Blaze from movie scene using aerial fire trucks. Facebook pictures of new Pierce aerial platform fire truck in Paducah, Kentucky Firefighters run into burning buildings, perform heroic rescues, put their lives on the line everyday. First responders potentially face death each time they put on the uniform and the commitment required both mentally and physically to carry out such a responsibility is undeniable.
It takes a special person to answer an unselfish calling and the career path isn’t for the weak and weary. Firefighters are made of the right stuff. They aren’t invincible but they’re up to the task. Part of the city’s responsibility to the firefighters is to supply them with the best and most advanced equipment on the market. In the next several weeks, Paducah fire fighters will be working with a technologically superior Pierce aerial platform fire truck. The state-of-the-art truck will replace a 1994 ladder truck that will be sold at auction after the new truck and firefighters are trained and ready to go. It’s been over two decades since the department has needed to replace a firetruck. Though the aerial truck cost $1.2 million, the new technology will provide better safety for firefighters and those in need of rescuing. The Department expects the remaining trucks to stay operational for at least another 10 years meaning a large purchase won’t be needed for quite sometime. Due to COVID-19, Station Five on Broadway in Paducah, Kentucky has been the team of firefighters that have trained on the new platform truck. The Broadway station is the base of operation for the truck and the team, along with those that would replace them in an emergency or during their time off, and will be the first to operate the Pierce truck. Chief Steve Kyle said the platform truck is unlike any other (all others are ladder trucks). The capabilities extended to this particular truck will make a difference, not only putting out fires but rescue missions as well. Some of the amenities include the size of the truck. The Pierce fire truck is smaller allowing for reduced clearance needed to park the truck. This means easier access in tighter environments. There’s a Stokes basket which attaches directly to the platform to assist injured victims. It’s a device used to immobilize as well as transport a victim over various terrain. With the Stokes basket, victims will not need to travel up and down a ladder to reach safety. The controls mounted on the platform will improve safety measures for the firemen. The new technology will require skill and training. Abrupt stops and starts can send a jolt through those on the platform. The new technology improves safety with smoother starts and stops, as well as increased speed when raising or lowering the platform. If there’s an evening situation, the truck is equipped with LED lighting for high illumination. Blazes in the middle of the night can be more dangerous if first responders are unable to access their surroundings. The new truck can pump 2,000 gallons of water per minute and is equipped with two nozzles mounted on the platform. Having two nozzles will enable firefighters to attack a blaze from both sides of a burning structure. Hats off to the men and women that fight fires and rescue victims. Not enough can be said for the firefighters that perform this task for a living. It’s no small sacrifice and one not be taken for granted.
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