Lyon County Fire District 5 Hartford/Neosho Rapids is set for a major equipment update thanks to a recently announced federal allocation through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
District 5 announced Tuesday afternoon that it has been made the recipient of $567,078.09 to purchase a new tender/pumper vehicle. The apparatus will replace the department’s converted 1990 dump truck that has far outlived its service life and will be capable of carrying 3,000 gallons of water, which is one 1,000 more than the current equipment’s capacity.
The new vehicle will also include a large PTO-driven fire pump, ladders, a booster reel and SCBA brackets, which the department says will “significantly expand operational capability. In addition to refilling brush trucks, it will be able to defend homes in the wildland‑urban interface, support structure and vehicle fire operations, shuttle water on major incidents, and serve as a backup when an engine is out of service. It will also be deployable on wildland task forces throughout the State of Kansas. The benefits of this apparatus extend beyond our district, strengthening support for our automatic and mutual‑aid partners and enhancing fire protection for Kansas residents.”
The total cost of the vehicle comes to just over $445,400, with the department providing a required match of $21,211.05. The remaining funds from the federal allocation will be put towards the acquisition of a new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which costs just over $142,000. Again, this will be replacing aging equipment referred to as “hand-me-down” units that date back to 2001.
The department underscored the need for the upgrade in the aforementioned news release, stating, “Just one week after our most recent flow test, a firefighter experienced a critical SCBA failure inside a structure fire, resulting in rapid air depletion. These older units also lack modern safety features such as buddy‑breathing capability, and they are not interoperable with any neighboring departments. The acquisition of new SCBAs marks a major milestone for our volunteers, greatly improving firefighter safety, regional compatibility, and operational readiness.”
