The Northview-Kodak Fire Department is holding an auction May 21 to replace its Engine 44 that was destroyed in last month’s Sevier County wildfires.
The auction will be held at Northview Intermediate School, and funds “will go toward replacing our fire truck lost in the fire.”
“Engine 44 was the first new engine the department had purchased in 2000,” a press release from last month notes. “It [had] responded to 1000s of calls over its 22 years of service.”
The department notes that the apparatus loss has and will not affect its service; it still has two engines, a tanker, a ladder truck, and several support vehicles in its fleet.
The press release from the engine’s accident:
On March 30, 2022, Northview Fire Department along with several other departments in the area were dispatched to 2862 Indigo Lane for mutual aid on a brush fire. We received the call at 11:17 am and went en route shortly after with an engine and 2-man crew while others were getting ready to respond. This is what has become known as the Hatcher Mountain Fire.
Crews arrived on the scene with other agencies and immediately started helping with evacuation and fire attacks to save structures. With the low humidity, high winds, and available fuel load the fire had become extremely erratic. As the fire raced up the mountain where several firefighters and equipment were stationed it became apparent that firefighters needed to leave the area immediately. Firefighters were able to make it to safety, but we did lose Engine 44. We are grateful for the quick thinking and training that these firefighters displayed and for their safety after the call.
Due to the support that we have received in the Kodak community for years, we are still able to respond to all calls in our area without delay in response. We look forward to replacing our engine in the very near future, but the loss of this equipment will not affect our commitment and ability to take care of our community. We still have 2 engines, a tanker, a ladder truck, and several support vehicles that respond in our community daily.
History of Engine 44, this was the first new engine the department had purchased in 2000. It has responded to 1000’s of calls over its 22 years of service. Pictures are showing before and after the damage from the fire.
For more information about Northview Fire Department or this release, please contact Public Information Officer, Daniel Willis at 865-256-7181, or you can email directly at PIONKFD@Gmail.com
