Summer is over, fall is here, and winter is coming. I love this time of year when the leaves are changing and fall festivities are in full swing. It’s a great time to sit back and reflect on all the things we’ve done throughout the year. All the changes made, good or bad, and contemplate how to make them better.
Speaking of making things better, the Carrollton Fire Department, which I volunteer for, just upgraded a piece of apparatus. Early this summer, Chief Lonnie Sensenich decided to upgrade our 1988 Pierce Arrow 75’ stick that we’ve had for nearly 20 years. After a long search, Chief Sensenich found what he’d been looking for, so he and Firefighter John Goedeke made the trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to check it out. They were impressed with what they found and made the request to the City Council for the purchase. It was approved, and Chief Sensenich and John went back to the South and drove the 2006 Pierce 100’ Platform back to Missouri. When they arrived at the station, we all crossed our fingers in hopes that it would even fit into the station. As they backed it into the bay, we held our breath, and to our relief, it fit, barely. The door closed with inches to spare. Whew! So, at the end of July, after having all systems checked, we loaded it up with all the necessary equipment and put it into service. We now have a nice truck with a 2000 GPM pump and a 100’ reach for our taller and bigger buildings in our business district, hospital, and industrial park.
Chief Sensenich stated that this truck is the second-out pumper on in-town calls and will, of course, be used per mutual aid request by surrounding departments. He also noted the increased pumping capacity this truck provides will help with our ISO rating. “It really just comes down to safety. It will be much safer working from a platform with a longer reach,” Chief Sensenich emphasized.
So, what happened to our old ‘88 Pierce? Well, just like us, another department had an itch to scratch, so to speak. Its new home is in Tontitown, Arkansas.
If any department has something I can help you with, whether it is attending a function to represent the FFAM, or whatever your needs are, I would love to help if I can. I think great things are happening in District 11 that I would love to showcase to the rest of our great state. Feel free to call, text, or email. Have yourselves a great fall. Enjoy all the festivities, and as always, stay safe!
FFAM
