PENDLETON — The stated guest of honor at a recent Pendleton/Fall Creek Township Fire Department gathering was 31 feet long, eight feet wide and just over 10 feet tall.
But as the department celebrated its acquisition of a new $350,000 fire tanker — which has a 3,000-gallon capacity and the ability to empty a load in 1 minute 40 seconds — it also honored a couple of individuals who have served the agency and community.
Chief Jeff Moore, speaking in the firehouse to a few dozen firefighters, family and local government officials on Monday, July 8, said it’s a tradition to dedicate a new fire vehicle after an individual, and in this case “it was a very easy choice.”
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The department dedicated the new tanker to Mike Hall.
Moore said Hall, who is retired, was with the department for 39 years and served in virtually every capacity, including chief.
Moore also presented a plaque to firefighter Bob Jones, who recently retired from the department, for 25 years of service.
Jones, who is also a member of the Pendleton Town Council, also received a triangular folded U.S. flag in a personalized display case.
As is tradition at the department, the day someone requests retirement, the flag flying over the station is taken down to be presented as a gift.
“Thanks so much,” Jones said. “It means so much to me.”
He said he was honored to have worked with “a great group of guys.”
Afterward, people gathered outside the station, where the new Pendleton Tanker 88 — built by U.S. Tanker in Brandon, South Dakota, on 2019 Peterbilt chassis — was on display.
The vehicle was made to order with equipment and storage areas located where specified. It carries a 24-foot ladder on one side and,carries hoses of various sizes as well as air packs, masks and bottles.
“It has more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at,” Moore said.
The tanker is used typically to fight fires in areas where hydrants aren’t available, Moore said. It can be used to carry and dump water into a portable tanks, which fire engines at the site of a fire can then draw upon; it can hook up and provide water directly to fire engines; or the tanker can pump water directly onto a fire through hoses at rate of 150 gallons per minute.
The new tanker replaces one that dates to 1988 and has become costly to maintain.
It joins the department’s fleet of vehicles, which includes three fire engines, a rescue truck, a grass fire truck and a new $50,000 SUV command truck.
The fire department also recently purchased new air packs, masks and bottles.
The new acquisitions were paid for by the town and township, 45% and 55%, respectively.
The command truck is in service, while there is still some training to do before the new tanker starts making runs.
The department has plans to sell its current tanker after the new one is in service.
