Clarksburg Chronicles

The Clarksburg Fire Department is set to receive two fire trucks this year, a nearly $2 million investment that city officials say will replace aging apparatus and improve safety and reliability for both firefighters and the public.

Clarksburg Fire Chief James Green said the department is purchasing a new frontline rescue truck and a new firefighting truck.

“The two new trucks we’re purchasing and will be receiving this year are replacing equipment that is past its age,” Green said.

One of the trucks will replace the department’s rescue unit, which Green said has already been retired after repeated mechanical issues.

“Our rescue truck broke down and we’re in a backup truck right now for that,” he said, adding the new rescue truck will return the department to a dedicated frontline rescue vehicle for crashes and other emergency calls.

Green said the second truck, expected to arrive in late winter, will replace an apparatus that is about 30 years old.

Green also noted that industry guidelines recommend moving older trucks out of primary service as they age.

“A big reason we did this is because of reliability… the NFPA wants you to have a truck that is 15 years old go into a reserve mode, and after 20 years, they want you to do away with it totally,” he said. “So, we have pushed beyond the limit of safety for that.”

Green said the department’s officers worked together to determine the specifications for the trucks, prioritizing consistency across the fleet so firefighters can quickly locate equipment during emergencies.

“We all decided that we wanted to keep our trucks the same,” Green said. “That way, when the guys went out to fight fires … everything would be laid out exactly the same.”
He also said having equipment arranged the same way across vehicles can improve efficiency and response during high-stress situations.

“Muscle memory, everything being the exact same place, will allow you to be more proficient and faster at your job,” Green said.

Green said the total cost for both trucks is close to $2 million and is being funded through the city, without grant assistance.

“It’s all purchased through the city. No grants or anything,” he said.
Green later said the city’s fire fees help support the department with equipment purchases, and that costs for certified firefighting equipment continues to rise.

“Anything in the fire service is very expensive,” he said, adding that certification requirements can significantly increase the price of apparatus and gear.

Beyond modernizing equipment, Green said the biggest benefit will be reliability and safety during emergency responses.

“It’s going to allow us to respond to calls knowing that we have a piece of equipment that’s going to hold up and work properly for us,” he said. “We’re not going to have to worry about it breaking down.”
Green later mentioned that the rescue truck is expected to arrive in late summer, while the firefighting truck is anticipated by mid- to late February.
Green also said the department hopes to showcase the new apparatus to the general public once both trucks are in service.

“Hopefully this summer, after we get them all in, we may be able to get them out to where people can look at them and see what type of equipment that the fire service fee does help the firefighters perform their jobs,” he said.