CHRIS COOK – FORKS FORUM PHOTO

Forks-based Clallam County Fire District No. 1 took delivery of a new pumper fire engine on Tuesday night, Oct. 25. The firetruck is Spartan Gladiator custom built by H&W Emergency Vehicles out of Hillsboro, Ore. Pictured above are H&W’s Plant Manager-Field Trainer Mitch James (far right) explaining the operations of the shiny new truck to (left) Justus Barnes and Don Whitehead. James delivered the new fire truck pumper on Tuesday evening. He has been training firefighters from Forks-based Clallam County Fire District No. 1 on the new pumper on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, Oct. 27 the men put the Spartan truck though its paces at the Forks Municipal Airport, checking sirens, flashing LED lights, the Hale-built pumps and more including runs at speed up and down the airport runway. The fire truck is capable of pumping 1500 gallons per minute when hooked up to a fire hydrant, and has a tank that holds 1200 gallons on board, compared to 1000 gallons on the Fire District No. 1’s older truck, also supplied by H&W. Powering the Spartan fire truck is a 525 horsepower Caterpillar engine.

The spacious cabs in the new truck now allows firefighters to put on their gear and emergency tanks while inside the cab, rather than have to wait until they are on the scene of a fire. Compartments inside the cab are designed to hold their gear today, shaving more time off the clock