GSFR Prepares To House Three New Engines
Since August, Garden Spot Fire Rescue (GSFR) Chief Darryl Keiser has been fielding questions about new fire trucks. "People say, 'Hey, have I seen a new fire engine around town?'" said Keiser.
The answer is a resounding "Yes," and in fact, not just one new engine, but three, one for each of the GSFR stations.
On Saturday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m., a housing ceremony for all three engines will be held at Station 1, 339 E. Main St., New Holland, at 1 p.m. The ceremony, which will last about 45 minutes, will include remarks by Keiser, Rep. Dave Zimmerman, Rep. Ryan Aument, and Lancaster County Commissioners Josh Parsons and Ray D'Agostino. Following the housing ceremony, an open house will be held at the station until 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and there will be door prize drawings.
The journey to acquiring three new engines began about two years ago, according to Keiser. "Engine 1 and Engine 3 were at the 25-year mark," said Keiser. "We replace equipment at the 25-year mark. Engine 2 was 15 years old." A suggestion was made to replace all three engines with identical engines for purposes of operational functionality. Keiser explained that firefighters will be working with the same type of engine no matter which station they report to, cutting down on training time.
"A lot of (firefighters) live in one section (of the GSFR coverage area) and work in a different one," said Nick Good, director of administration and public information officer for the fire company, who explained that some members regularly divide time between stations. "You don't have to think, 'What engine am I on? (because they're all the same). That helps with response time." GSFR serves residents in three municipalities: 100% of New Holland borough, 75% of Earl Township, and 50% of East Earl Township. All three entities contributed to covering the cost of the new engines.
Keiser said that each new engine provides seating for seven in the cab, and it can hold 750 gallons of water. Good noted a number of other advantages, including a shorter wheelbase for better maneuverability. "It's easier to navigate into tighter areas," said Good, who added that the engines will be lighter on equipment so as not to duplicate items that are on other trucks.
A 10-member committee began working about a year ago to determine key features of the engines. In April, production on the engines started at Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wis. The committee traveled to the factory in July to inspect the final project, and the engines were delivered to New Holland in August.
The cost of the three engines was $1.8 million, which was covered in a variety of ways, including a GSFR fund for capital equipment replacement. GSFR will continue to fundraise to meet fire company needs. "When you look at the 25 years and spending $1.8 (million), you're investing back into the community," said Good, who noted that other apparatus will need to be replaced in between. "It spaces it out to handle three at once (because) in a few years, we may need a new ladder truck or tanker."
Readers who would like to learn more about GSFR may visit http://www.gsfr39.net, call 717-354-8311.
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