NEWS RELEASE

Two Cities Get New Fire Engines

Volunteer companies in Sherwood and Wilsonville now have new fire engines to use in responding to all types of emergencies. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) recently placed in service the second of two new Pierce Sabers. The units are considered a combination of fire engine and rescue vehicle. They carry 500 gallons of water and have a pumping capacity of one-thousand gallons per minute. The units carry spare air bottles that supply firefighters self-contained breathing apparatus, portable lights for use at traffic accidents and rescue situations, plus other supplies and equipment not normally carried on the career-staffed engines.

Assistant Chief Dave Austin states, "Units staffed by volunteers provide important coverage for additional calls in their response area when the career units are out on an extended incident. In addition, they are also a significant resource during a large-scale incident in the district." Although currently assigned to the volunteer companies, the new engines can also be used by career firefighters if necessary.

The new engines replace a 1974 Western States Seagrave pumper assigned to the Wilsonville Volunteers and a 1984 Western States Spartan engine staffed by the Sherwood Volunteers. Because of the rigorous demands placed upon them, fire engines typically only last between 15-20 years. Austin adds, "Our older engines no longer met the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901 Standard, a fire service guideline for performance criteria such as pumping capability, driveability, braking, etc.

The new engine in Sherwood is already getting a workout. Since it was placed in service on April 12th, the volunteers have been called out five times to either standby or respond to incidents. They average two to three calls per week. "It's wonderful!" said Paul Spath, captain of the Sherwood volunteers. "Now we're better able to serve the community. We're also a more valuable resource to the entire fire district. The new Wilsonville volunteer engine is identical to Sherwood's and has generated similar enthusiasm. "The new engine is so much more efficient," said Captain Dick Block who heads up the Wilsonville volunteers. The twelve volunteers in the Wilsonville area have been responding to incidents aboard their new engine about once a day since March 5^th.

The two new fire engines each cost $252,133. The funds came from a bond issue approved by Fire District voters in November 1998.

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