Fire Department welcomes Brush 1 to the force

The Guthrie Fire Department is proud to have a new teammate on the force.

Brush Pumper 4 suffered damage in a July 23, 2011 Guthrie grass fire and after repairs and upgrades Brush Pumper 1 is now on the scene.

The department retrieved Brush 1, a 2006 Ford F-550, from Harper, Kansas where it was manufactured by Blanchat Manufacturing. The Guthrie City Council awarded the company to do the upgrades in early December.

The department used funds from insurance collection as well as funds collected in sale of fire equipment.

The company removed the damaged old bed and equipment, re-using what was salvageable on the new bed.

In addition, the suspension was upgraded and the rear dual ties were swapped out for super single tires to afford the truck maximum traction while off-road during grass fires.

“That was one of the truck’s biggest problems before, getting stuck very easily with mud packing in between those rear duals,” Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said.

The Chief went on to say, “the new bed also has added safety features incorporated in with all the pump controls being in the center walkway where firefighters don’t have to get out and go to the rear of the truck if the pump were to die or a valve needed opened or closed. It also has rollover protection to better protect firefighters fighting fire from the walkway area in the event of an accident.”