PARSONS – What in the world was the strange apparatus in Parsons last week? And what is a FIRECATT. FIRECATT is a company that performs critical asset testing and tracking on fire hoses.
This is just one of the many test required for volunteer fire department to remain compliant.
The strange apparatus was the testing trailer, where 10 sections of hose can be pressure tested to make sure all will perform well in the event of an emergency.
Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Kevin White, said “The hose testing cost $2981.80, our pumpers just had their annual inspection and testing which cost a additional $3,200. These are all things that we have to maintain on a yearly basis.”
Volunteer fire departments are faced with many expenditures just to maintain the equipment. White said, “There is many other annual requirements such as SCBA testing, air monitor calibration, cascaded system testing, Amkus rescue tool maintenance, Ladder inspection just name a few. This all cost money and must be done by a certified company or individual.”
The Parsons Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1933. Today they have three pumpers, two rescue trucks and two support vehicles in their fleet. In addition they have 35 firefighters and 14 members in the Ladies Auxiliary.