DeFUNIAK SPRINGS —Walton County Fire Rescue has received a new Perce Sabor Pumper fire truck from Pierce Manufacturing of Bradenton.
The 2011 truck is a demonstrator for Pierce’s fleet. That allowed the county get it at a reduced rate along with a new truck warranty.
The new pumper replaces an engine that was involved in crash on Interstate 10.
The new pumper carries many safety features the previous pumper did not, such as steel bumpers instead of chrome, enhanced emergency lighting and enhanced reflective tape instead of more expensive diamond tread aluminum.
The pumper also can carry more rescue and extrication equipment that firefighters previously were unable to carry because of space limitations.
“The ability to carry the heavier equipment will translate into more rapid extrications to those persons trapped in the wreckage of a traffic accident,” said Fire Rescue Chief Brian Coley. “Shorter extrication times at traffic crashes will translate into higher survivability rates of critically injured patients.”
The pumper will be stationed at Fire Rescue Station 2 by mid-September. It will respond to I-10 the U.S. Highway 331 corridor south of DeFuniak Springs.
