Funding drive for frontline brush truck underwa

The Red Oak Fire Department is seeking funding for the purchase of a new vehicle.
Through the Red Oak Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, the department is looking for donations to assist in the purchase of a new frontline brush truck to replace the department’s existing 2003 model.
Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman said first and foremost, safety is the number one driving factor for the new truck. Even though the Red Oak Fire Department has experienced a plethora of brush and field fires already this spring, the A Avenue field fire back in October really brought to light how unsafe the department’s current truck is set up and how important it is to get the firefighters who are engaged in active firefighting on these large fires better located and closer to the cab of the truck so that the driver/operator of the vehicle has constant eyes on those firefighters.
“With our current setup on both of our brush trucks, these firefighters are located on the rear of the truck and not always visible to the driver/operator. Even though we have the ability to talk back and forth via radios, it’s still a concern if something were to happen, and they couldn’t directly and immediately contact their driver/operator,” Hamman explained. “The new truck will also be more functional with having the ability to carry twice the amount of water the current truck does as well as being able to carry more firefighting and rescue equipment, making it more useful year round and especially during inclement weather such as snow and ice events when our larger vehicles have difficulty accessing certain locations both in town and in the rural setting.”
Hamman added the mission of the Red Oak Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association has always been to support the City of Red Oak Fire Department.
“When people donate to the department or gift memorials on behalf of their loved ones, they know the money stays in-house with the Association and that it’s used for the overall good of the department. We also look at this as a great partnership between the City and Association as over the years, we have made great strides and efforts to assist with purchasing goods and equipment that the city would not have been able to purchase or to help offset their general budget,” commented Hamman. “Over the years, the Association has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the fire department and gifted those purchases and equipment back into the fire department.”
The ROVFRA has been working hard over the past year writing a spec, identifying a vendor, and doing fundraising. So far, roughly $100,000 has been raised, half of the $200,000 goal. However, plans to secure the new truck have accelerated.
“On April 5, the association entered into a contract with FeldFIRE for the purchase of the new brush truck. While we don’t have all the funds to date, the timeline for the truck’s completion is around 18 months, or more. We, like everyone else, have experienced the impacts of supply chain issues across the country and had to secure the contract as the cost of goods continues to increase, as well as the lead times for the truck chassis and individual components needed for the truck,” commented Hamman.
Among the features of the new truck being sought are 400 gallons of water, compartmentation to transport additional tools and portable extraction equipment, LED warning and work lights, a lift for better off-road access and response during inclement weather, and side attack positions located directly behind the cab to allow safer positioning of firefighters during fire suppression efforts.
So far, the ROVFRA has assisted the Red Oak Fire Department with the purchases of a 2021 Polaris Ranger fire and EMS skid unit and trailer, a John Deere Gator with a fire/EMS skid unit and trailer, a 2016 Dodge Ram utility truck, a 2007 Ford F550 brush truck, a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado brush truck, rope and high angle rescue equipment and hand tools for the aerial unit, Milwaukee power tools, and EMS equipment, among other items.
“The list just highlights some of the more notable and recent purchases made by the association to help offset the fire department and the City of Red Oak’s annual budget. We express our appreciation to everyone who has contributed in the past and continues to contribute and support our Association and Department. Without their continued support, we wouldn’t have the Fire Department and equipment that we have today,” Hamman stated.
To donate by mail, send checks to: Red Oak Volunteer Fire & Rescue Assoc., Attn Truck Fund 1904 N. Broadway St., Red Oak, IA 51566. Donations can also be made through Venmo @ROVFRA, or through Paypal at paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JS6N5WXCY9QU6&fbclid=IwAR1q3ekJRUNySBd_PzJWij9jVbF4AeC_y95c3dwVFKrsBDIydj4D1-jECXk