By Mary Owen
The Aumsville Rural Fire District will hold a “wet down” for its two new brush engines this month.
“This is a chance for dignitaries and members of the public to spray the new apparatus with water from the old apparatus,” Aumsville Fire Chief Terrill Isaak said. “This will be followed by a simulated ‘pushing the engines back into the station.’ During the years of horse-drawn equipment, they would push the equipment back into the station.”
The dedication of the new engines takes place from March 5, 9 – 11 a.m. at the ARFD station, 490 Church St., Aumsville. Community members are invited to the event.
The new engines are part of a package of equipment funded by the bond measure passed last year. Bond funds also have provided new fire hoses, nozzles, ventilation fans, thermal imaging cameras, gas detectors and many other needed appliances and tools, Isaak said.
“We spend many hours with volunteers and staff looking at the direction of our community’s needs, now and into the future,” Isaak said.
“We also met with members of the community to develop and implement a strategic plan. Very quickly, it became very apparent how much our community’s needs and expectations have changed over the years.”
Isaak said the most glaring shortfall was having apparatus and equipment that can meet a multitude of needs while providing safety and security to fire district volunteers.
“The new engines and equipment will be able to provide service for motor vehicle crashes, Haz-Mat incidents, structure fires and medicals when needed,” Isaak said.
Safety features include enclosed cabs with roll-over protections and air bags for the crew, and seating for six firefighters.
“Over the last several years, there have been a growing number of calls during the same moment,” he said. “Having two of the same style and type of apparatus provides streamlined training to our volunteers and excellent service to the community for those types of situations.”
“The district would like to thank our community for supporting us,” he said.
“Your volunteers are thrilled that they now have the ability to provide a higher quality of service with these new arrivals.”
Isaak said the ceremonies will offer an opportunity for the community to “share in the excitement and joy they have provided to this district.”
The Aumsville Fire District encompasses about 32 square miles, including Aumsville and Shaw, and serves a population of approximately 6,200.
For information, call the district at 503-749-2894.
