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Austintown Fire Department adds new vehicle
Photo
The Austintown Fire Department has obtained a surplus military vehicle and converted it to a brush-fire truck and rescue/EMS for off-pavement situations in the township. Firefighters, from left, Keith Rosser, Bill Palkovic, and Dave Schertzer stand in front of the 1992 Humvee.
By ROBERT CONNELLY
AUSTINTOWN
The fire department spent only $9,000 on a new truck to fight brush fires and help with wooded area issues.
The 1992 Humvee came from the federal government’s military-surplus stock.
Fire Chief Andy Frost III said Austintown police helped with the paperwork process of acquiring the vehicle.
“We have a lot of four-wheeling trails and hiking trails in the township, both on the eastern end and on the southwestern end. And we actually get quite a few calls for service for trails, backwoods,” Frost said.
The department was looking to replace two Jeeps it has been using, from model years 1964 and 1966. The 1964 Jeep was purchased from the Howland Fire Department in the 1980s.
“They’re tired. They’re really tired,” Frost said of the two vehicles. “We know we can’t afford to purchase new equipment, so we have to make this equipment last as long as possible.”
He said after the department had already had the vehicles towed three times this year, it began exploring getting a new vehicle, which could have cost anywhere between $90,000 to $120,000.
“I think 1992 for a military vehicle is not OK, but for a brush truck for us it’s fine,” Frost said. “I understand for their use it’s life and death for them and they have to rotate their stock around.”
Frost said the township handles about 30 brush fires a year and an additional 10 calls for EMS and rescue calls off paved roads.
He said the department can also use the vehicle on the interstate if one of its bigger trucks is having difficulty getting somewhere.
Frost thanked Austintown businesses Superior Auto Body, Cyclone Seat Covers, and Molnar Concessions for doing the work free of charge or for donating their time.
Jim Molnar, of Molnar Concessions, said, “We like to do it. We are proud to do it, and we don’t accept anything for it.”
He added that the department has responded to his store, 75 S. Turner Road, a number of times on false-alarm calls, and this was a way to pay it back. The work Molnar did was some welding and making small pieces for the vehicle as well as fabricating the water tank.
“We’ve always had great relationships with our businesses in town, but [the community support] really renewed my faith in the community,” Frost said.
The Humvee will carry four firefighters, double what its old Jeeps could carry, and can carry 100-some gallons of water, Frost said.
“This isn’t a luxury that we got this vehicle. It was a need and we were able to fill it for almost no money,” he said.