A unique vehicle has arrived at the Hennessey Fire Station this week, looking quite out of place among the red fire trucks. This 1990 BMY M923A2 6X6 Army truck will soon become the newest addition to the Hennessey firefighting fleet. According to Fire Chief Brandon Scott, this truck will enable firefighters to access areas that the smaller brush trucks cannot reach.
Several nearby fire departments, including Dover, Loyal, Okeene, and Drummond, also use similar former army trucks. These vehicles, with their six-wheel drive, are particularly effective in navigating rough terrain, such as riverbeds and heavily wooded areas.
Scott explained that a committee of five Hennessey firefighters including Dustin Grellner, Cris Pribyl, Jake Streck, Levi Copeland and James Matousek conducted the research and developed a plan to purchase and equip the new truck. Singer Oil generously donated their plane to fly the team to Dallas to inspect the truck before the purchase was finalized. The truck was acquired and will be outfitted using Kingfisher County Sales Tax funds, meaning no Hennessey Town funds were used for this acquisition.
The truck will be sent to Myder Fire Support Services in Chickasha, where it will be converted into an extreme brush fire truck. It is expected to be ready for service in about 90 days. Notably, the new truck will feature a 1,500-gallon water tank, which is significantly larger than the 500 gallons that the smaller trucks hold. Additionally, it will have a remote-controlled water monitor on the front and various hose sizes on the back for tackling different types of fires.
Once the outfitting is complete, the truck will be painted red, and Hennessey’s Royal Signs will install the graphics.
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