Pierre Receives New Fire Truck
PIERRE, S.D. – The Pierre Volunteer Fire Department has a new fire engine. It arrived in Pierre on Thursday, December 8 and, thanks to some late night work by the volunteer staff, was ready to operate the next day.
“Whenever we get a new truck, there are steps we need to take before the truck is response-ready,” said Fire Chief Ian Paul. “Before we can send it out in the field, we install hand tools, fill it with water and get the team trained up on the equipment.”
“The team is very excited about this new piece of equipment and was happy to put in a few hours last night to get it ready.”
The new truck, Engine 3, is equipped with an enclosed pump panel. The pump panel controls the water flow from the truck to the fire and requires an operator. The enclosed panel protects the operator from extreme temperatures and smoke conditions during a fire response.
The new engine replaces an old truck that had been in service for more than 20 years. The old truck has been sold to the Arlington Fire Department.
Including Engine 3, the Pierre Volunteer Fire Department has four fire engines, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue truck and two rescue boats staged throughout the community. The Department has approximately 60 members. Those volunteers respond to about 190 emergency calls each year.