The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department was treated to a barbeque dinner on Monday, April 12th by the Joaquin City Council as a "thank you" for the department's hard work and selfless service to the community throughout a very difficiult year in 2020. In addition to the challenges presented by the COVID 19 pandemic, the JVFD also responded to an above average number of structure fires as well as high water rescues during the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. This service continued into 2021 with multiple unprecedented winter weather events. Councilman Jesse Griffith spoke for the Council, saying "No matter what the call was, these guys were here to answer it. Our EMRs (Emergency Medical Responders) had to adapt on the fly with how they handled medical calls, and they have dealt with several severe weather events. They're always here, day or night."

 

The Fire Department responded by giving the Council, as well as members of the Joaquin Public Safety Development Corporation Board who were on hand a sneak peek at the latest addition to the JVFD fleet. Engine ! arrived in mid-March and has since been put in service at Central Fire Station in downtown Joaquin. Engine 1 was built by E-ONE of Ocala, Florida on a 2020 International Durastar chassis. It is the first specifically designed rescue engine in Shelby County, meaning it is capable of responding to a variety of incidents, including structure fires, traffic accidents, medical emergencies, structural collapses, and more. It carries a full set of battery powered hydraulic resuce tools (aka "the Jaws of Life), as well as a full set of vehicle stabilization jacks and struts, 1260 feet of 3" supply hose, and 450 feet of preconnected attack lines. It is also equipped with an onboard Class A foam system to augment a 1250 GPM pump and a 1000 gallon booster tank. The truck was acquired through a FAS (Foreign Agriculture Service) grant, which is a United States Department of Agriculture program.

 

The sale price of the truck was just over $389,000, but through the grant program, cost to the taxpayers of the Joaquin area was under $6,000.  The Joaquin Public Safety Corporation funded the new equipment that went on the truck. The Joaquin VFD is expecting to schedule an open house in the near future to show off Engine 1 to the public. That event will coincide with the kickoff of our 2021 fundraiser raffle, which will feature multiple high end items that will give supporters multiple opportunities to win. Stay tuned to local media as well the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page for future announcements.