Brush Truck Added To SWC FD Fleet

MEGAN DAVIS MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS/Volunteers with the Southwest City Fire Department, L to R: Chief Shane Clark, Nathan Womack, Jordan Wallace, Jerry Ware, Brent "Wormie" Blake, Tracy Jackson and Ron Jackson.
MEGAN DAVIS MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS/Volunteers with the Southwest City Fire Department, L to R: Chief Shane Clark, Nathan Womack, Jordan Wallace, Jerry Ware, Brent "Wormie" Blake, Tracy Jackson and Ron Jackson.

Southwest City Fire Chief Shane Clark is blessed to serve a community that goes above and beyond to look out for one another.

"If someone sees a need, they fill it," he said.

Clark and 17 other volunteers work to keep the area safe from fire and medical emergencies.

Firefighters are aided in this venture by two tankers, two engines, three brush trucks, one rescue vehicle and a swift-water rescue boat.

The department recently acquired a Stewart-Stevenson brush truck. Two of the most notable features are the vehicle's 1,200 gallons of water storage and remote-controlled monitor.

"This lets us control the hose from the cab of the truck which means we don't have a man in front, spraying, exposed to the fire," Clark said.

Southwest City received approximately 150 calls last year, which Clark says is down from years past.

"We were averaging 350 calls for a couple of years," he said. "It about ran us to death."

The department experienced a logistic challenge earlier this year when heavy rain caused Honey Creek to flood, separating the fire station from downtown. As a precaution, firefighters relocated an engine and a tanker to the east side of town in order to provide coverage while the Honey Creek bridge was impassable.

Clark said the department also led a number of water rescues in the newest brush truck during the flood, primarily in the area between Noel and Southwest City.

Community on 10/12/2017