Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Pine Level Volunteer Fire Department has a “new to them” addition to their fleet with a new aerial apparatus that’s equipped with a 75 ft. ladder.
This addition to a truck helps in being compliant with Insurance Services Organizations, ISO, and the National Fire Protection Association’s, NFPA, required equipment list for a ladder truck, Pine Level Fire Department, PLFD, Fire Chief and Pine Level town Councilman, Austin Worcester explained.
“Ladder trucks and their personnel are responsible for conducting search and rescue in burning buildings, doing forcible entry into inaccessible areas, ventilating and removing the smoke and hot gasses from fires, and for gaining access to elevated positions. By having this equipment, we’re able to fully leverage the capabilities of that ladder truck as it was meant to function,” Worcester said.
However, to fully equip the truck, PLFD is seeking help from the public with their “Fill the Fire Truck” Campaign. The department is seeking donations to help fund the essential tools and equipment to outfit the truck and the community to its full potential. Equipment such as nozzles, axes, ladders, tarps, saws, fans and more.
“With the additions of some industrial and office buildings over two stories tall along U.S. 31 and in the industrial park, to maintain our ISO rating of a four in our hydrated areas, which keeps our insurance rates lower, we are required to have a ladder truck. Up until these larger warehouse buildings and industrial facilities, our existing equipment was sufficient. As Pine Level has grown, some of our equipment is no longer adequate to meet the community’s needs,” Worcester said.
To donate to the “Stuff the Fire Truck” campaign for the Pine Level Fire Department, follow the prompts from the link.
PLFD is one of the busiest departments in the county, responding to about 1200 calls a year Worcester confirmed. While the PLFD is one of the busiest, they are a volunteer only department throughout their multiple locations.
“We were able to acquire this used fire truck for under $12,000. A new truck of the same capabilities would cost approximately $1.5 million and take a minimum of two years to take delivery, given the current wait times for construction of fire trucks,” Worcester said.
A challenge that comes with volunteer fire departments is that they receive the same amount of county tax funding, Worcester confirms, regardless of having a much larger population and hazard base.
“Pine Level Fire Dept. is completely volunteer, and they carry our town’s name. They answer the most calls out of the volunteer departments in Autauga County. To do what they do voluntarily is honorable. On behalf of Pine Level, thank you to all of them. This department is a worthy cause to support,” Pine Level Mayor Zachary Bigley said.
