Ridgeland Fire Department receives new truck

RIDGELAND — A new specialized brush/rescue truck to handle narrow roads and rough terrain in some of the newly annexed parts of the city was delivered last month.

Ridgeland Fire Chief Matt Bailey said the new truck is a 2024 Wildland Extreme Type 6.

“This new brush/rescue truck is a critical addition to our fleet, ensuring we can effectively serve the expanding needs of our community,” Bailey said.

This state-of-the-art vehicle was purchased from Emergency Equipment Professionals (EEP) and built by Boise Mobile Equipment (BME) at a price of $267,000. Bailey said the vehicle will enhance the department's emergency off-road response capabilities.  

Designed to meet the needs of the annexed rural area on Ridgeland’s west side, the truck will respond to all EMS calls in District Four, which includes the newly annexed area.

The area includes property surrounded by Greens Crossing Road, North Livingston Road, the Natchez Trace Parkway, and West County Line Road.

These calls include medical emergencies and motor vehicle accidents. It will also support brush fire responses across the entire city. The new truck will be housed at Station 4 on Highland Colony Parkway.

The new brush/rescue truck replaces a 20-year-old Rescue 4 at Station Four. The new truck is equipped with advanced features, including a 300-gallon water tank, a separate diesel engine to power the pump, a 10-gallon Class A foam tank, and off-road firefighting capabilities.  

“With its advanced capabilities, this vehicle will allow us to respond more efficiently to emergencies in rural areas and beyond,” Bailey said. “The safety of our residents is always our top priority, and this investment reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of service.”

They received the vehicle in mid-November. The vehicle was ordered in October of 2022 with the expectation that it would take a while to be delivered because it had to be built.