A celebration and dedication of the Winnfield Fire Department’s latest addition to its firefighting capability will be held midday this Saturday, April 27, at the fire station at 306 S. Abel Street. The new pumper “Engine 2” has emblazoned across its windshield “In God We Trust.”
The celebration will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., with the Dedication service set to begin at noon.
The truck, described as a pumper engine, arrived recently at a cost of $585,000 and once it was fitted out with all necessary equipment, the tab rose to $630,000. By way of demonstrating escalating costs, Chief Brian Montgomery said that the last pumper engine the city bought in 2007 cost $330,000.
The engine will replace the 1979 model Mack engine that the city also purchased new. The City Council approved donating that pumper to the Winn Parish Fire District 3.
Chief Montgomery said the event will include display tables showing the historic progression of firefighting tools and the evolution of firefighting techniques through the years. There will also be a fire safety table with handouts, demonstration of the proper use of fire extinguishers, available free smoke detectors and coloring books for children.
Refreshments will certainly be a part of this celebration and department personnel will be on hand to answer any questions on apparatus or any other fire-related issues. Always popular will be photo opportunities for children, including adults who are still children at heart, with the new fire engine and with firefighters.
“This Spartan-manufactured engine comes with all the necessities as we continue to work through this year towards our goal of lowering our insurance rating from a Class 3 to a Class 2,” said the chief. “It carries 1,000 gallons of water and has a slightly shorter wheel base which will improve negotiating any tight turns through our streets. Our department will continue working in efforts to earn the improved rating for the City of Winnfield in the upcoming grading cycle set for March 2025. We should learn the results later that year.”
Engine 2 will give the Winnfield Fire Department a fleet including four pumper engines (the number required for the lower insurance rating), a ladder truck with a 75-foot ladder, a reserve ladder truck, a heavy rescue vehicle and an EMS quick-response vehicle.