Columbia Township FD adds Fire Engine

Columbia Township FD adds Fire Engine

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Columbia Township Volunteer Fire Department has upgraded their fire engine.

The Columbia Township Volunteer Fire Department replaced the fire engine recently. The truck being replaced is an older engine from the 90s that has serviced three different departments over the years. This older engine was requiring more and more maintenance as time went on. The new engine is a 2006 Frieghtliner from Florida, and is equipped with a 750 gallon tank and a 1250 gallon per minute pump.

This truck is not only an upgrade in function but also safety. One safety upgrade is, SCBA fitted passenger seats. Another is the top mount pump controls, giving the firefighter in charge a better view of any scene which will allow for safer operations. The department expects this truck to serve for many years to come and looks forward to being prepared to respond to all types of fires in the area. This fire engine was purchased with a loan that will be paid using tax payer money.

“Thanks to the generosity of our residents the last fire levy passed. Our department would never be able to afford a new engine on our own. After multiple attempts to apply for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program only to be denied due to a lack of call volume. The department and trustees decided finding a used engine would be the best investment for our neighborhood,” stated secretary/squad 1204 Chief Cheri McCollum.

This allowed the trustees to feel confident with finding a loan program that worked well for the Township and Fire Department. The department has invested about $75,000 in the truck because it did require some work. Other trucks this age were priced around $150,000. A new truck similar to this would cost at least $350,000. 

The fire department will also be hosting their 14th Annual Hog Roast that will be held on August 15, 2021. For details on the event, see the fire department’s Facebook page.

Columbia Township Volunteer Fire Department has just 16 members on the department, if you would like to volunteer and be on the department contact Chief Rexie Cheadle, Assistant Chief Bryan McCollum at 740-590-2019 or Secretary/Squad Chief Cheri McCollum at 740-590-2720.