The new rig is even burlier than the old brush trucks the Powell Volunteer Fire Department now deploys.

It’s a Ford F-550 four-wheel drive chassis sitting on 20-inch wheels, with a 6.7 liter turbo-charged diesel engine.

The delivery date is Oct. 15, Kenny Skalsky told the Park County Fire Protection District No. 1 Board of Directors Tuesday evening at the district’s monthly meeting.

Skalsky is the district’s administrator.

Skeeter Brush Trucks of Kirby, Texas, outside San Antonio, is the company building the truck, priced at $205,000.

Skeeter will replace the front axle and drive-line system, Skalsky said.

The brush or “fast attack” truck is made to go places that the larger fire trucks can’t go.

It has beefed-up gears and a low gear ratio sitting on 20-inch wheels. “It’s built for off road,” Skalsky said.

It will carry a 400-gallon water tank. Spray nozzles that can be operated in the cab by the driver will be mounted on the front bumper on the driver and passenger sides.

Outside, there is space between the cab and the water tank where two firefighters can man hoses, Skalsky said.

One spray nozzle is mounted on the front of the department’s two existing brush trucks, No. 1 and No. 9. Firefighters must walk alongside those trucks with hoses to spray flames, he said.

When the new brush truck arrives, the district plans to sell No. 1.

No. 1 is a two-door truck and No. 9 is a four-door.

The new brush truck is also a four-door with room for the driver and three other firefighters in full gear. There is space in the seats to hold the firefighters’ oxygen packs, Skalsky said.

Skeeter will build customized brackets to hold backpack sprayers. A portable foam tank also will be mounted on the truck that firefighters can unlatch and carry. It is concentrated class A (to extinguish wood, textiles and structures) that has a hose attachment, Skalsky said.

Texas trip

Six firefighters and district representatives will travel to Texas to examine the truck and check its progress.

Skalsky, Powell fireman and District President Bear May, Asst. Chief Delray Jones, Capt. Willie Onstine, 2nd Lt. Jason Fields and fireman Jim Dodds will travel to Texas Sept. 30 and return Oct. 2.

The trip to Texas allows the department/district to check on progress and ensure the equipment is installed properly the way they want it, Skalsky said.

Terry Marshman, a sales representative for Front Range Fire Apparatus in Frederick, Colorado, will accompany the district’s personnel.

The district is purchasing the truck from Front Range, but it is built by Skeeter.

Front Range will pay for Marshman’s and two firefighters’ travel, food and lodging. The district will pay for three department/district personnel’s travel and the department will cover the cost of the one, Skalsky said.

Roundtrip airfare is $896 each, Skalsky said.