Rescue Truck fully equipped

Chief Jimmy Glasscock of the Folsom Fire Department opened the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the departments new Squad 1 heavy rescue truck on Sunday July 16, by welcoming guests, members of the fire department, friends, family, neighbors and surrounding fire and EMS agencies.

âToday marks a great day in history for the Folsom Volunteer Fire Department, the community and all surrounding communities,ã said Chief Glasscock..

The department had been working under the leadership of Chief Glasscock for over five years in an effort to find funding to purchase needed equipment for responding to large accidents and rescues associated with the increase in large trucks from the oil and gas industry. On occasion it has taken as long as three weeks for a large wrecker to respond some large vehicle accidents.

The need was there and has now been satisfied as the department applied for and received $620,000 from a FEMA Grant through the American Firefighting Grant Program. The final $30,000 came from the departmentás general fund and through various company donations.

â Through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and generous donations from area businesses and industries, and the many departments that joined in this collaborative grant process, Folsom Fire Department can put the areaás first heavy rescue apparatus into service,ã stated Glasscock.

âThis apparatus will enable us to continue saving lives and property utilizing rescue techniques, â he added.

The heavy rescue vehicle was built in 2022 and is now in the hands of the Folsom FireDepartment. It is fully stocked and ready to take on any disaster or large rescue operation that may occur. According to Chief Glasscock it is available to service the entire county and adjacent counties. Donating to allow the truck to be put in operation were J.P. Mascaro and sons, Martin Marietta, CSX Transportation, TC Energy, PayPal, OáReilly Auto Parts, Hayhurst Law, Equitrans Midstream, MVP, and Antero Foundation ($100,000). Last October the Wetzel County Commission gave $10,000 towards the purchase of the truck.

Taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony were 14 of the departmentás 18 active members, along with Wetzel County Commissioner Greg Morris who cut the ribbon officially putting the truck into service. The truck was opened for observation and is indeed an impressive piece of equipment. It is a Custom Cab, with a 5 man cab Min., equipped with a 300 HP diesel engine, automatic transmission, engine brake, and pack ready seats for officer and rear riding positions. Itás single rear axle vehicle, with 40,000 lb GVWR, equipped with AC in cab. Removable winch with 9,000 lb rating. It comes with a hitch on all sides for winch placement, slide out trays in all compartments, and roll up doors on all compartments. All lighting is LED, it has fixed ladder access to the top of the apparatus, on spot chains, two scene lights on either side of the truck, two scene lights on rear and one on front, with a chain box on front bumper.

Glasscock noted the truck was ordered last September and is ready to roll, all in under a yearás time. Wetzel County is now a much safer and prepared county than it was one year ago thanks to the hard work and effort put forth by the Folsom Fire Department and everyone involved in making it a reality.

The ribbon cutting ceremony marked a milestone in Wetzel County. It was topped off by a wonderful lunch provided by the department in their impressive first class fire and rescue facility.

Also Cindy Glasscock, one of the departmentás EMS Paramedicás read a letter of appreciation from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin to the Folsom Fire Department, commending them as first responders who put their lives on the line every day to help others. He capped off his letter by saying, âThank you Folsom Fire Department team; thank you for constantly volunteering your time, energy, and resources to proudly serve others. You are the true embodiment of the West Virginia spirit.