The Princeton Volunteer Fire Department is seeing the fruits of its labor outside of the city limits.

A new E-3 unit ladder truck is now in service, replacing the department’s oldest vehicle, a 1980s-era model, that had been used for calls both within the county and within the city limits.

Each time the department answers a call in the unincorporated ares of the the county, the Collin County budget reimburses volunteer fire departments through a formula determined by an inter-local agreement.

“We (local volunteer fire departments) have received more and more money over the last four years, and we got to where all fire departments can now buy decent equipment,” said Fire Chief Mike Woody.

The chief noted that the city is also helping by paying for the department’s gas money, loose equipment
on the trucks, the building to house the department and insurance.

The city contributed about $40,000 to help buy loose equipment for the new truck, which cost the department around $266,000 with its money saved from county reimbursements.

“I’d like to thank the commissioners for their support over the years, and the council for their support,” Woody said.

Some equipment on the previous truck was also transferred over to the new truck.

The 1983 model had been the “first out” vehicle for the department since its purchase, and the new E-3 will now be the first truck out the road in any emergency situation.

In fact, the truck’s first fire call was on the night of the house fire in Altoga on April 19, in which the owner of the house admitted to shooting his wife and starting the blaze.

The truck was on display for the public at Princeton High School during the April 26 Princeton Spring Onion Festival.

One of the most important features of the new truck is foam suppression, which significantly increases the department’s ISO rating.

The ISO rating is what is used to determine the insurance rates of volunteer fire departments, and this is the first unit in the Princeton department to have a foam-based suppression function.

It also includes equipment popularly known as the “Jaws of Life,” which is actually more than one piece of equipment.

The Jaws of Life includes a special tool to pry open car doors and another piece that can remove a car’s roof.

The department also maintains an engine truck, two pumper trucks, one grass/brush truck, and two rescue vehicles.

Woody said the truck was also needed to continue to address ongoing growth in the area, and with it, the ever-increasing number of calls.

There are currently 22 men and women volunteering for the volunteer department, answering close to 100 calls per month.

He said he also wanted to thank the volunteers for their support.

“We can’t do it without enough people. It’s kind of like being a quarterback; you can’t win if you don’t have someone to throw the ball to,” he said.