Lakeland will soon take delivery of a new 55’ SkyBoom aerial/engine. This new engine is tentatively scheduled to arrive this month, with training dates established for personnel in June. Its future home will be at Station 6.
Fire Chief Doug Riley, Assistant Chief Mike Williams, Lieutenant Phillip Green, Driver Engineer Billy Adams, Maintenance Chief Matt Warner, and Fire Equipment Mechanic Eric Herrin served as members of the apparatus committee. Several members recently traveled to Wisconsin to complete the final acceptance checks for the apparatus.
Final checks are time-consuming as every single function of the engine is verified against the pre-build plans, and performance testing is conducted. During these last checks, any items that require correction are documented, photographed, and repaired before shipping. These steps ensure we receive a quality apparatus that will serve the citizens for years to come. After viewing numerous factory production trucks, Engine 61 stood among the very best in appearance, design, and functionality.
The engine is a Pierce Velocity with a 1500 gpm pump and 55’ ladder/waterway, powered by a Detroit Diesel engine
Lakeland tax payers should be elated. Nice shiny new fire engine. Time for celebration.