New engine strengthens rural fire response

FINDLAY — The Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire District welcomed a new member to its fleet Thursday. The new engine-tanker, located at Station 800, near Rawson, replaces a 1984 truck that Chief Corey Miracle said could no longer pass pump testing or meet modern safety standards. "The new truck is replacing a tired, worn out existing apparatus that could no longer pass the pump test or provide a safe, reliable source of fire protection for the firefighters or the taxpayers," Miracle said. The district began planning the purchase in 2022 and secured $662,000 through FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The total cost came to $760,000, with the remaining funds covered through district board allocations and local fundraising. The goal, he said, has been to "streamline" the fleet for fire service. The new apparatus will act as a dual purpose engine, serving as both water tanker and fire engine, a key advantage for rural Hancock County, where water supply may be limited. Firefighters welcomed the truck with a traditional push-in ceremony and a christening using water from the retiring engine. "It's just kind of a blessing of the truck coming in to hopefully be able to serve our community as long as the outgoing truck did," Miracle said.