DFD’s new fire truck finally arrives

By Bruce Whetten
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 5:31 PM MDT


What had been a dream for Douglas Fire Chief Mario Novoa became a reality Wednesday when at long last, the new $1.1 million fire truck arrived.


(Use arrows above to view more photos)

The new Pierce Velocity 100-foot aerial platform ladder truck rolled down G Ave. around 1 p.m. before turning up 10th Street towards its new home.

The new truck is 47 feet long, 12.5 feet tall and weighs 80,000 pounds.

Its bucket is equipped with a sprinkler system that will keep it from getting too hot when on top of flames. It has a dual nozzle that will allow water to spray out at a rate of 2,000 gallons per minute.

The day after the new arrival Chief Novoa was still glowing when talking about the new truck.

“It’s a surreal feeling for us here at the fire station,” he said. “This truck belongs to the citizens of Douglas. We will be the caretakers … but it belongs to the entire city.”

The Chief said the truck is not just for firefighting, it can also be used for all kinds of rescues.

“With all the safety features and all configurations that it has it’s a state of the art truck,” the chief said. “It’s a bitter sweet feeling because I’ve always felt we needed this truck years and years ago.”

Chief Novoa said Councilman Ben LaForge stopped by the department last Wednesday to see the new truck and remarked this is a morale booster not only for the citizens of Douglas but also the employees of the Douglas Fire Department.

“This is something the City of Douglas has needed for a while,” the chief said. “I see this as a piece of equipment that boosts our city to another level.”

Chief Novoa said he appreciates the new administration and how it’s moving forward by allowing them to make such a large purchase.

The chief was the first one to go up in the bucket 100 feet up in the air.

“The view was incredible,” he said. “I’ve never seen Veteran’s Park from that angle.”

The view was sweeter the chief added because he knew the truck was here to say and not from a vendor showing off its product.

While the truck may be here it is not in operation until all the fire fighters have been trained on how to use it.

“We’ve never had an aerial apparatus in the City of Douglas,” the chief said. “This is our first. There are a lot of limitations and uses. We need to make sure our staff use it effectively and safely at every single scene.”

The instructors will be flying in from Wisconsin Sept. 10. They will be in Douglas Sept. 11 for the open house where the truck will be on display for the public to see. The training will be conducted from Sept. 12-14.

“We look to be in full service by Sept. 17,” Chief Novoa said.

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    douglas citizen wrote on Sep 13, 2012 11:03 AM:

    " you have two choises. 1. Sell the truck and give money and jobs to los pobres. 2. Keep the truck and ignore los pobres. What is the mayor and council going to do? I hope they do the right thing. "

    Jose wrote on Sep 9, 2012 7:27 PM:

    " I hope you don't never need to use the truck "

    Taxpayer wrote on Sep 8, 2012 3:47 PM:

    " Great Job Chief Novoa and staff of Douglas Fire. We are thinking about the safety of the citizens of douglas and using the ladder truck for all the buildings in douglas- downtown G ave, and the 5th street shopping center, etc. It is a godd investment. Sorry for all those other city departments, come supervisors speak out for your staff. I still say that Mayor and Council made a wrong decision in approving the City Clerk's raise was wrong, it could have been use for improvement of parks, streets, recreation and etc. But it could have been used for increase on wages for the actual employees that are harding people. "

    WOW wrote on Sep 8, 2012 1:53 PM:

    " Higher wages for both city and school administrators? WOW I guess endearment rates higher than substance!!!!!!
    I presume the city workers and the teachers are not that good looking. "

    hahaha wrote on Sep 7, 2012 6:35 PM:

    " To everyone that is going to post, pleease read "learn first" and "former firefighter"s post before you spew negativity. And to Chuey, i guess we should've used the money to buy newer city trucks and sprinkler systems for the park... that way we could say, "well, my loved one died in that fire a latter truck could've saved.. but at least the city man is driving a nice truck and the grass is green"! Im sure knowing that, would make someonee who lost a loved one feel better. "

    Chuey wrote on Sep 7, 2012 11:54 AM:

    " Chief how is this a moral booster for the citizens of Douglas, I could understand a moral boster to the Fire Department, certainly not to the public works facility workers who are driving around in old beat up trucks, working with out dated equipment, certainly not the highway guys are struggling to keep up with our streets, certainly not to the Parks and recreation employees who work hard in keeping our parks green and clean. Certainly not to all the City of Douglas employees who will not see a raise this year or possibly next year. As for the citizens of Douglas it is certainly not a moral boster, when our streets and sidewalks need repair. "

