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Council donates surplus 2009 fire pumper; fire chief announces retirement and summer camps
Summary
The council declared a 2009 HME Ferrara pumper surplus and approved donating it to a parish fire district; Fire Chief Hall announced this was his last council meeting, thanked colleagues and promoted three summer fire safety camps expected to host about 150 campers.
DeRidder — The DeRidder City Council adopted a resolution on April 14 declaring a 2009 HME Ferrara 1500 GPM pumper surplus and authorizing its donation to a political subdivision whose functions include public safety; a council member reported that 'Bulgar Parish Fire District number three' expressed willingness to accept the vehicle.
The motion to adopt the surplus-property resolution was moved and carried on a unanimous roll call. Council members asked if the district was identified; a council member said they had contacted the parish fire district that serves the East Bulgar area and that the unit would add to that district’s fleet.
During the meeting Chief Hall spoke about the effects of the council’s actions on the fire department’s schedule, then told the council that April 14 was his final council meeting before retirement. He thanked staff and elected officials and offered to brief the incoming mayor on ongoing projects. His remarks drew applause from the chamber.
Chief Hall also announced that registration is open for three summer fire safety camps divided by grade bands; he said the department expects about 150 campers and encouraged residents to sign up via the department’s Facebook page.
Why it matters: Donating an older pumper to a parish fire district transfers operational equipment to a smaller neighboring provider and may boost firefighting capacity in a part of the parish the council described as economically disadvantaged. The chief’s upcoming retirement and the department’s public outreach (summer camps) are personnel and community-program developments the city will manage in coming weeks.
Next steps: City staff will coordinate the transfer of the surplus vehicle with the recipient district and record the disposition in surplus-property records. The council noted the chief’s offer to assist a transition to new leadership.
