A new, advanced fire truck is now rolling along the streets in East Biloxi, thanks to a Community Development Block Grant.
The Biloxi Fire Department received the new ladder truck and put it into service at Fire Station No. 1 last week to serve residents and visitors in East Biloxi. And with a price tag of $1.08 million, Truck 3 comes with some modern advances.
“This truck replaces the old Truck 3 which is approximately 20 years old,” said Biloxi Fire Chief Nick Geiser. “There have been a lot of new innovations you can imagine in the last twenty years and this truck gives us some new safety features that go right along with the advancements in the fire industry.”
The new ladder truck features blue LED lighting allowing firefighters to see the truck handles and ladder railings better in the dark. It also comes with a remote for firefighters to operate the truck from up to 300 feet away. The remote gives the firefighters the ability to put the truck into action while staying a safe distance if needed when fighting fires. And, it has a digital display on the rear door of the truck allowing firefighters to see how the truck is functioning while in use.
“The main function of Truck 3 is to fight major fires,” Chief Geiser said. “The amount of water we can put on the fires with this truck will be greatly increased. The truck will also be used for breaching and breaking a door and shutting off utilities. It is equipped for these functions and more such as high-rise rescues.”
It also has a more modern look with the color scheme of the traditional red with a large black reflective stripe along the sides. It also sports the City of Biloxi logo as well as the Biloxi Fire Department crest, and the Biloxi Public Schools logo.
This new ladder truck will make the fourth of its kind in the Biloxi Fire Department fleet with three on the frontline.
Added Chief Geiser: “The new Truck 3 will serve a multitude of functions and allow us to have a spare ladder truck with the old Truck 3 which helps with the city’s fire rating.”
YouTube: See a video of the new truck
News & notes: Weekly report, HowHop, senior dance
The week that was: Weekly reports from the departments of Police, Fire, Community Development, Public Works and Engineering are now online for your review. To see the report from last week and an archive of weekly reports, click here.
HopHow: Biloxi Main Street is working under the I-110 overpass at the corner of Howard Avenue and Hopkins Boulevard for a HowHop beautification project. Workers will be pressure washing and painting a vertical blue stripe on 32 columns. During this time, no parking will be allowed in the work area. The Charles R. Hegwood Community Market will continue to operate in the area on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. The work is expected to last through next week.
Senior dance: The Senior Patriotic Dance, “Salute to the Military,” has been canceled. However, the Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department will still host a senior dance but it will be the Luau Dance Party on July 19. The event will take place at the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be open to all ages 55 and older. Details: 228-388-7170
