New fire engine for Big Canyon Fire District
A process begun two years ago has resulted in a “new” used fire engine for Big Canyon Fire District. The truck, an ’81 Crown 350 Cummins Diesel Turbo, will help the district meet safety standards and lower risk, hopefully lowering homeowners insurance costs as a result.
Don Gross, a volunteer fire fighter for the district, and retired police detective with the Torrance, CA police department, was aware the city of Torrance often sent good used equipment to Mexico. Two years ago he contacted the former fire chief to discuss acquisition of a used engine. At the time, the city had two trucks available and the process to procure one began.
The truck, a four seater that cost the district one dollar, needs to be fitted with hose and a radio. Gross estimates its value between 60 and 70 thousand dollars. It will travel at speeds up to 65 mph, and carries 400 gallons of water. It is capable of pumping 1500 gallons per minute.
The truck is fitted with a dry chemical unit for fighting car fires, a foam induction unit and a nozzle turret that pumps 300 gpm and enables fire fighters to aim at specific targets.
Leroy Kuykendall, one of three Fire Commissioners for Big Canyon Fire District
and Dominic Sptdiacci recently traveled 2300 miles to Torrance to bring the
truck home.
The Big Canyon Fire District covers 32 sq. miles and includes 293 structures, including the City of Peck. Fire Commissioners in addition to Kuykendall are John Elsbury and Laurence Flerchinger. Randy Moss serves as Fire Chief and Jim O’Connell as assistant chief.
The department has around 27 volunteers. Fourteen of those have been trained through the Orofino Academy.
Pictured top: Leroy Kuykendall, Fire Commissioner, and Don Gross, volunteer fireman, are pictured in front of the Big Canyon Fire District’s newly acquired ’81 Crown Fire Engine.
Pictured left: The Big Canyon Fire District responded with three trucks to a fire behind the Lenore Community Center on April 27. The fire burned about one acre and was out when Nez Perce County fire fighters arrived on the scene. Quick response by the Big Canyon volunteers prevented any structures from being damaged.