By Tamara Gregor
The Duncan Banner
MERIDIAN, Okla. – A new pumper tanker truck is now in operation at the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department.
Meridian Fire Chief Sal Joy said adding the new truck will help the county as a whole with its Insurance Service Office ratings. He said the truck is one of the largest in Stephens County, if not the largest pumper tanker.
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The 2008 International Tanker was purchased from Fire Master Fire Equipment, Inc. from Springfield, Missouri for $285,000.
Joy said MVFD put $70,000 as a down payment and financed $215,000 for 10 years.
The pumper tanker will allow firefighters to get water out quickly to fires, Joy said.
“Whether it be our area or somebody who needs mutual aid,” he said.
According to Joy, it’s an automatic transmission truck and most people can drive the vehicle, compared to their last truck which was a manual vehicle.
The new truck will allow fire crews to get more water to the fire scene at a faster rate and more efficiently Joy said. Joy looks to bring the ISO ratings down, as well as response times.
As with any fire, Joy said the more water they can get to the scene, the better the outcome. He said the entire county has worked hard to improve their ISO ratings and response times.
“Just trying to keep the community safe,” he said.
Joy said the pumper tanker holds 3,500 gallons of water. He said this truck can now be sent out first.
“Engine 2 has been great, but this versus the engines, the engines only carry 1,000 or 800 (gallons),” he said. “So that water can go pretty fast.”
This pumper tanker will allow fire crews to sustain water before another water supply gets to the scene.
“Our goal is to get a quick water supply when you get on a structure fire or any fire,” he said. “This will allow us to maintain (water supply) without having to pull off and get water as quick.”
By the time crews need more water, Joy said mutual aid will have time to arrive.
Joy never hesitates to call for help when a fire ignites. He said the faster they can get people out to help, the quicker they can put the fire out.
The county and its residents have allowed all the departments to purchase better equipment, Joy said.
“It will be a good asset to the whole county, especially Meridian,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing, is keeping my community safe.”
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