The Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services has inducted two new quints, fire apparatus with five major functions, into its fleet of response vehicles.

Quint 8, at Fire Station No. 8 on Flat Creek Trail, and Quint 10, at Fire Station No. 10 on Seay Road, were manufactured by Emergency One as its Typhoon HP75 model. They cost around $500,000 each, their purchase having been approved in the 2006 vehicle replacement schedule along with the new position of fire apparatus operator.

The quints have a wide range of capabilities and, having been licensed by the Department of Human Resources as an emergency management first responder, carry vital medical equipment, a defibrillator, and extrication devices. A fire apparatus operator and other firefighting and EMS personnel will staff each quint and operate its 75-foot aluminum aerial ladder and four ground ladders. They also hold 500 gallons of water and over 1,000 feet of hose.

The two quints were purchased as part of a strategic shift approved last year that calls for placing a fire apparatus operator on each truck within five years. According to Captain Pete Nelms, this shift represents a new strategic vision in professionalizing the fire services.

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