Though small, Duffee Volunteer Fire Department is a committed to protecting residents in their area from house fires, car crashes and accidents, and Friday they gained another tool to help them in their mission as Newton County Emergency Management Director delivered a brand-new 2020 E-One Pumper Truck for the department to add to its firefighting arsenal.
The E-One Pumper, which was built by Sunbelt Fire at the company’s manufacture in Florida, is a crucial piece of equipment for the volunteer firefighter, Assistant Chief Irven Skinner said. It will supplement, and eventually replace, the department’s aging 2002 Pumper Truck.
There is still a little bit of work to be done before the truck can be put into service, Skinner said, such as adding hoses and nozzles.
“We already had some hoses, so that saved us about $1,000,” he said.
Skinner said the big thing he wanted people to know was how grateful the department was to the county and taxpayers for helping them acquire a new pumper truck.
In a written statement, DVFD members stated, “The officers and members of the Duffee Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank Mr. Brian Taylor, Newton County Emergency Management Director/County Fire Coordinator and the Newton County Board of Supervisors for helping us obtain the new 2020 E-One Pumper from Sunbelt Fire in Fairhope, Alabama.”
The Department also sent their thanks to Hank Levins, the representative for Sunbelt Fire, who helped make the sale.
“Mr. Hank Levins from Sunbelt has helped us throughout the process of picking out the truck we needed and the necessary equipment for the truck. Without all their help we would not be celebrating this new addition to our fire department today.”
Currently, Skinner said, the department has a 2002 pumper truck, a 1994 Super Tanker Truck and the new 2020 E-One Pumper. DVFD also has a 2003 light military vehicle, which was received from the Mississippi Forestry Commission and will be refitted to fight brush and woodland fires.
Before that can happen, however, Skinner said there is a lot of sanding to be done.
“Everything that is green has to be painted,” he said, pointing to the dull green military truck. “The forestry commission says nothing can be left to tell it was a military vehicle.”
With the arrival of the pumper truck, Skinner said Duffee Volunteer Fire Department’s vehicle needs have been met for the time being. However, he said, the department is still in need of both funds to maintain and store the vehicles and volunteers to serve on the department.
Anyone interested in learning more about volunteering with the department is encouraged to stop by the fire station at 378 Hopewell Road, Little Rock.
