PULLMAN, WA – The volunteer fire department that protects the area around Pullman has improved capabilities thanks to two new fire trucks.
Whitman County Fire District 12’s new brush trucks are specifically designed to fight wildland fires. The volunteer department recently received the custom built trucks from Skeeter Emergency Vehicles in Texas. Each truck cost about 350,000 dollars. District 12 saved money from their levy for several years to buy the trucks with cash to avoid asking patrons for a tax increase.
Each brush truck carries 500 gallons of water and a pump to power four hoses. The rigs have three front-mounted nozzles that are operated from the cab and 1,000 feet of hose.
One truck has a crew cab for four Volunteer Firefighters while the other can carry two. The new brush trucks are now the first rigs out of the station for wildfires around Pullman. Longtime D12 Chief Lester Erwin says the new trucks provide volunteers with improved capabilities.
The new trucks will run out of Pullman from D12’s Station 1 on Sunnyside Hill and Station 3 on the North edge of town. The rigs have replaced 1982 and 1984 brush trucks.
D12 ordered the fire trucks three and a half years ago.
