A new $390,000 pumper truck with Power Take-Off generator technology was delivered to the Wheeling Fire Department on Thursday.
Fire Chief Larry Helms, along with several members of the department, were busy familiarizing themselves Friday morning with some of the details of the newest truck in the department's fleet of vehicles at the Center Wheeling headquarters garage.
"We try to progressively rotate our fleet to keep top operating equipment in all the stations, and this is just the process that we normally follow to make that happen," said Helms.
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Photo by Scott McCloskey
A new $390,000 pumper truck with Power Take-Off generator technology was delivered to Wheeling Fire Department headquarters Thursday. Looking over the new vehicle in Center Wheeling are, from left, Fire Chief Larry Helms, firefighter/engineer Eric Reineke and Lt. George Yoho. The pumper should be in operation next week after training is completed.
He said the new pumper truck will replace Engine 2 at headquarters, and following a rotation of several trucks within the department, Engine 4 will be put on "reserve status."
Helms said one of the unique aspects of the new pumper is it has Power Take-Off generator technology. He said the only other vehicle in the entire fleet of vehicles to have PTO technology is the fire rescue truck.
"It's just a newer technology ... which eliminates another gas engine for our generators, with less maintenance and is more proficient," Helms added.
The pumper is expected to be in operation next week after training is completed with the firefighters.
