New truck is “big” addition
Compared to their other vehicles, the Gilmer County Fire Department’s (GCFD) newest truck is a monster.
Even at a hefty 70,000 pounds, it’s just two feet longer than the other trucks, Deputy Chief of Administration Jason Bryant said. Its 100-foot ladder can reach the top of a five-story building.
“We don’t like technology. We want things to stay the way they always have,” Bryant said of firefighters. “But you have to adapt.”
For firefighters, this learning begins by driving the firetruck on all kinds of local roads. Highways, steep inclines, sharp turns and more help them understand how it handles.
It’s hard to bring such a heavy vehicle to a quick stop at high speeds. The truck has built-in speed governors to aid the driver, Bryant said.
The weight of its ladder makes the vehicle somewhat top-heavy.
But it’s a big upgrade in ability.
“We’ve had people that have been stuck in trees and some issues over the last few years that we haven’t been able to get to because we just haven’t had a truck that was able to do that,” he said. “This gives us more ability.”
Only experienced firefighters are allowed to drive the truck, Bryant said.
The good news is that the truck comes with several advanced electronic systems that will help firefighters handle these challenges.
Sensors in the truck measure the grade of the road, limit how much the weight shifts and help with safety. These devices are so good that the truck can set up with just one firefighter. But for safety reasons, it’s best to have at least two people managing it.
“You really need a spotter because you’ve got overhead power lines, trees and things that one person may not notice,” Bryant said.
However, it can be hard to resolve electronic glitches on the truck in an emergency, Bryant said. Just in case, the new truck is designed so every system can be operated manually in an emergency.
“We have a way to completely bypass the electronics side,” he said.
On Oct. 1, 2 and 3, the truck’s manufacturer, E-One, will send experts to GCFD to give firefighters an extensive course in how to use all these systems.
Each of these days will have 10 hours of training.
For the department, the new truck will greatly increase its capacities to help citizens across the county.
“We want to thank the citizens and the Board of Commissioners for funding it,” Bryant said.