Story originally published by My Leader Paper

The Cedar Hill Fire Protection District has replaced a pumper truck and dedicated the new truck in honor of Battalion Chief Marvin Shaffrey, who died Nov. 2 after battling COVID-19.

About 40 people attended an invite-only ceremony on Saturday to dedicate the red Pierce pumper, which cost $695,711.

“It is one of those ceremonies that was nice to do, but I hope I never have to dedicate another truck under those circumstances,” Chief Mick Fischer said.

Assistant Chief David Jones said it was the first time the district had dedicated a truck to someone.

“Marvin was on the apparatus committee. He helped design this truck,” Jones said.

Fischer said the truck will be housed at Station 2, 8800 Hwy. 30, in Dittmer.

Jones said Shaffrey worked at Station 2 when he became a full-time employee.

Shaffrey was with the Cedar Hill Fire for 42 years, as both a paid firefighter and volunteer. His death was considered a line-of-duty death.

At the dedication ceremony, the truck was sprayed down and pushed into the station, which is a firefighting tradition when a new truck is put into service.

At the end of the ceremony, Shaffrey’s brother, Cedar Hill Fire Capt. Rob Shaffrey, got into the truck and drove it to his brother’s grave. Marvin Shaffrey’s wife and their two daughters also went along.

Jones said the new truck originally was going to replace a 1995 pumper, but because a 2005 pumper was totaled in a June 2021 traffic accident in Dittmer while being driven to a call, the new truck replaced that one.

The district paid cash for the truck, using money generated from a 50-cent property tax increase voters approved in 2015.

“We had already bought this truck before the other one wrecked,” Jones said.

The district received $450,000 from insurance for the totaled truck, and that money went into the district’s reserve account to replace the 1995 pumper in 2024.

Jones said a lot of the equipment for the new truck came from the totaled truck, but the district did pay an additional $8,000 to finish equipping it.

Jones said this is the second truck in the district to have a backup camera. He said the camera will help drivers back up safely if they are driving alone.

Jones said one new feature on the truck is the HAAS Alert system.

“When the emergency lights are on, it sends a message out to other people in the area to let them know there is an emergency apparatus either approaching or ahead of them,” he said.

Jones said he believes people may have to download an app to receive the messages and once the district sets up the system, it will communicate how people may receive the messages.

The new engine replaces a 1986 fire engine. Comparing the two engines is difficult.

“They are night and day different,” Haase said, excited about the new engine’s capabilities. “The 1986 engine no longer meets standards put forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Standards put forth by the NFPA states that fire apparatus should be upgraded to meet current standards or replaced after 25 years. The new engine will provide a more reliable apparatus with more capabilities.”

The new engine replaces a 1986 fire engine. Comparing the two engines is difficult.

“They are night and day different,” Haase said, excited about the new engine’s capabilities. “The 1986 engine no longer meets standards put forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Standards put forth by the NFPA states that fire apparatus should be upgraded to meet current standards or replaced after 25 years. The new engine will provide a more reliable apparatus with more capabilities.”