The Blackshear Fire Department (BFD) will be getting a new fire engine to help protect the lives and property of citizens.
At the August regular meeting of the Blackshear city council, BFD Fire Chief Bucky Goble confirmed the city’s current 2000 Pierce Pumper fire engine is aging out and due for replacement. The city council unanimously voted to authorize purchase of a new vehicle for the amount of $579,000.
The new fire engine will still be made in the U.S. and will be sourced from Brackett’s Fire Equipment of Rockmart, GA. The new unit will be a Spencer Freightliner M2 206 crew cab with a Hale Qmax pump that can deliver 1,500 gallons per minute.
Goble extolled the virtues of the new fire engine. “Our current truck has half compartments on the passenger side. This one will have full compartments on both sides, so more storage, which is much needed. The ladders and suction hose are also stored out of the weather between the tank,” said Goble. “It has a larger pump, 1,500 gallons per minute, and 1,000 gallon tank. This will give us increased capacity. It will also have a 200 foot hose laying in the front bumper for faster deployment.”
Financing the purchase of the new unit will be done through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The USDA program was established to assist rural communities with lowinterest loans and grants for the purchase of essential equipment, including fire trucks.
The city committed to provide any necessary matching funds required by the grant program. The 2.8% interest rate quoted to the city for the loan was also deemed favorably low.
