April 30, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

City to Unveil New State-of-the-Art Fire Engines

Fire Chief to hold press conference to showcase equipment purchased through voter approved 2001 Bond . . .

The City of Shreveport is set to unveil four new state-of-the-art fire engines, purchased through the voter-approved 2001 Bond Initiative. Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran will hold a 9:00 a.m. press conference at the Shreveport Fire and Police Academy, 6440 Greenwood Road, Thursday, May 1, to speak about and showcase the new equipment. The bright red engines with a white ribbon-like stripe along their sides were ordered last year and build right here in Louisiana by Ferrarra Fire Apparatus Inc. of Holden. This marks the first time that the fire department has purchased an engine from the family owned business.

The new Ferrarra Inferno Series fire engines are much welcomed and will replace older engines currently in-service on the fire department. Considered state-of-the-art and top of the line, the new 430 horse-power Detroit Diesel fire engines will hold 500 gallons of water and have the ability to pump 1250 gallons of water a minute. Some of the other specifications are:

Overall length - 34 feet
Weight - 34,890
All extruded aluminum 102 inch wide body
Allison HD 4060 transmission
50 gallon foam tank
Ground ladders

Each engine carries a price of $304,268 with additional equipment costs of $40,000 each. Total cost for all four fire engines was $1,377,072. The public is encouraged and invited to come by the Academy Thursday, where the new trucks will remain on display till 5:00 p.m. ###