Carroll County News: Local News: Inspiration Point gets new fire tanker (09/13/12)

Firefighters stand last Friday in front of their newest recruit. The 2,000-gallon tanker was a gift from the Department of Defense. From left are Capt. Jim Mautte, Lt. Gene Chapman, firefighter Margie Thompson, Lt. Ed Thompson, firefighter Jim Simmons, Fire Chief Tom Kavanagh, firefighter Justin Capps, Carroll County Forestry Ranger Darrell Bohannan, firefighter Bob Howle, and Forestry Ranger Freddie Wolfinbarger. T.S. Strickland / Carroll County News

INSPIRATION POINT -- Inspiration Point Volunteer firefighters will be able to squelch fires a lot more quickly, thanks to a gift from the Department of Defense and the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

The Inspiration Point Fire Department recently received a 2,000-gallon tanker through a program that distributes surplus army equipment to nonprofit agencies.

Capt. Jim Mautte, of the fire department, said the forestry service was the designated distributor of surplus equipment for Arkansas. He said the agency had been instrumental in securing the vehicle. State Sen. Randy Laverty and Rep. Bryan King also helped, he said.

"It took us about two to three months to get it," Mautte said, "but it was well worth the wait."

The new truck cost the department nothing, though they did pay $14 to obtain the title and a little more than $4,000 to have it repainted at the Tucker Correctional Facility.

Mautte said the 2001 Freightliner truck would replace the department's last model, which was more than two decades old and in need of repairs.

"We'll respond more quickly to fires," he said, "and we'll have less maintenance problems."