Mark Schlachtenhaufen
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND —
Oak Cliff firefighters received a new addition to their family Monday afternoon — a $251,100 fire tanker that will soon be out fighting fires.
Purchased with a federal grant from Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., the 2010 two-seat, 330-horsepower tanker has automatic transmission, a 2,500 gallon water tank and a 500 gallon per minute pump, said Deer Creek Fire Chief Eric Harlow, who sold the vehicle to Oak Cliff through his second job. It also has automatic tank dump valves at the rear and on both sides of the vehicle, Harlow said.
Harlow said safety features include a hydraulic portable tank rack to prevent back or lifting injuries when storing its portable tank, and side and rear back-up cameras for extra vision when backing the unit.
Oak Cliff Fire Chief Ken Stoops said the department is excited to receive the new tanker.
“We think it will help the department and will be a long-lasting, worthwhile apparatus,” Stoops said. “We’re just thankful that we received the grant to help us purchase this.”
Stoops said the new addition will be a factor when the ISO re-evaluates the Oak Cliff Fire Prevention District. ISO is an independent organization that serves insurance companies, fire departments, insurance regulators and others by providing data about risk.
In general, the price of fire insurance in a community with a good ISO rating is substantially lower than in a community with a poor ISO rating, assuming all other factors are equal.
Stoops said he believes it is the first new tanker the department has purchased. As part of the grant agreement, the agency has to shed two unsafe vehicles. One of them is Tanker 94, a 1972 model modified to carry 1,500 gallons of water. Stoops said the old vehicle must be sold to an individual, and might be an asset for a farmer or a construction company.
Oak Cliff firefighter Nathan Maker served on the agency’s apparatus committee, which was involved with finding a vehicle that met the agency’s needs. Maker said 10 manufacturers were contacted and given the opportunity to bid. The Oak Cliff board approved the committee’s choice, he said.
Stoops said following training, which began Monday evening, the new tanker will be put into service about May 1.
With the new addition, Oak Cliff now has a total of two tankers, three engines, one rescue vehicle, three brushpumpers, one command vehicle and several other vehicles.
Oak Cliff firefighters respond to all fire, rescue, medical and public assistance calls within the fire prevention district, an area of 38 square miles in southern Logan County. The department averages more than 500 calls each year.
Oak Cliff has mutual aid agreements with area fire departments including Edmond, Deer Creek, Guthrie and Cashion. Edmond Fire Chief Tim Wheeler said any time a department puts a new firefighting vehicle into service it is a positive development for area residents.
Harlow said the new tanker will benefit all of the surrounding departments, including Deer Creek, by enabling Oak Cliff firefighters to bring more water on their initial responding tanker.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
