By:Melissa O'Hara
If you were at the Fourth of July celebration at Firemen's Field and you noticed that bright red, shiny fire truck hosing down the maintenance building, then you got one of the first glimpses of the Valley Stream Fire Department's newest addition, the pump truck.
The $380,000 vehicle arrived late in the afternoon on July 2, but was highly anticipated by the members of Engine Company 2 on Brooklyn Avenue, the new truck's home.
"Everyone here is excited about the truck, especially the colors and decals," said Jason Croak, captain of the Junior Fire Department.
The custom-crafted pumper took one year to build and is all computerized, equipped with a color-coded gauge system and, most important for safety reasons, a 10-man air-conditioned cab.
The 56 members of Company 2 will spend the next month training on the pumper.
The company must retrain drivers and get used to the new vehicle and its strengths, explained Capt. William Kirkham. The new pumper "is an advantage because there is more horsepower, which will pump more water than with older trucks." Kirkham went on to explain that the pump is run by a computerized system and is powered by the engine and transmission.
"We take a lot of pride in our department. There are seven companies in Valley Stream, all spread out around the village, offering the best fire protection we can," Kirkham said.
