CRESTVIEW — The Dorcas Fire District is gaining a 2-ton 1972 Jeep Cargo truck with the Crestview's City Council approval to donate the surplus vehicle.
The city no longer uses the truck, according to Public Services Director Wayne Steele, who said the Florida Bureau of Federal Property and Assistance donated the former military vehicle in 1999. The city had to keep the truck at least five years as part of the donation agreement.
Well, time's up — and then some — and the city couldn't find a taker for the vehicle before it extended the offer to Dorcas, according to Steele.
“The year before last, we had it in a public auction and we didn’t get one bid on it," he said Monday.
The vehicle — which has a 750-gallon water tank and a 500-foot hose — was used “to unclog and jet out sewer or storm water manholes and lines with” Steele stated in an email.
In 2008, the city purchased a new jetter truck, which includes a vacuum. At six years old, the newer vehicle continues to meet departmental needs, Steele said.
Dorcas Fire Chief John Polinsky said he is pleased to add the truck to the district’s lineup of nine rescue vehicles, and he plans to modify it for the district’s benefit.
He plans to use the city’s donation to move large amounts of water for emergency calls.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dorcas Fire District gains 2-ton donation for emergencies