New fire truck makes debut
With new lettering on the cab and doors pronouncing it the property of the Florence Fire Department, the newest addition to emergency services in Florence is nearly ready for its debut.
The department recently purchased the "new" truck from Professional Coach and Equipment. It was delivered to the city last month.
"We still need to receive some equipment from the seller," said Florence Fire Chief Travis Parmley. Included with the truck are two self-contained breathing apparatus packs which have not been shipped.
"And we need final official approval from the city council for the lease-purchase agreement. Then it will be ready to roll."
The department spent $33,000 on the truck, which is a 1975 model rebuilt in 1987.
"It's new to us and in better shape than anything else we have," said Parmley. They will finance $28,500 of the purchase price through a lease-purchase agreement.
"As with departments in most municipalities in Kansas, the Florence Fire Department is feeling the crunch this year with its budget and financing. It feels it can pay for the truck out of its annual budget, but there will be little left over for extras or for an emergency.
"The department will tighten its belt and work at keeping expenses to a minimum," Parmley said. Members know it will be a little tough at times and there will be things the department may have to cut back on.
But, they are committed to the benefits the community will reap from having a more modern and reliable truck in the fleet.
"We are hoping to hold a couple of fund-raisers a year to build up the money we operate the department on," said Eric Yoder, assistant fire chief.
The department holds an annual pancake feed in February and it is well supported by the community. "We have been doing it so long that people just automatically show up for it," Parmley said.
They are hoping to raise additional funds with a shotgun raffle to be held immediately after the Labor Day parade in downtown Florence. They purchased a Beretta semi-automatic .12 gauge shotgun and are selling raffle tickets.
"There are only a limited number of tickets for sale," said Parmley. "When they are all sold, that will be it."
Tickets are available from any fireman or Florence merchant. They also are available in Peabody at the Peabody Market and Peabody Hardware.
In the meantime, the new truck is ready to be put into service.
"For a department the size of ours, there are lots of challenges," said Parmley. "Getting the equipment we need is one of them. We think this decision (to buy the truck) will benefit the community for a long time."
