Arkansas’ Forestry Fire Truck Program
APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT
Since the Arkansas Forestry Commission instituted its Rural Fire Protection Program in February 1979, 80 vehicles have been refurbished for use as fire apparatus in 80 different communities.
The program, headed by Lahabra, Calif.’s retired Fire Chief William H. “Chip” Hillman, was a result of Act 36 passed by the Arkansas legislature, authorizing the Forestry Commission to assist communities in developing rural fire protection plans and providing wildland fire suppression training.
The program calls for building fire apparatus from surplus or excess military vehicles, says Forest Information Manager James E. Grant of the Arkansas Forestry Commission. These vehicles are either furnished without cost to communities willing to install fire fighting equipment and maintain the apparatus, or refurbished by the Forestry Commission and made available to rural fire fighting groups at cost. A $l-million revolving fund was established for use by the commission to purchase the necessary materials to equip the apparatus and to lend money to rural volunteer fire departments so they can purchase the trucks.
All styles of obsolete and discarded trucks, including civilian-type vehicles with conventional cabs, are converted into fire apparatus at the commission’s Greenbrier facility. The total time required to build each apparatus is approximately three weeks, assuming that all parts are available and no hitches develop.
All the mechanical and body work is done in the commission’s shop. Mechanics overhaul the motor, revamp the electrical system and build a new cab if necessary. Then, the vehicles are sent to the Tucker Prison in Jefferson County, where prisoners paint them white, red or lime green. After this, the apparatus are returned to the Greenbrier facility, where lights, sirens and equipment are installed.
Total cost of refurbishing the larger, 750-gallon apparatus is $8900. These units weigh at least 1 1/2 tons. The cost of refurbishing the smaller, 300-gallon units is $8600. These apparatus must weigh at least 1 ton to be modified so they can be rated as 1-ton vehicles. Every unit is equipped with a 20-hp pump, capable of pumping 50 gpm at 150 psi. This pump output, along with the other equipment on the apparatus, allows the vehicles to meet Insurance Services Office class 9 standards, lowering insurance rates.
Fire departments eligible to purchase the rebuilt apparatus must be incorporated as nonprofit organizations under Arkansas law and have at least 75 percent volunteer fire fighters; or the departments must be municipal departments under a city council, again with 75 percent volunteer fire fighters.
Fire departments are prioritized for receiving apparatus according to their financial solvency. First priority is given to departments that have full funds to purchase the vehicles. Priority II is assigned to departments that require loan assistance of 50 percent or more of the cost of the vehicles. Priority III is assigned to those departments that require 100 percent loan assistance.
The fire departments have a 50-year lease on the vehicles and can bring a vehicle back and ask the commission to replace it. Each department is required to sign an agreement, stating that it will respond to all fires within a 5-mile radius of the fire department.
The communities cannot sell the fire apparatus at any time, since they are military vehicles.
