabama, for $224,996.
Tutwiler Fire Chief Richard Gipson said the town acquired the truck as part of a Tallahatchie County application in Round 11 of Mississippi’s Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program, a supplementary state fund in the Department of Insurance that aids in the purchase of fire trucks and tanks for local entities statewide.
The state program contributed $70,000 toward the purchase of the Tutwiler truck, the town utilized $30,000 in fire insurance rebate funds received by the municipality from the state, and the balance came from the town’s general fund, Gipson explained.
Sunbelt Fire sales rep Alan Gho said Tutwiler’s new truck should be a dependable firefighting weapon.
“This truck has an all-extruded aluminum body that is lightweight yet strong and will not rust,” he noted. “The foam capability means that by using a combination of foam and water, you will use less water to put the fire out.”
Gipson said the 2016 truck will become Tutwiler’s primary firefighting vehicle for calls within the town limits.
“Hopefully, this new truck will help us to be able to get our insurance [risk] rating down lower,” the chief noted. “We’re at 8 now, and we hope to get it down to a 7 or 6.”
In addition to the new apparatus, Gipson said there is an increased diligence about conducting regular flow tests on the town’s fire hydrants, getting the fire department’s water hoses pressure-tested, having fire trucks’ water pumps checked annually and engaging in more in-service training.
“All of this should help our efforts to lower the town’s rating, which will benefit the citizens if we are successful,” Gipson noted.
Gipson said the new pumper truck will replace a 1989 Ford 800 series vehicle that has been passed down to the Tutwiler Public Works Department. Its 1,000-gallon tank and pumping capabilities will be used for such chores as unclogging drains and culverts and sweeping the streets, he explained.
The 12-member volunteer fire department also has a 2005 Kenworth pumper truck with 1,250-gallon water tank that will be used on rural fire runs to adjacent areas.
IN THE PHOTO: Pictured with the Tutwiler Fire Department’s new pumper truck Friday afternoon are, in front (from left), firefighter Cary Hayes, Ward 5 Alderwoman Donnie Cox Powell, Ward 3 Alderman James Farmer, Assistant Fire Chief Gregory Buchanan, Charles Gho, Sunbelt Fire sales rep Alan Gho, Ward 2 Alderman and Vice Mayor Christopher Hooper and Ward 4 Alderwoman Dianne Pimpton. Standing on the truck are (front to back) Fire Chief Richard Gipson and firefighters Lucious Walker and Melvin Johnson. (Photo by Clay McFerrin)
