The Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department recently took delivery of its new 2024 Pierce Enforcer truck, which will become the department’s new Engine 41, replacing a 1992 Pierce truck. The department still needs to install some equipment on the truck and complete training on how to operate the new truck. It should be in service in the next month or two. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
MINERAL WELLS – The Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department has received its new fire truck and it will be in service in about a month.
The department recently took delivery of its new 2024 Pierce Enforcer truck, which will become the department’s new Engine 41, replacing a 1992 Pierce-engined truck that served as the department’s front-engine truck.
“It’s a fire truck carrying 1,000 gallons of water and 20 pounds of foam and six firefighters,” said Sean Gallagher, deputy chief of the Mineral Wells VFD.
The department must obtain licensing, obtain certain equipment, and provide training to department members so they can drive and operate the vehicle safely.
“Hopefully we’ll be on the road in a month or two,” Said Gallagher.
The truck will be used in building fires as well as car accidents, he said.
The old Engine 41 remains in service as a replacement vehicle and can continue to be used for various missions.
“In this way, we can extend the life of all our equipment,” Said Gallagher.
The process of acquiring a new truck began two to three years ago when the department decided to purchase a new truck. They worked with Atlantic Emergency Solutions out of McConnelsville, where a representative came and discussed with the department what the new truck should include.
“We had a group of people at the station talking about what we wanted from a truck, what features it should have, where we wanted to put the equipment, the pump and a number of other things,” Said Gallagher.
The truck cost $785,000. The department worked with Williamstown Bank to get a loan to purchase the truck, he said.
“With the Wood County Fire Fee, donations and community donations, every cent goes to the truck,” He said it was about payments, licenses, insurance and everything needed to keep the business running.
The new truck will allow them to maintain their ISO rating for insurance purposes, said department member Bernard Cothern. He expects the training to take about four weeks.
A new truck will bring more safety, said Gallagher.
“We want to ensure that we can respond to emergency calls as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.
The department ordered the truck about two years ago.
“It is a lengthy process,” Gallagher said, “This gives the department another device in case we have multiple calls coming in at the same time, as well as a new device to replace our aging fleet.”
“We’re pretty proud of it.”
As one of its fundraisers, the Mineral Wells VFD will host its annual suckling pig dinner on September 14th from noon to 7 p.m.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at [email protected].
