Herron Island Lands a Fire Truck for Wildfire Suppression

Herron Island residents took possession of a brush rig April 23, purchased from Key Peninsula Fire District 16 for one dollar. The fire commissioners voted to surplus the rig to the island in 2024 after buying a new one for the peninsula.

“This is beyond exciting for us,” said Joyce Major, president of the island boosters club.

“We can actually mobilize to fight a small brush fire. Everyone on the island is so grateful.”

Dave Hancock, a full-time island resident, spearheaded the effort to obtain the truck, which took about three years. The need for better fire protection on the island became clear after a home burned to the ground last year.

The truck will be stationed at the island community center, a midpoint on the 1.5-mile-long island. The community center has a large, partially fenced area that also serves as a landing pad for emergency helicopters.

The island emergency preparedness coordinator, Ken Higgins, will notify residents about the new fire truck and how to contact volunteers in case a fire occurs. The Herron Island website lists procedures for residents reporting a fire at www.hmchi.org. “The first thing to do is call 911,” Higgins said.

Herron Island has about 150 full-time residents and several hundred weekenders.

Three islanders, Hancock, Higgins, and Larry Eccles, will be operating the rig. The plan is to expand that number to 10 or more with ongoing training opportunities.

Island residents were trained to use and care for the brush rig on the day they picked it up.

The residents are responsible for its maintenance. A group of experienced mechanics are committed to keeping the rig in good running order.

Training more people to use the truck will take place monthly, with hands-on exposure to ensure volunteer capability. Additional labeling will be added to the rig. “The truck is simple to use; we want to make it simpler,” Hancock said.

The island currently has a small water tanker system designed and built by island residents. The tanker needs to be hooked to a truck, towed to a fire, and maneuvered for best placement. The brush rig holds 150 gallons of water, with 200 feet of hose. Fire control is also enhanced on the island by a system of hydrants placed every 250 feet.

The newly acquired brush rig will be an improvement in efficiency over the old truck and trailer, Higgins said. Anne Nesbit, KPFD public information officer and volunteer battalion chief, said “It’s their truck — they own it — it’s not KP Fire Department property any longer. They have always wanted a truck, and the brush rig is much easier to manage by untrained personnel. It is for defensive purposes and does not take the place of calling 911 for a department response.”

Island residents are aware of the potential for delays in response to calls due to ferry operations. If the island ferry is not immediately available, the ferry captain must be paged.

“We are so grateful for years of professional and fast responses by our fire department, but this makes us safer,” Hancock said. “This gives us a chance against wildfires. We do not go inside buildings; we are addressing brush fires only. The rig is for wildfire suppression.”