After months of planning and design, the Tomball Fire Department (TFD) has taken possession of a new $600,000-plus truck, designed to take the place of two vehicles that were recently in service.

The truck, a 55,000 pumper with a four member crew, was designed and built by Pierce, a fire truck manufacturer in Wisconsin.

Assistant Fire Chief Jon Fontenot explained that, while the primary responsibility for the new truck is as a pumper, it will also serve as a heavy rescue truck as well.

“(The new truck) is replacing our first engine apparatus, which was engine four and also a mini-rescue vehicle,” Fontenot said. “It’s designed to respond to any type of fire or rescue situation.”

“It will be the first vehicle out on most any call,” Fontenot added.

Once the new truck received approval, it took nearly 10 months to design, engineer and manufacture. The department formed a committee to make recommendations about what features they would like to see on the new apparatus.

“For us, the basic design was relatively simple as we already have a truck with the basic specifications that have proven themselves to the department’s members,” Tomball Fire Chief Randy Parr said. “We took the majority of the specifications from a previously purchased truck and gave them to the committee to evaluate for suggestions for the new pumper.”

After reviewing the final specifications submitted by Pierce, Parr and Fontenot met with company officials last May to approve the final plans.

The truck is unique in many ways and that’s by design, according to Fontenot.

“Our needs are very unique compared to other departments,” he said.

The truck carries two hydraulic pumps to operate tools like the jaws of life, which are carried onboard. It has the capability to refill breathing air containers used by firefighters, as well as a 1,500 gallon per minute pump and compressed air foam system. The foam system allows firefighters to turn water into a sticky foam, therby using less water in the process of fighting a fire.

“It’s a very impressive system,” Fontenot said. “It allows us to use a lot less water to fight fires which saves structures from more water damage, as well as conserving water.”

Firefighters seemed to be the most excited about the ability to pump and move. The truck has the capability to drive at approxiamately five miles-per-hour, while firefighters continue to spray water. The more mobile system will be useful in situations like brush fires.

“It’s what we call pump and roll,” Fontenot added.

TFD officials estimate the truck will spend at least 20 years as a front-line apparatus before moving to a reserve status.

Photo by Caleb Harris

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