The Key Peninsula Fire Department added two pieces of equipment in early February, beefing up its rescue arsenal.
The new mini-pumper is a small fire engine that is less expensive to purchase and operate than the engines KPFD currently runs. It was custom-built by Fouts Bros. in Milledgeville, Georgia, on a 2023 Ford F-550 chassis.
At a cost of about $380,000, it is a fraction of the price of a regular-size structural fire engine that can run anywhere between $600,000 and $800,000, according to KPFD Chief Nick Swinhart.
“It’s a huge savings and not just on the upfront costs,” Swinhart said. “The operational costs like fuel and outfitting, things like tires, all those things are much more efficient and less expensive to operate and deploy.”
When EMS calls go out, a medical aid unit responds with backup from at least two firefighters on an engine.
Assistant Fire Chief Chris Beswick said this smaller and less expensive style of fire engine will allow personnel to respond to medical calls but retain some firefighting capabilities in the event of a fire call while the crews are out of the station.
The mini-pumper sports several advantages over a traditional engine, such as a shorter wheelbase, lower overall height and four-wheel drive capacity. Beswick said this makes it especially suited for the narrow roads and driveways, low overhead clearances, and the rough, muddy conditions first responders commonly confront on the KP.
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians awarded a $50,000 grant to the nonprofit Key Peninsula Volunteer Firefighter Association to acquire and outfit a 21-foot rigid hull inflatable for fire department use.
“This boat will be used for water rescues, access to Herron Island and the many miles of shoreline in our district,” Beswick said.
The department previously responded to water rescues using two personal watercraft with a separate small inflatable to tow victims to shore.
KPFD continues to rely on assistance from McNeil Island, Anderson Island or West Pierce fire districts whenever a full-size fire and rescue boat is needed.
Beswick said the plan is to have the boat fully outfitted with upgraded radar, GPS, and lights for safer navigation.
“All the upgrades are covered by the grant from the Puyallup Tribe. The boat should be ready for service with trained personnel by late spring or early summer.”
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