    More to it wrote on Sep 7, 2012 11:17 AM:

    " all you "negative" people are just seeing the ladder and thinking TALL buildings, but dont forget the big bldgs here in town that if there were to be a fire the ladder truck would be the best thing to use. Think about the Wal-mart,call center, JC Pennys, Stage, the new County/City Bldg...etc. Remember the store on G Ave that burned last year....the ladder truck would have been very useful in fighting that fire. I'm glad the City got that truck and don't mind MY tax dollars going to that. "

    Watching wrote on Sep 7, 2012 10:16 AM:

    " Congratulations to Chief Novoa and DFD, It was a long time in coming and the department and citizens of Douglas (Even the bitter, envious people like Money and Juan) are very deserving of this truck with all it's great features. It's NICE to see good things happen to the people of Douglas! "

    LOL wrote on Sep 6, 2012 4:49 PM:

    " So one truck for only one multi story bldg in Douglas? GOOD RATIONAL THINKING DOUGLAS...LOL "

    Former Firefighter wrote on Sep 6, 2012 2:37 PM:

    " As a former firefighter this piece of apparatus will be a valuable tool that the City of Douglas will utilize. At first you see the 100ft ladder and yes it was designed to fight fires from above but this truck will serve the citizen of Douglas in may different way. This truck can be used for high, low and steep angle rescues. A perfect example of a situation where this truck could have been used was about 10 or 11 years ago when 3 to 4 undocumented alliens where trapped in a drainage ditch at A ave and International this truck would have been a great tool to use to extracate these individuals from said drain, thus lowering the risk to the people being rescued and the rescuers. The brave men and now women of Douglas Fire Department do a great job day in and day out and provide the best service possible to the citizens of the city. Just remember one day these brave people will arrive in this truck and save you, a loved one or someone you are dearly for. Be thankful they have this tool. "

    exresident wrote on Sep 6, 2012 2:05 PM:

    " You hate to be negative, but this is a super-big ticket item for such a small town that needs so many other things. It is a beautiful, expensive toy. "

    dglcitizen wrote on Sep 6, 2012 1:06 PM:

    " Good job guys! After all you do for the community, you guys definitely deserve it! :) "

    Non-AZ Fire Guy wrote on Sep 6, 2012 12:04 PM:

    " Well, Money, from one of the attached pictures it looks like Douglas has at least one four-story building. . . that seems justification enough. "

    learn first wrote on Sep 6, 2012 11:37 AM:

    " Don't you all love how people here love to say somthing negative about something they have no idea about??? Its like the first two posters have that form of negative statment turrets that is prevalent in Douglas... FYI everryone, you can't place a price tag on your loved ones, and dousing a fire from high above it is the best way of putting it out!!!! You dont want to fight a fire on its same level, think about putting out a fire at your home, do you lay on the ground and spray water at it that way? Or do you stand above it to put it out? People love to make statements about things they have no clue about!! Good job money and juan, way to look intelligent! "

    Supporter. wrote on Sep 6, 2012 11:31 AM:

    " Chief Novoa did a very good job supporting the need for this new laddder truck at the city council meetings. That was very well reported in this newspaper. If you had been paying attention then, you would know that. If this keeps firefighters safer, you can't put a price tag on that. It saves even just ONE life, you can't put a dollar amount on that. "

    Bob wrote on Sep 6, 2012 8:10 AM:

    " Good job Kevin, Joey and the rest of the guys that made this happen.Would have loved to have had this truck while I was there. The differance it could have made with some of the big fires we had. DFD deserves to have the finest equipment, and now does.Enjoy the truck and be safe. "

    Juan wrote on Sep 5, 2012 6:56 PM:

    " Remeber what the original article said. It is a 10 year lease for 1.1 million dollars. That means $110,000.00 per year. I wonder if it is worth the price. Only time will tell. "

    Money wrote on Sep 5, 2012 6:14 PM:

    " It is hard not to criticize when people do not think before they act. Giving rides and publicly acknowledging that fact. The county fair will be here in a couple of weeks and the ferris wheel is much less expensive. Novoa is quoted as saying it can be used in many types of rescues. Like what? Getting a jumper off a bridge, pulling someone out of the middle of a lake, attacking a skyscraper fire. We don't have any of that here. When money is so tight the chief should consider backing up statements in order to inform citizens of what his statements precisely mean. When all you can state is how cool Douglas looks from so far up, you truly sound like a child that got a new toy. Now at least since the fire department has caught up with the rest of the nation, it is not only a new toy for boys. I look forward to hearing from others what other rescues this could be used for. "

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