Pumper should be ready in January
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Contributed Photo Coming Together El Campo volunteer firefighters were in Wisconsin last week to review the department's new pumper truck currently under construction. The vehicle should be ready for service in mid- January. Pictured (l-r) row one Bill Morris, Kevin Bubela and Doug Seaman; row two, Jimmy George Jr., Kenny Socha, Doug Smith and a representative from the plant.

The bright red paint already shines on the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department's new pumper unit, but firefighters will have to wait until next year to see it rolling on city streets.

The Velocity custom triplecombination pumper is being built at the Pierce fire apparatus plant in Appleton, Wis., and being purchased through Martin Apparatus of Denton.

It should be complete by mid- January.

Members of the department's truck committee along with department Chief Jimmy George Jr. traveled to Wisconsin last week to review the specifications.

The truck committee is Chairman Kevin Bubela along with members Doug Seaman, Doug Smith, Bill Morris and Kenny Socha. All are volunteer firefighters.

"We were trained on its operation and there were only very minor issues with the build," Socha said. "Temperatures were in the low single digits during training outdoors."

El Campo City Council approved the $589,362 needed to purchase the new vehicle - an expense which will be funded from either fund-balance dollars or a portion of a recent $1.6 million city capital expenditures bond.

This fire suppression unit is the first the city has agreed to buy since 1995 when the department's aerial ladder truck was replaced with funds from a voter-approved bond.

Since then, ECVFD has replaced three of its eight suppression units using grant or donation dollars.

The pumper will be equipped with a compressed air foam system which should allow volunteer firefighters to use less water when battling blazes.

The upgrades to the department's fleet may also assist with the city's ISO rating which could lower insurance costs.

The Insurance Services Organization rates areas are based on water supply and delivery systems as well as fire department equipment and response. That data is used in determining how much home and business owners will pay for insurance.