Tyler Fire Equipment

Fire Dept.'s old pumper may travel far

PEPPERELL -- Pepperell's Engine 5 went into retirement when it was replaced by a new Class A pumper truck, but it's uncertain where exactly it will be booking its vacation.

Perhaps the Caribbean, perhaps Jamaica or somewhere in Africa. Engine 5 is 29 years old. That may seem young in people years, but not for a fire truck.

This is no ordinary retirement.

The red Mack truck might become a celebrity and will definitely be put to work as many of its possible Third World destinations don't have fire trucks and, sometimes, they are needed badly.

"It's a pumper truck from the 1980s, but to them it looks like a new Cadillac," says Highway Department Director and Deputy Fire Chief Peter Shattuck.

Shattuck says that all kinds of equipment such as garbage trucks, fire engines and front-end loaders are sent overseas once they become obsolete in the United States.

According to Chief Toby Tyler, fire engines are usually retired at 20 to 25 years. Trouble with the engine, exhaust and/or transmission tend to be the first warning signs of an old truck. But when the pumping system begins to fail, that's the biggest problem, says Tyler.

Engine 5 had been maintained by Combination Company and was the primary piece of equipment for structural and automobile fires. But now, "We needed something more reliable to be the first thing out of the driveway," Shattuck said.

The Fire Department traded the truck for a newer model. It was then purchased by David Burton of Burton Frame and Trailer. Burton now has bids out through a holding company for the truck and is unsure exactly where it will be sent.

"They don't mind how old the equipment is," said Burton. "As long as it runs."

Burton says there are dealers in Third World countries who have sent in bids to provide such equipment. Some provide training on how to run the equipment.

In any case, the Mack's next stop will likely be far away from the small New England town is has long called home.

Tyler To Rebuild, Modernize Fire Station No. 5 | Texas-Fire.com

Change is in the air at Tyler’s Fire Station 5. The familiar St. Louis area fire house at 2815 Frankston Highway is long overdue for a facelift, but city officials are taking it a step further — by building a whole new station. The $1.7 million project, to be constructed by Watson Commercial Contractors, and funded with half-cent sales tax revenue, is slated for completion by next summer.

The new station’s location will be shifted north and west to take advantage of the anticipated completion of Earl Campbell Parkway. “They are expected to be completed about the same time,” City engineer Carter Delleney said. “This is a 240-calendar day project.”

The Tyler City Council signed off on the construction contract Wednesday; the Half Cent Sales Tax Corporation is expected to approve the expenditure in its August meeting. The existing Station 5 was built in 1985.

Fire officials said a new facility will be well worth the wait. “Firefighters have been involved in the planning process,” Fire Chief Tim Johnson said. “They added a lot of things that will make it a great station to work out of — we appreciate it.”

The 8,865-square-foot facility is expected to feature a masonry and stone veneer façade with plenty of steel and a barrel roof for an industrial feel.

“It will be different from Station 7,” Delleney said. “This is really an industrial area” not residential.

Station 7, completed in 2008, has 22-foot-high ceilings in some areas, making it difficult to swap out light bulbs and maximize energy efficiency, officials said. By comparison, the new Station 5 will feature lower ceilings and ample amounts of insulation, in the walls and roof.

“The whole building is essentially encapsulated with insulation,” Delleney said. “This is an exciting agenda item,”

“Moving Station 5 will create better spacing and coverage for west Tyler,” Mayor Barbara Bass said. “This will be a great benefit to our residents, providing decreased response times.”

Officials already have constructed the driveway for the new station, which is to be situated near South Bennett Avenue and Robertson Road.

Tyler hired a consultant in 2002 to evaluate fire department staffing needs and station placement. Those findings indicate that the city should have 10 stations — and enough firefighters to perform basic suppression functions and related emergency services, such as search and rescue, and aerial water delivery operations.

Playing With Fire, Taboo Erotica

Fire engineering

Tested by Fire

Welcome to Harmony

Chemical engineering economics