By Bianca Cain Johnson
The Augusta Chronicle
AUGUSTA, Ga. — An old fire engine is getting an upgrade to better send firefighters to their final resting place.
The 1991 fire engine will soon be used only as a funeral truck. It will be the only one in the Augusta area.
Traditionally, a fire engine takes a firefighter’s casket to its final resting place. A fire department takes a normal truck out of service and removes its hoses and dividers to make room for the casket, which rides atop the fire engine. The problem is getting it up there.
Toting a casket, which can weigh from 100 to 300 pounds by itself, even a short distance can be difficult, and even more so lifting it to the top of a fire engine.
“It’s almost impossible to do that,” Lt. Joey Smith said.
Smith, who is heading the changes to the funeral truck, recalled the difficulties firefighters had getting the casket of Lenston Harris, a former Augusta fire investigator, on and off the truck at his September funeral. Fire officials have been toying with the idea of creating a funeral truck for a while, but that sealed the deal.
“He (Chief Chris James) saw us struggle to get the casket on and off the truck. He said we can do better than that,” Smith said.
https://www.facebook.com/TheAugustaChronicle/posts/10154542161333412
The 1991 fire engine wasn’t the first choice, but it was the one easiest to rehab. The engine served at the Walton Way station until about 2002. Then it went into reserve status for about 10 years before another move to the training center for use.
Since the idea was approved, firefighters have been working in their off-time to get the truck ready. The first part was creating a design.
Firefighters removed the hose bed and water tank from the truck’s rear and then created a metal tray that would hold the casket. The tray stays lowered so that firefighters can easily place the casket onto the tray. A hydraulic lift then raises the tray and casket so it can be seen above the fire engine, the same as it would under the traditional method.
“We’re doing this all on our off days – the building, the welding, everything,” Smith said. “… This is something we dreamed up. We’ve heard of some others in the country.”
Smith said there has been no cost to taxpayers. Companies are pitching in to help in the efforts, offering assistance in bending metal and donating items. The truck also has new lighting, which was donated.
Firefighters are still working on some final touches. Smith said they hope to add an alarm to the front of the truck for the last alarm service and a decal on the side with the number 5, which is how many times they ring the bell when a firefighter dies.
Once the truck is complete, the fire department will make it available for any area firefighter funeral. It should be complete in April.
Copyright 2017 The Augusta Chronicle