(4/1) After nearly two years of hard work and research, the Fairfield Fire and EMS Department welcomed their brand new fire engine last September. The fire truck was officially dedicated during the department’s Open House held in October. Deputy Fire Chief, Adam Jacobs, was recognized at Fairfield Fire Department’s banquet for all of his efforts in procuring the new engine.

Last summer, after twenty-two years of dedicated service, Fairfield Fire Department’s old 1996 rescue engine was sold to another Fire Department in Port Treverton, PA. The old engine now dons the colors of its new home, but will never be forgotten by the members of the Fairfield Fire Department, to whom it so faithfully served for so many years. With the farewell of the old engine came the welcoming of a new one, which will serve the department for many years to come.

The department’s new fire engine came all the way from Appleton, Wisconsin where it was designed and constructed. This Pierce Puc rescue engine has the capacity to hold 1,000 gallons of water, is equipped with a complement of rescue tools, medical equipment, supply lines, portable winch and LED lighting. The compartments within this new engine also allow more storage for tools and equipment, and overall provide more room for fire fighters.

From start to finish, the process to procure the new fire engine took close to two years, noted Deputy Fire Chief, Adam Jacobs. Jacobs kicked off the project by researching other fire engine models, specifications and evaluated the needs of the department. Throughout the research phase, Jacobs talked to numerous manufacturers to garner information and "create" the department’s new engine. After researching, a fire department committee travelled to Wisconsin to speak with the manufacturers and approve the engine design before construction would take place. Once the engine was complete, the committee ventured back to Wisconsin to perform their final inspection of the finished product.

From Appleton, the engine travelled to Lancaster where it underwent its last phase of construction. Manufacturers at Glick Fire Equipment fabricated and mounted the fire department’s tools within the interior of the vehicle, and put the finishing touches on the vehicle. Once complete, the brand new engine was ready to make its journey to its new home with the Fairfield Fire Department.

The department was proud to say that with careful planning and lots of hard work, the nearly $710,000 engine was already completely paid for through the department’s capital campaign budget. Although the capital campaign budget funded the new engine, the funds would not have been available had it not been for all the fundraising efforts the department has throughout the entire year.

Volunteers in the Fairfield Fire Department, and across many small fire departments in the country, rely on fundraising efforts to fund large purchases such as this new engine. Fairfield hosts bingos throughout the year, every Thursday and the first Friday of each month, along with other fundraisers such as their gun feeds and wings feeds to help save funds for the capital campaign budget. Without these fundraisers, and more importantly, without the volunteers who make them possible, the department would not be standing today.

Our local fire departments are always looking for volunteers and we encourage all of our readers to reach out to their local fire department today to learn how they can to become involved.