Stockton’s new fire truck has arrived

Stockton Sentinel – September 19, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – September 26, 2013

Through donations from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Stockton Car Show and other fundraisers, a total of $45,000.00 had been raised to help with the purchase of a new fire truck for the City of Stockton. The remainder of the money ($63,000.00) for the fire truck was paid for out of the Stockton City Gifts Funds, with the loan to be paid back over the next four years at a rate of .25% interest.

The 2013 Ford F-550, 500-gallon tank brush unit truck was ordered last November 2012 and arrived in Stockton on Friday, September 6, 2013. Weis Fire of Salina built the truck.

This vehicle adds to the City’s feet, which includes an existing brush truck, two pumper trucks, two water tankers and one rescue truck.

The truck is equipped with a front mount monitor that can be activated by the driver. This means that the department can start putting out a fire before the volunteers even step out of the vehicle since the nozzle can be directed to start spraying out a stream of water from the 500-gallon tank. The updates also include a rear pump monitor, LED signals and floodlights mounted on the cab and in the back, and fire hoses that are made of lighter material, making them easier to handle.

And it didn’t take long to see how the new fire truck worked since it was called out on Saturday, September 7^th for a grass fire.

Fire Chief Jon Voss is excited about the new addition to the fleet, especially since some of the updates can take the place of a volunteer when manpower is at a minimum or needed elsewhere during a fire.

Hopefully, the first glimpse of the new fire truck for the public is during the SHS Homecoming Parade, but it is good to know that the vehicle is ready to roll when the fire alarm is sounded.