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Lieutenant recalls Imperial Sugars 1919 motorized fire truck and trains successors
Summary
Lieutenant Danny Kutsick of the Sugar Land Fire Department described the departments historic 1919 motorized fire truck, recounted Imperial Sugars role in local fire service until 1959, and said he is teaching newer firefighters to drive the vehicle before he retires.
Lieutenant Danny Kutsick of the Sugar Land Fire Department described the departments historic 1919 motorized fire truck during public comment, saying the vehicle originally came from the Imperial Sugar Company and that he is training younger firefighters to operate it before he leaves the department.
Kutsick said the truck was the first motorized fire truck the company bought and that Imperial Sugar ran the towns fire service until the city incorporated in 1959. "In 1919, the Imperial Sugar Company actually ran the fire department until 1959 when the city incorporated. And then they turned over the entire operations of the fire service to the city of Sugar Land," he said.
He gave local history connecting the equipment to other company operations along Oyster Creek and named a dredge boat, the "Mudcap," that worked in front of the sugar factory. "My dad worked on what was called the Mudcap, which was a dredge boat that dredged all the mud out of Oyster Creek in front of the Sugar Factory," Kutsick said.
Kutsick also recounted personal memories of community events involving the truck, including holiday parades where children rode with Santa. "One of the memories I have about growing up in Sugar Land was going to the shopping center at Christmas time because the fire marshal and Santa Claus would...drive a bottle of tea. Santa Claus got in the back and the town folk came out with all their kids and they got to get in the fire truck and parade around the parking lot," he said.
He noted a responsibility to pass on operating knowledge: "My job before I leave here is to teach some of these other younger firefighters how to drive this thing because I won't be here forever." The remarks were made as public comment; no formal motion or city action was proposed or taken during this portion of the meeting.
The remarks underscore the trucks local historical value and current role as both a museum piece and a training task for department personnel.
