Walkersville Fire Company awaits new engine

(9/23) In early to mid-October, members of the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company (WVFC) will say goodbye to their 1994 Pumper "E-111." With nearly thirty years of service to Walkersville and the surrounding communities, members of the WVFC began the process of designing and building a replacement engine to retire the old Pierce Lance.

Nearly eighteen months of research, planning, fiscal discussions and ongoing fundraising efforts lead up to this important new equipment upgrade. The new "E-111" was designed and manufactured in Appleton, WI at Pierce Manufacturing and is estimated to be delivered in early October. The new engine will first travel to the local dealer for final mounting of several small equipment items, before returning to the VFD to be placed into service in mid-October. Driver and crew familiarization and operational training will begin shortly after delivery to the fire department.

Matt Staley, chairman of the purchase committee stated, "New Engine 111 has a range of critically important safety and operational capabilities necessary to serve the diversity and complexity of our response area." The new engine has a Pierce ‘Enforcer’ style cab, a stainless-steel body, a 1,000-gallon water tank, and a 1,500 gallon per minute pump. This cab is smaller than many of Walkersville’s current engines but is expected to be better for responding to automobile accidents and fires in highly developed areas.

Staley also stressed, "packing the hoses away to clean up after a fire fight can take longer than the fight itself. We’ve lowered the hose bed to improve safety measures for our volunteers. It’s easy to lose your balance when reaching up to pack them away, so we’ve lowered everything as much as possible." The six-man cab is also fitted with rollover protection airbags and shoulder belts instead of lap belts like in the ’94 pumper. The fully outfitted unit will cost the WVFC nearly three-quarters of a million dollars when placed into service and comes at a massive cost savings to area taxpayers due to WVFC’s hard-working volunteers.

Regarding fundraising, Vaughn Zimmerman, a retired volunteer firefighter of over 56 years stated, "There are two major functions of a volunteer fire company: to provide emergency fire and rescue operations and raise funds through fund raising activities to provide for apparatus, stations, equipment, and pay the expenses of operating a fire company".

"Approximately half of our members are operational members and about a half are administrative/fund raising members. It takes both to operate a volunteer fire company. We need those who are willing to put in the time, effort, dedication, and training to be operational members and to respond to fire and rescue calls 24-7. We also need those who are willing to put in the time, effort, and desire to raise the monies needed to provide for the apparatus, stations, and equipment." Despite his retirement, Zimmerman remains active in the fundraising for this engine and other equipment used by the WVFC.

A traditional push-in ceremony for the new engine will be held by the WVFC after training is completed and all equipment is mounted. It is estimated this may be up to one month after the delivery of the truck.

"The old E-111 served Walkersville and surrounding communities for over 25 years honorably and effectively." Zimmerman said. "She has done her job at countless fire incidents and other emergencies throughout the area."