Jasper’s Squad 1 won’t be so busy in the near future

After 22 years of service, Jasper’s rescue engine, Squad 1, will be moved to a little slower paced position at the Holy Family Fire Station in the near future.

The aged rescue engine that responds to nearly every call received by the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department is a bit too small for the future needs of the city. Plus, with new technology and designs available, a new rescue engine will provide a safer and quicker response time at the scene.

The Jasper Board of Public Works gave the approval for Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang to begin seeking bids on a new rescue engine. Once it is ordered, it can take up to nine months to receive it from the manufacturer.

“When we ordered this engine, they added the fire fighting equipment to the truck. Now, they build them completely from scratch,” Hochgesang said.

Ordered in 1994, the rescue engine carries the Jaws of Life, tools used for extrications and fire fighting, a compressor to fill air tanks as well as various pieces of medical first responder equipment. On top, high intensity lights unfold to light the scene of an accident or incident.

According to Chief Kenny Hochgesang, Squad 1 will be moved to Holy Family to provide a quicker response to the south side of the city. “We seem to have more extrications towards the WITZ area,” he said.

The new engine will have a cab that fits four firefighters rather than the two-person cab on the old engine. It will be a bit longer and be able to carry more equipment. It will have two compressors; one to jack tanks and the other to power tools.

The lights on top will be more mobile and bi-directional. Also, items like the Jaws of Life will be carried in the front of the engine, allowing firefighters to pull directly up to an incident and use the emergency equipment. The equipment is stored on the passenger side in the far back compartment on the old engine.

The new engine was included as a purchase for this year’s budget and will be paid through the Fire Cum Fund set up to collect funds to go towards equipment and vehicles. Donations collected through the Fire Truck Donation Account will also go towards the new engine.

The new engine will likely be named Rescue 1.