A new rescue unit from the Manning Fire Department can now be spotted on the road, sporting an image of a bulldog on its back.
Last year, the Manning Fire Department acquired a new rescue unit, which the team completely redesigned.
Bob Barsby, the chief of the Manning Fire Department, said their old unit, which was over 15 years old, was now too small for the equipment they needed to transport.
While searching for a replacement, Barsby said members found a 2006 rescue unit located in Houston, Texas.
Last July, Manning City Council approved the purchase of a new rescue unit by the firefighters, which was reported by The Times Herald last July.
The firefighters had a Fire Trust Fund, which they used to raise money for the unit. Manning City Council helped fund the rest of the necessary expenses.
After the purchase was approved, members of the fire department traveled to Texas and returned the truck to Manning.
When brought to the station Barsby said the unit was originally an “ugly, ugly green” so the team stripped the truck down to its bare frame and painted it in. Red. The team also installed new LED lights.
“All of the work on the truck was done by firefighters, we didn’t hire any,” Barsby said.
The team also added a few small details on the unit, such as the placement of lettering near the passenger seat, stating ‘Big Kahuna’.
The lettering was included in honor of Dave Genzen, a former unit captain who died in 2018. Genzen has been nicknamed “Big Kahuna” by his fellow firefighters.
Since Genzen was a graduate of the Manning Community School District, firefighters added a picture of a bulldog to his back. The Bulldog can be seen wearing a helmet with the number 95, which was Genzen’s designation.
With all the work involved, Barsby said the unit was only commissioned last month. Now that it’s fully restored, he said the unit offers a lot more safety benefits.
“This one has air packs that are built into the seats, so when the guys roll over to a fire, they already have the air packs,” he said. “If not, they would have to run to the side of the truck, remove the air packs and put them in place, so that it speeds up a bit for a structure fire.”
Other projects the Manning Fire Department is working on include replacing their current air packs, which are approaching their 15-year lifespan. The purchase of new air packs will amount to $ 120,000.
Barsby said they were applying for a grant to help pay for the expenses. Otherwise, the fire department will have to use its own money.
However, Barsby said he felt lucky for the financial support the fire department received from the community of Manning.
“The community has been very supportive of this department,” Barsby said. “That’s how we built the station, they made a big donation, and they donated a lot to help fix the truck we just got.”
