Superior Volunteer Fire acquires new truck

When the Superior Volunteer Fire Department wanted to put together a

type six wildlands unit, the community came through in a big way.

The whole project started with a first generation compressed air foam

slip in that the town acquired at a very favorable price through

Montana Government Surplus.

Volunteer Captain and Fleet Manager Rick Miller took it from there,

soliciting most of what he needed to put together the truck. Dennis

Byerly donated the 1986 Ford diesel 4 wheel drive cab and chassis.

Mountain West Bark, Cenex, Castles and Durango’s all donated funds to

buy the flatbed and tool boxes for the truck. Faller’s Forestry

donated a foam proportioner.

Captain Miller put it all together, fabricating and scrounging a few

miscellaneous pieces in the process. He engineered and plumbed a separate

foam tank and proportioner system as an upgrade to the original design

that called for in the tank mixing. An awkward behind the panel air

pressure dump valve was replaced with an electric unit and an electric

fuel shutoff installed on the slip in. A single, relay based battery shut

off for vehicle was also installed and the separate battery for the slip

in eliminated in favor of the vehicle system with central disconnect.

    When the call went out for a fire under the Cedar Creek MRL trestle

July 3rd, the new unit, FD-6, made its first run. The crew

successfully knocked down the fire on initial attack. Other Superior

Fire Department units and Forest Service crews quickly arrived to line

and mop up the fire. Among other advantages, the aerated foam in the

hoses makes them lighter and easier to handle, which proved to be a

real advantage on the steep ground around the trestle. Superior’s

firefighters are pleased to have this new equipment available and

appreciate all who made it possible.