Hamilton Township Fire Department unveiled the newest member of their fleet on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at Station 2 in Baltimore.
The fire department received the custom built Dependable pumper/rescue truck on April 18 and it was put into service quicker than the department wanted because of another piece of fire apparatus requiring “significant repairs,” explains Fire Chief Kelly Serson.
The cost of the pumper/rescue truck was approximately $620,000 replaces a 1998 pumper at the Baltimore station.
On the truck committee were Sam Fleming, Trevor Clapperton, Jasen Held, Dustin Heenan and Kevin Cameron.
The new fire truck will carry extrication equipment and carries 1,000 imperial gallons of water which is significantly larger tank than most pumper/rescues.
“That was by design because this will be a first response to Highway 401 calls.”
A “unique” tradition was started with the new fire apparatus by members of the Hamilton Township Fire Department.
“A number of fire departments across North America have celebrations when they get new fire apparatus. Some push their trucks in, but we wanted to start our own tradition.”
When the department received their last piece of fire apparatus every firefighter signed the inside panel of the pump panel which would identify for the life of the truck.
“That would leave a legacy for the firefighters that were here at the time when the truck came. So we built on that and put those 60 firefighters names on a plaque that will sit in the cab of the truck along with the councils that approved the purchase of the truck.”
Serson said as he becomes a bit more nostalgic, “I think it means more and more to me every year about the firefighter family and how I care for the people here and how we care for each other.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
