Photos for Headline Surfer / Engine 53 is housed in Station 53 on Industrial Park Road in New Smyrna Beach. The city's largest fire truck was purchased in 2010 cost nearly half a million bucks and includes a plaque on the side with the names of the names of city officials on it led by Mayor Adam Barringer.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH - Christmas came a few weeks earlier for the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department in 2010 with the arrival of a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT, but the price was pretty steep: $402,500, complete with plaque of city officials affixed to it.
The wallet-lighting purchase comes in at No. 492 in Headline Surfer's fifth anniversary countdown of the top 500 stories.
The firetruck was delivered from Appleton, Wisc., home of the manufacturing company.
And as department personnel waxed and polished the truck on Faulkner Street, New Smyrna Beach Fire chief Dave McAllister looked pleased with the latest addition to the fleet, commenting: “The taxpayers should be happy with this purchase. We’ve replaced two aging trucks with this new one, reducing maintenance costs and eliminating redundancy.”
Of course, McAllister wasn't too excited to talk about the purchase price, adding the purchase was made by the elected officials based on his recommendation as to need.
He said the primary use for the new truck was for rescue purposes and not just fighting fires.
“We have more rescue calls than fire calls,” McAllister said. “But we have all of the firefighting equipment on board as well. We’re adapting to the times and becoming more efficient in how we respond to emergencies. This one new truck allows us to do just that.”
“We have more rescue calls than fire calls,” McAllister said. “But we have all of the firefighting equipment on board as well. We’re adapting to the times and becoming more efficient in how we respond to emergencies. This one new truck allows us to do just that.”
The city commission approved the purchase of the new truck in April. One of the trucks it replaced was an aging 1987 fire engine that was already out of service.
Recap Top 500 Stories:
492. Christmas comes early in 2010 for New Smyrna Beach with $402,500 fire rescue vehicle, complete with plaque
493. Convenience store clerk in Ormond Beach draws own knife to scare off knife-wielding robber
494. Former Oak Hill Mayor Donna Jane Bennett dies in 2009, a decade after exiting the political stage
495. Biketoberfest 2011 in New Smyrna Beach a bust
496. Topless woman holds up DeLand traffic
497. Oak Hill proud of its Super Bowl connection in winter resident Larry Csonka
498. Stetson University mourns passing of retired President H. Douglas Lee in 2009
499. Kilo of pot washes ashore on New Smyrna Beach on July 4th weekend
500. Celebrating 5 years of covering greater Daytona Beach & New Smyrna Beach with 24/7 internet newspaperHeadline Surfer 5th Anniversary Advertising---------------------
