Hinckley Fire and Rescue has push-in ceremony for new tanker

HINCKLEY TWP. — Hinckley Fire and Rescue recently celebrated its new tanker truck with a push-in ceremony. Hinckley Fire Chief Matt Payne said Tuesday's ceremony started off with a blessing of the firetruck by the Rev. Ben Newman from Hinckley Ridge Baptist Church. The new truck is then wet down using water from the old truck before members of the fire department push the new truck into the station. "It's a good tradition in the fire service," he said. The new truck replaces the department's 1992 international tanker, which has a 2,000 gallon tank and a two-person cab, Payne said. The new 2024 HME pumper tanker has a larger water tank and a four-person cab. "We can carry a full crew, versus only a two-person crew with the old one," he said. "There are 500 more gallons of water in the new one than the old one, and it mirrors our frontline engine equipment wise." Hinckley Township purchased the tanker for approximately $740,000 in May 2023. Payne said the vehicle has been at the department for around four months, but Hinckley Fire and Rescue had to wait for equipment that was on back order to arrive before putting the tanker into service. "COVID messed up a lot of stuff in the fire service," he said. "There's just so many items that are back ordered, even fire hose. We're waiting a year to a year and a half to get fire hose." Now the fire department is waiting to receive a new ambulance, Payne said. In June, the Hinckley Board of Trustees passed a resolution to purchase a Braun Chief XL Squad from Penn Care Inc, for approximately $356,000. "We have to wait until February to March in 2027 to take delivery, but it's all ordered," he said. "The money's been set aside and allocated for it." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.