The Hattiesburg Fire Department recently received its newest tool for fire protection and public safety: a new, $444,000 custom pumper fire truck.
The truck, which was custom-built by Ferrara Fire Apparatus of Holden, Louisiana, was unveiled at a news conference Friday at Fire Station No. 1 on Main Street.
“This is always a (source of) excitement and pride for our city and the fire department,” Interim Fire Chief Stephen Mooney said. “With the addition of this new equipment, we will be better equipped to provide an efficient and dependable service.”
The pumper comes equipped with a Cummins ISL 450-horsepower engine, Allison 3000EVS transmission and an aluminum cab tested to 66,000 pounds. On the pump and plumbing side, the truck features a 1,000-gallon UPF poly water tank, a Hale QMAX 1,500-gallon-per-minute midship pump and an FRC Pump Boss pressure governor.
The new pumper – known as Engine Four – will replace a current truck that will now be used as a reserve truck. The addition of Engine Four brings the total number of trucks in the fire department’s fleet to 12.
“Having a new pumper truck really takes steps to help our firefighters have the equipment they need to fight fires in a growing city,” Mayor Toby Barker said. “With the addition of Engine Four, using the latest water pump technology, it’s going to really empower our firefighters to go and do their job and be safer.”
After budget talks last year, Barker and members of Hattiesburg City Council agreed to put a year-long moratorium on the purchase of new city vehicles, with the exception of vehicles for the city’s fire and police department. In addition to the new pumper, city officials recently approved the purchase of 10 new patrol cars for Hattiesburg Police Department.
“Public safety is the number one priority for a city,” Barker said. “So the council’s going to vote on a seven- year payoff plan for this (truck).
“They will use the insurance premium money rebate that we get as a city for our firefighters. So we’re really trying to take a look at our entire fleet, and try to come up with a comprehensive plan on how we’re going to replace trucks going forward.”
Fire department members and officials from the Mississippi State Rating Bureau performed water pressure testing on the truck last week in north Lake Serene, after which the MSRB gave the truck a 20-year rating.
“This fire truck has a rating that will give us 20 years to keep our (Class 4) fire rating, and it will help us do that,” Mooney said. “This has a very good, dependable pump system on it.
“It’s just one of those things that adds to our efficiency and ability to put water on the fires when we find them. (It also has) compartments to handle all the other tools, whether it be rescue tools for extrication or medical tools when we find people in need for medical services.”
The new truck is the latest in a series of upgrades for the fire department, along with plans to build a new fire station on U.S. 49.
“Currently, we’re still looking for a correct site on 49 that will accommodate that location,” Barker said. “There are some flood issues on 49, so you have to pick the right one.
“You also have to make sure it’s in an area that can reach both the commercial corridor and some of the residential areas of Hattiesburg, but also incorporate the possible annexation of 49. And so we’re trying to find the right spot to accommodate all three of those goals, and we’re working with the fire rating bureau to do that.”
