TOMBALL FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES "SPECIAL" CREW MEMBER TODAY
TOMBALL - The Tomball Fire Department has taken delivery of the newest member of its fleet after the truck completed the journey to Tomball from Pierce Manufacturing Company in Appleton, Wisconsin. An official âwelcomingâ ceremony will take place on Friday, December 9 at 4:00 at the Central Fire Station at1200 Rudel in Tomball.
The new unit with its call sign of Engine 1, took about 10 months to design, engineer and manufacture. The process of developing the specifications for the new apparatus that will meet the future needs of the growing area began early in 2011 when a committee was formed to make recommendations for the features to be included on the truck. Meetings were held with the manufacturerâs representative for the area to determine the feasibility of some of the ideas from the committee. âFor us, the basic design was relatively simple as we already have a truck with the basic specifications that have proven themselves to the Departmentâs members,â said Fire Chief Randy Parr. âWe took the majority of the specifications from a previously purchased truck and gave them to the committee to evaluate for suggestions for the new pumper,â he added. âThe comments and suggestions were forwarded to Pierce to see if they could be efficiently incorporated into the new truck,â said Assistant Chief Jon Fontenot. After a review of the final plans and specifications by the committee, Parr and Fontenot met with the Pierce representatives in May to sign off on the plans.
After the truck was completed, Parr, Fontenot and Truck Committee member James Jones traveled to Wisconsin for the final inspection. Pierce then delivered the truck to its local dealer, Siddons-Martin for final equipment installation and delivery.
With the Departmentâs staffing model, each apparatus is required to have multiple capabilities. This new truck is no exception. While the truckâs primary responsibility is that of a Class âAâ pumper, laying lines from hydrants and providing hand-lines for firefighting, it can also function as a heavy rescue truck. The truck carries two hydraulic pumps to operate the multiple rescue tools that are being carried. The truck also has the capability to refill the breathing air cylinders used by firefighters during building fires.
Wisconsin Engine Specs - News
The new unit with its call sign of Engine 1, took about 10 months to design, engineer and manufacture. The process of developing the specifications for the new apparatus that will meet the future needs of the growing area began early in 2011 when a
"You look in the room and there are literally hundreds of colors to choose from," said Batallion Chief Ari Delay, who headed the new engine committee, pouring months into engine specifications. "It's hard to choose when they all look red.
He decided to look for a different powerplant and in 1999 purchased a second-hand Pratt and Whitney PT6 turboprop engine with 550 horsepower at the Oskosh, Wisconsin Air Show. “It weighs 100 pounds less, but has 250 more horsepower,'' he says.