Vehicles to Get Upgrades At Manassas Fire Station

Funds Prolong Life of Command Posts

Help is on the way for the Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

Fire officials at the Manassas station have received a $15,000 grant to upgrade two aging response vehicles -- a pair of 1999 Chevy Tahoes used as command posts during emergencies.

Assistant Chief Scott Ackerman says the needed improvements did not prevent the department from responding to emergencies in Prince William County, but the money will prolong the life of the vehicles and make them safer.

One of the biggest problems with the eight-year-old vehicles is that they weren't built to handle the amount of electricity needed to power all of the computers and other equipment the department needs at a scene.

"These trucks weren't made for that kind of electronic overload," Ackerman said. "We have kind of maxed out the capacity."

The grant, from Lighthouse Underwriters and Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., will also be used to upgrade the vehicles' lighting systems and lettering so that motorists can see them coming from farther away. Ackerman says that a light bar on top of one of the vehicles burned out a while ago.

Crashes with emergency response vehicles occur nationwide more often than people realize, Ackerman said.

Fireman's Fund spokesman Atle Erlingsson said the company is providing the money because the fire department, in the 7800 block of Garner Drive, said it was a top priority.

Another improvement will be a new command console for the back of the vehicles. As part of its "safe cab" program, the department is trying to prevent injuries during a crash by securing loose items in the back of the vehicles.

"We needed to upgrade each one to make them more versatile," Fire Chief Joe Peters said in a written statement. "This grant money will ensure their use for many years to come."