BEATRICE – A southeast Nebraska community, with the backing of its residents, has a new, critical piece of public safety equipment. The Wymore Fire and Rescue Department has a new combination fire pumper and rescue truck. Chief Mark Meints says it took 29 months from the time it was paid for in advance…to delivery from Florida about 8 weeks ago.


"Paid for it in advance...we were very fortunate. The Thomas Foundation grant gave us $100,000...and then we received a CDBG grant for $400,000. The price of the truck was about $630,000...so we were pretty fortunate to get that $500,000 grant money". City rural fire split the remainder. Meints said if the same truck were to be ordered today, it would be about $1.2 million.


The chief says It’s not the top-of-the-line truck, but has plenty of functionality. "Actually when we first bid the truck, we knocked off probably 40-to-50 thousand dollars of options we didn't think we needed. There's a lot of things this truck can do, also. We set it up so we can use it with fewer people. In case not a lot of people show up right away, we can get things going, a lot quicker."


The new pumper-rescue truck replaces two vehicles and can carry five crew members.  Wymore now has two engines, two grass-rig vehicles, a tanker, a command vehicle and a supply vehicle. The new truck carries the logo of the Southern Schools District…the Raiders…a show of pride for the community.


It’s been on ten call-outs so far, including rural fires. The first call was on mutual aid to Odell.
The new vehicle has a 750-gallon tank and plenty of storage room for both fire and rescue equipment…segregated on opposite side panels on the truck.


Meints says one benefit of the new truck is that, along with other factors, it helps with fire insurance rating….which can lower cost for property owners.


The truck carries all-new tools that are battery-powered, including extrication equipment. It has extra room for oxygen tanks for firefighters..and has water intake connections on three sides of the truck.


Wymore Fire and Rescue currently has 20 members, and recently added staff.