PPFD new latter truck officially in service

By Basil Gist

Staff Writer

       The community joined city staff and the Pilot Point Fire Department in delivering its new ladder truck the final feet into the station on Monday with a push-in ceremony and ceremonial call to service.

       PPFD Chief Heath Hudson opened the ceremony with a short speech in which he emphasized the time and forethought which went into securing this vehicle for the town.

       “The acquisition of this ladder truck represents months and even years of planning, dedication and collaboration,” Hudson said. “This vehicle is more than just steel and mechanics. It’s a symbol of our department’s growth, progress and determination to rise to any challenge that comes our way.”

       He earlier broke down the process, which began with six months of planning from Assistant Chief Bryan Cox and the apparatus committee.

       “Once we got everything dialed in, we went after funding and placed the order,” Hudson said. “The actual build time for the truck is about six months, but it just takes that long to get your truck in line.”

       Mayor Elisa Beasley praised the department and its chiefs for doing what they can to stay ahead of the curve as the city continues to grow.

       “They have helped us grow and grow well, because the growth is here, any way you slice it, and we’re going to be ready for it, at least when it comes to public safety,” Beasley said.

       She continued.

       “I couldn’t be prouder of this department,” Beasley said. “We have the least amount of turnover in the fire department than any of our departments, and it speaks to its leadership. Both the chiefs have been very forward thinking.”

       Hudson broke down how the new truck will serve in the near future.

       “This truck gives us multiple capabilities for elevated master streams when firefighting, rescues and so forth,” Hudson said. “We’ve got lots of two story and town homes coming into our fire district, and this truck will be necessary to reach those elevated surfaces. We have a lot of large acreage lots in the county and sometimes it’s hard to reach them from the road, so with this reach it gives us a better capability there.”

       The ceremony itself, pushing the truck into the station, harkens back to the fire service’s history.

       “In the history of the fire service, back when the carts were hand pulled or horse drawn, when they returned from a call, they would park the cart in front of the station, clean it up and would push the cart back in and put it back in service,” Hudson said. “This is a nod to the history of that, recognizing that and where we came from.”

       The department further extended an invitation to attendance and participation to any members of the community who could make it to the event.

       “This truck is the community’s truck,” Hudson said. “We’re fortunate that they trust us in providing this service to them, and I wanted them to be a part of it.”

       Beasley commented on the community members in attendance.

      “This is exciting,” Beasley said. “This is symbolic, saying, ‘as a community, we support you.’ Having this new truck and this ceremony shows that this community, despite some people not wanting it, is growing, we are growing and are going to continue to grow, but we are still and will always be community.”