The Tightwad Fire Protection District has added two new vehicles to its fleet: a 1998 pumper and a 2009 medical response unit. Both vehicles were sold to the Tightwad District for a very nominal price by the Southern Jackson County Fire Protection District headquartered at Lake Lotawana, Missouri. The Jackson County Fire Protection District, which was recently formed by the consolidation of two smaller districts, is in the process of upgrading its fleet and wanted to help neighboring districts by practically giving away its surplus vehicles. The East Lynne-Gun City Fire Protection District is receiving a smaller fire truck used for fighting brush fires. The Jackson County Fire Protection District insured the pumper on a $350,000 cost replacement basis and the ambulance on a $154,000 cost replacement basis. At the July 28th Board meeting of the Southern Jackson County District, the Tightwad District agreed to pay $5,000 for each vehicle for a total of $10,000.
The pumper, built in 1998 by American LaFrance on a Freightliner chassis, will carry 1,000 gallons of water and will pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute. The pumper acquired by the Tightwad District was in service as a reserve pumper for the Southern Jackson County District until last month when it took delivery of a new pumper. John Wilke, one of Missouri’s most experienced pump operations instructors, will provide free training on the new pumper to Tightwad firefighters.
Fire Chief Charles (Chuck) Willis said, “The acquisition of a pumper is the first step in reducing insurance rates for residents of the Tightwad District.” Currently, the Tightwad area has an insurance industry rating of 10, which is the worst possible rating for calculating insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses. To even be eligible for an insurance industry rating of 9, a community must have a pumper capable of pumping at least 1,000 gallons of water per minute. A rating of 9 also requires a community to be able to continuously pump at least 30,000 gallons of water during a two-hour period.
The medical response unit, Medic1, an ambulance built in 2009 on a Ford chassis with a diesel engine, replaces a 1998 Ford van which requires $3,000 to $4,000 in engine repairs. The District will sell the 1998 Ford van. At this time, the medical response unit will only respond to medical incidents and will not be used to transport patients.
Chief Willis said, “Over 60% of the District’s calls for service are medically related, so Medic1 will be an important part of the District’s response to those medical calls.” To staff Medic1, the District is looking for EMTs to join its first EMT, Stacy Willis, who recently received her EMT license from the State Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Anyone interested in becoming an EMT should contact the District.
The Tightwad Fire Protection District, formed by the voters in 1990 with stations in Tightwad and Coal, provides emergency services in the Village of Tightwad and the unincorporated area of Henry County known as Leesville Township. The District is 100% staffed with volunteers and anyone looking to volunteer with the District can find out more by visiting the District’s webpage at www.tightwadfpd.org/join-us.
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