The Maury County Safety Committee has approved more than $300,000 in grant funding to support the Maury County Fire Department in the purchase of a new fire truck and an assisting vehicle for the department.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Grant covers half of the $661,177 required to purchase the fire truck and support vehicle, said Eric Hileman, chief of the county’s volunteer fire department.
The county’s half of the purchase, or or $330,588.50, was previously approved by the commission.
“We don’t need to pass up any money for sure,” said Terry Potts, commissioner for District 8. “I highly recommend that we forward this to budget.”
The purchase will replace the Hampshire-based MCFD Engine 5, which overturned on a slick ice-covered road while in route to a call during the February snowstorm.
More: ‘Please stay home’: Fire engine overturns as wintry-mix continues in Maury County
The large truck came to a rest after it rolled off an embankment, colliding with a row of trees, landing upside down.
Hileman said the replacement truck will support the department as it continues to see an increase in emergency calls.
“It has been a very busy month for us. We have had over 91 calls this month,” Hileman said. “We are very proud of the work they did this month.”
The replacement truck will be located at the department’s fire station in rural Hampshire, located near the western edge of the county.
“We will be able to replace it along with a second rescue truck,” Hileman said.
The same month of the accident, the committee unanimously approved a resolution awarding 906 Studio Architects, LLC with a $52,000 contract to draft the architectural plans for the new station that will allow faster responses in western Maury County.
When completed, the new station will replace Station No. 5, 4126 Hampshire Pike.
Located on a 3-acre plot of land, the new site is located just south of the intersection with Dry Fork Road near the center of the small rural community.
Preliminary plans for the facility will include a wood-framed fire house and a pre-engineered metal building to serve as a four-door bay for the operation’s fire engine and resources.
The two-story firehouse will include a kitchen, training room, office, laundry room, and storage area. The building’s second floor will include two bunk rooms, two baths and additional offices.
The firm previously worked with county government and volunteer fire service in drafting plans for the newly completed Station No. 12 on Carters Creek Pike near Spring Hill.
Columbia’s WES Engineering will provide civil engineering services on the project.
The new station will mark the third new location for the largely volunteer department in the past five years.
Reach Mike Christen at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.
