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Newberry Fire Rescue unveils 2024 brush truck; Jason Lyman introduced as deputy chief
Summary
Newberry Fire Rescue demonstrated a newly acquired custom brush truck with a 400-gallon booster tank and cascade foam system, and the commission was introduced to Deputy Chief Jason Lyman, who starts as a departmental leader.
Newberry Fire Rescue officials presented a new custom-built brush truck and introduced Deputy Chief Jason Lyman at the Feb. 10 commission meeting.
Why it matters: The truck is intended to improve off-road firefighting and EMS response in rural and hard-to-reach areas of the city and nearby county roads; staff said it will extend the service life of older apparatus and enable safer, faster initial attack on brush/vegetation fires.
Chief presentation: The fire chief described the vehicle procurement process and technical features, saying the department moved away from a long wait and high-cost government contract to a local custom builder. "We found an outfit out of Oklahoma called Alpha 1. They custom build these things from the ground up..." The chief noted the chassis came from Duval Ford and said, "It is a 400 gallon booster tank, so it carries 400 gallons of water. It has a cascade foam system." He described pump-and-roll capability, six-foot whip lines for off-road spraying, Kevlar tires to reduce punctures and a rescue package with extra compartments for long-driveway EMS calls.
Deputy chief introduction: Chief Vogel introduced Jason Lyman as the new deputy chief; Lyman said he and his family are relocating from the Florida Keys and he looks forward to joining "Newberry Fire Rescue" and serving the community.
Use and deployment: Staff said the vehicle has already been used on incidents and that it allows crews to begin suppression from inside the cab, improving safety and speed of response. The department said it used a mix of grant or procurement pathways and the vehicle will be used for both wildfire/brush responses and remote EMS calls.
Ending: Commissioners praised the department for the investment and for first-response performance on a recent severe accident; staff invited residents to view the truck at the station for a closer look.
