ROCKY MOUNT 鈥 The Rocky Mount Fire Department will soon have a new fire truck responding to calls around the town and beyond. A Pierce Enforcer mid-mount tower truck was recently delivered to the town after two years of waiting.
Firefighters with the Rocky Mount Fire Department are expected to spend the next few weeks training and getting used to the new vehicle before they will be using it to respond to calls. Fire equipment also needs to be added to the vehicle for firefighters.
鈥淚t will bring a different level of what we can do,鈥 Chief Justin Woodrow said of the new fire truck that will be replacing their previous fire truck purchased in 2001.
Woodrow said the new fire truck鈥檚 ladder extends to 100 feet, which is 15 feet more than the previous ladder truck and will allow them to reach higher buildings to perform rescues or to reach fires. The ladder also has dual nozzles that can provide fire suppression from above, unlike the previous truck that only had one.
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The Rocky Mount Fire Department鈥檚 new vehicle is a Pierce Enforcer mid-mount tower truck with a ladder that extends 100 feet.
The fire truck can also lower its ladder below grade where they previously could not reach. Woodrow said they could now use the ladder in instances such as on a bridge and could lower the ladder down from above to perform rescues.
In addition to new features to help in responding to emergencies and saving lives, Woodrow also made sure that the fire truck would protect his firefighters. He said every safety feature possible was added including airbags, anti-roll devices and lighting packages to assure the truck can be seen.
鈥淚f it is something for safety, this truck has it,鈥 Woodrow said.
The Rocky Mount Fire Department鈥檚 new logo featured on its new truck.
In addition to the features, the new truck includes a new color and logo for the department. The color is a dark burgundy with a graphite color for the accents compared to the previous truck鈥檚 red and chrome. The new logo features an eagle wearing a fire helmet and carrying a banjo with a moonshine jug featured underneath. Woodrow said the logo showcases the rich history of Rocky Mount with its moonshine heritage and its position on the Crooked Road, Virginia鈥檚 heritage music trail.
The final cost of the new fire truck comes in at $2.4 million. Woodrow thanked the town for its willingness to spend the money on the extra features he felt were necessary for his volunteers and for the town and county residents.
鈥淭he town really stuck behind us,鈥 Woodrow said.
Franklin County assisted on some of the costs of the new fire truck as part of a land swap deal between the town and county last year. Franklin County agreed to provide $800,000 toward the purchase of the new truck and, starting in 2031, will begin funding 60% of the town鈥檚 fire apparatus purchases.
Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue, right, and town council member Mark Newbill take a closer look at the Rocky Mount Fire Department鈥檚 new ladder truck after Monday鈥檚 town council meeting.
The deal came after month of negotiations between the town and county on the fire truck. Rocky Mount had requested the county assist in paying for the new vehicle due to more than 60% of the calls Rocky Mount Fire Department responds to being outside the town limits. Mayor Holland Perdue also emphasized in negotiations that 100% of the calls are inside of the county as the town of Rocky Mount is a part of Franklin County.
The land swap deal added 560 acres to the town while updating the town鈥檚 wastewater services to assist with the county鈥檚 Summit View Business Park. It also includes a swap of some facilities between the town and county in addition to the funding for the fire truck.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an investment in the community and public safety,鈥 Perdue said of the new fire truck.
Perdue said he appreciated the contributions of the county in purchasing the new fire truck and with the increased funding that will help in purchasing the new tanker truck expected to arrived in the coming days. The two pieces of equipment are expected to be key part of the town鈥檚 fire department for the next 20 years or more.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really impressive piece of equipment,鈥 Perdue said.
