It’s out with the old and in with the new at the Eunice Fire Department. The Fire Department is getting new fire trucks. The chief says the department was facing its own emergency.
It’s been years since James Fontenot worked at the Eunice Fire Department. However, the fire trucks he once worked on still remain.
"They have been here for a very long time," Fontenot said. "The maintenance on the trucks has always been a key factor with the firemen. "
Some trucks date back to the 80s and even the 70s. Fire Chief Michael Arnold says it was time for a change.
"They developed problems that were not cost effective to repair. You don’t want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars (on a truck) that’s that old, " Arnold said.
The two new trucks cost more than $600,000. It will bring the department into the 21st century.
"Those old trucks didn’t have any form of computers in them at all," Arnold said. "They’re computer operated pumps. You don’t turn a knob or twist it you just punch in a number and say go to that gallon per minute or psi rating."
These are changes that Fontenot says will bring comfort and a sense of security for the city.
"The better your equipment is, the more efficient the firemen can do their job," Fontenot said.
