Related Links

> Headlines Summary > 20080102 Headlines: Autryville One Step Closer to Replacing Fire Truck

Autryville Fire Department One Step Closer to Replacing Fire Truck

Sampson County

AUTRYVILLE - This week, employees at Toyne are putting the finishing touches on a brand new $292,000 fire truck for Autryville’s fire department. The new pump engine will be replacing their primary truck, a 30-year-old American La France.

Old and worn-out parts have plagued the truck for quite some time now, said firefighters, and replacement parts are getting harder to find. “If something happens, for what-ever reason, and the engine stops working, we have to sent it to Detroit; they are the only ones who know how to fix it,” said assistant fire Chief Jonathan Faircloth.

It is just time for a new truck, said fire Chief Jakie Faircloth, adding that the new truck will not be anything fancy, but will work as a replacement to continue to serve the people. “The truck that we are replacing, the La France is a 1,500 gallon pump with a 1,000 tank.” The new truck will have similar capabilites and the same size pump and tank. “So we’re basically just reproducing the same truck.”

Toyne, a fire apparatus company in Breda, Iowa, has been working with the fire department since March 22, 2008 when they were awarded the $143,918 contract to assembly the truck’s body. Unlike most cars on the road, said Faircloth fire trucks are built in stages. The chassis was built first, transported to Toyne, and the body was assembled there. According to documents from Toyne, the body was painted Nov. 24; photographs produced show a red and black theme.

The vehicle is a Spartan Metro Star, that came with a price tag of $148,082 and is considered to be a mid level type said Faircloth. Faircloth, before becoming the Chief sold fire trucks for 20 years. And he feels good at the overall price and the truck, he commented.

The red and black color scheme was chosen for obvious reasons, “We just wanted it to be different,” said assistant fire chief Faircloth, “that way when we pull up you can tell its us and not have to look at the number.”

The number, he added later will be 1232. The first two digits, 12, designate the county, the last two, 32, signify the truck is a pumper engine, Faircloth explained.

The truck is being paid for in part by a $40,000 grant from the USDA with the remaining 252,000 being financed, also by the USDA with an interest rate of 4.3 percent. It is expected to arrive in Autryville Jan. 19.

A few years ago when firefighters approached their board of directors, said Chief Faircloth, they told the board they would need a new truck down the road. The conversation ended, said the Chief with the board giving directions to obtain more information. The process began, and shortly thereafter a great financing opportunity presented itself.

According to Faircloth all of the trucks were paid off in 2008 leaving the building as the only debt the department is in, with the only other debt the department has is the department’s building. They currently owe $125,000 for the building.

Primary Agency: Autryville Fire Department

Source: Sampson Independent

Send to a Friend

Posted on Fri Jan 02 2009 at 17:50

Back to Headlines Summary

Reader Comments:

Enter your comments on this article

ADVERTISEMENTS