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Abbeville council ratifies fire hire and keeps rescue truck in service
Summary
The Abbeville City Council ratified a recommended fire-department hire and rescinded a prior surplus action so the department's rescue truck will remain the main response vehicle while the aging ladder truck is sidelined, council and Chief Doris said.
Abbeville
The Abbeville City Council on Jan. 20 ratified a recommended hire for the fire department and voted to reverse a prior surplus decision so the department's rescue truck remains in service at the main station.
Chief Doris recommended the council ratify the hire after staff confirmed employment references for the applicant. "Since that time Chief Doris and I spoke with Mr. Morvant's former employer and we feel comfortable," Chief Doris said, recommending the council approve the appointment. The council approved the ratification on a roll-call vote, with each named councilmember recorded as voting in favor.
The council also considered rescinding the Oct. 21, 2025 action that had declared the rescue truck surplus. Chief Doris said the ladder truck is about 20 years old and that the rescue truck, which carries specialized medical and rescue gear, is a faster, more reliable vehicle for most calls. "It's my recommendation that we keep that rescue truck as the main station's primary truck," Chief Doris said.
Council members asked about the rescue truck's condition; Chief Doris replied it is "in good shape" and carries more equipment than could be distributed among the substations. After brief questions, the council approved rescinding the surplus designation (motion carried).
Why it matters: Keeping the rescue truck in service maintains on-the-ground rescue and medical response capacity while the ladder truck is kept off the road for safety and maintenance reasons. The hire ratified by the council fills a personnel need the department said is important for ongoing operations.
What happens next: Chief Doris said she will bring a future presentation for the purchase or ordering of a new ladder truck as part of a longer-term replacement plan.
