Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Greg Oliver

Ben Smith, executive officer for the Central Fire Department, stands alongside the 1958 Studebaker fire truck that will eventually be replaced by a new model as the result of a $117,800 grant recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

CENTRAL — Thanks to a $117,800 federal grant provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Central Fire Department will replace a 50-year-old pumper truck with a newer model.

Tom Cloer, fire prevention and safety coordinator, submitted the grant application and said the pumper truck will be housed at the Central II Rural Fire Station across from Daniel High School. A 1958 Studebaker, currently used for off-road and forestry fire responses, is considered too large and cumbersome to operate and poses safety problems — especially since it does not possess air brakes or safety designs.

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency has given fire departments an opportunity to replace these trucks with newer models that are more geared toward safety,” Cloer said, adding, “One of the big problems our fire station has faced is that water is a big problem when you’re dealing with rural fire areas. When you get to the scene of a fire, you have to bring water in from other places.”

Cloer said he received support from Clemson University Fire Chief Bill Daniel in securing the grant. Central will also be required to provide matching funds of $6,200 to purchase the truck.

“They don’t have a tanker truck but need one in the event that the Clemson University Forestry area were ever to catch on fire,” Cloer said. “Not only will Clemson and Clemson University benefit from the truck but also Six Mile and Liberty. With our Mutual Aid Agreement, when they call, we’ll be able to help them.”

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced the grant award last week.

“Firefighters and emergency service personnel dedicate themselves to protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians,” Graham said, adding, “These grants will help our local fire departments and rescue squads by providing them the means to obtain the best equipment and training available.”

The Vehicle Acquisition grant awarded to Central allows the department to purchase pumpers but also allows firefighting vehicles such as brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units and fireboats depending upon the need.

Cloer said the new truck would consist of a 2,000-gallon tanker, with a 500-gallon pump and 10 inch quick dump-to-dump water. In addition, the fire truck will have a line capable of pumping up to 1,500 gallons of water a minute.

Some new fire trucks, Cloer adds, can reach costs as high as $250,000. Although a double-axel truck alone would mean an additional $70,000, Cloer said the small, winding roads that comprise the Central fire service area only necessitates a single-axel due to its maneuverability.

Central Fire Chief Ed Reynolds said the new pumper truck is badly needed.

“We have a few rural areas that do not have fire hydrants,” Reynolds said.

Central Fire Department Executive Officer Ben Smith said the new pumper truck is just one of a number of new fire trucks his department is seeking for the future. Next on the replacement list is a 1970 Ward LaFrance pumper, which, once the 1958 Studebaker is no longer used, will be the oldest truck in the fire fleet.

“We’re moving along,” Smith said.

“My goal, not only with the Rural (Fire) Board, but also the (Central) Town Council, is to replace all of them because we got behind,” he said.

Because Pickens County oversees all rural fire departments, Cloer said he would work with the county on prospective bidders as well as necessary paperwork. Once the company is selected to perform design work to meet specifications, he added that it typically takes nearly a year to receive the vehicle.

“We feel real excited about it,” Cloer said. “This will put us a lot closer to where we need to be.”

Presently, Cloer said the fire department has a total of four pumpers, two ladder trucks, two grass trucks, plus cars and a jeep in its fleet. Two of the pumpers and one of the ladder trucks is for the rural fire department.

“ISO wants you to run two pumpers and a ladder truck to every possible structure fire,” he said.

Reynolds credits Cloer for working diligently to secure grants that enable the fire department to bring its equipment up to date.

“We’ve probably gotten close to $400,000 to $500,000 in grants since 2002, thanks primarily to the work he’s done,” Reynolds said, adding, “We’ve gotten grants three of the five years we’ve applied.”