Sierra Vista gives fire truck to Fort Huachuca

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — A large panther is now part of Fort Huachuca’s protecting force, courtesy of the city of Sierra Vista.

Mayor Tom Hessler turned keys to a nearly $800,000, 78,900-pound fire-fighting monster over to Garrison Commander Col. Jonathan Hunter at a short Friday ceremony at the Pete Castro Maintenance Facility. The water, foam- and halotron-capable vehicle was constructed by the world’s largest fire truck company, Rosenbauer of Wyoming, Minn. The truck, which is designed to fight aircraft blazes, incorporates state-of-the-art technology, said Marty Huffman, the company’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting program manager, who lives in Sierra Vista.

Fort Huachuca Fire Chief Kevin Baylor said the existing fire trucks at Libby Army Airfield are at least 20 years old. Those vehicles only carry 1,000 gallons. The new truck has a capacity of 3,000 gallons.

The Panther includes a probe that can penetrate an airplane’s fuselage and spray fire-fighting material directly into the aircraft’s interior. The equipment also includes a thermal detection device to spot hot spots so suppression activities can be targeted.

Huffman said even though the truck is heavy, it can reach a top speed of 75 mph and can go from 0 to 50 mph in 35 seconds.

Sierra Vista Fire Chief Bruce Thompson said having updated equipment at Libby will help provide assistance to the city’s portion of the airfield.

The post and the city have a joint use agreement, and city and fort officials saw the need for a new truck.

A $727,800 grant was received from the FAA, to which the city added $36,100 and the Arizona Department of Transportation gave $19,155, bringing the purchase price of the Panther to $783,055.

The work to obtain grant money, match funds and design the truck to meet FAA requirements and the needs of the fort began in February 2004. The specifications initially called for a 4X4, 1,500-gallon vehicle, but it was upgraded to a 6X6, 3,000-gallon truck, for which Huffman developed some engineering needs.

Hunter said the Army usually only purchases two new fire trucks a year, and it could have taken a great deal of time before the fort receives anything new.

After the keys were transferred, Hessler, Hunter and Baylor were taken for a ride around the Pete Castro center as Huffman drove the vehicle.

At one time the Panther sped by with water spewing out of a hose on the boom and from nozzles under the truck.Hunter later took the wheel, albeit driving much slower.

herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

[SandRat]

By Ed Honda-Herald/Review) Fort Huachuca now has a $800,000 fire truck that can be used at Libby Army Airfield, courtesy of the City of Sierra Vista. Through a grant, the purchase will enable the Fort Huachuca Fire Department to handle emergencies at the airfield.

[SandRat]

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