Community Support Helps Baring Fire Department Add Two New Emergency Vehicles
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BARING, Mo. — It has been nearly two years since an EF2 tornado ripped through the small town of Baring, and the local volunteer firefighters want the community to know they appreciate the financial support — and are putting those funds to good use.
An outpouring of substantial donations to the Baring Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) has led to the purchase of two new pieces of equipment that have significantly increased the department’s ability to serve the region.
In March, BVFD purchased a 2004 American LaFrance three-in-one truck — pumper, rescue and equipment — to replace an older equipment-only vehicle. The new truck arrived in June.
“We decided to upgrade trucks because the truck we’re replacing does not carry any water or have a pump,” said BVFD Board of Directors member Ben Delaney. “We are very thankful the community is so supportive of what we do, and we are trying to upgrade our equipment to better serve them.”
“Donations came in through our fundraisers since the tornado,” added Board of Directors member Shawn Witherow, referencing the EF2 tornado that destroyed much of the town on Aug. 4, 2023. “Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to think about purchasing something like this.”
The new-to-Baring truck came with only 25,000 miles on it and is powered by a 500-horsepower Detroit engine. It can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and holds a 1,000-gallon water tank.
The four-door custom Eagle tilt cab seats up to eight firefighters, with five seats equipped for use with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units. The truck also carries a grain bin rescue tube, extrication tools including the jaws of life, small ladders, radios and six SCBA units. It’s outfitted with scene lighting that can extend 25 feet in the air and rotate 360 degrees. A hydraulic ladder rack allows firefighters to access ladders without climbing on top of the truck.
According to Witherow and Delaney, the fire rating for the Baring area is expected to improve, which could help homeowners save on insurance premiums. The rating for all of Knox County could also be positively impacted.
In addition to the larger truck, the department added a compact, highly maneuverable vehicle to its fleet earlier this year — a 1999 Jeep Wrangler brush truck obtained from a fire department in Michigan. The Jeep, purchased in January and received in early February, had only 6,500 miles and cost roughly $15,000.
The vehicle is already proving to be an essential asset.
“This little brush truck goes where people can hardly walk, and I’ll tell you what — it saved our tail this spring going to brush fires,” Witherow said. “This has been a wonderful tool.”
The Jeep came fully equipped with a 65-gallon water tank and pump and was already painted fire-engine red. Only decals had to be added before it was put into service.
“We found it in great shape and ready to go. For the price and condition, it was a steal,” Delaney said.
Both purchases represent a major upgrade for the all-volunteer department, which continues to rely on strong community support to enhance its emergency response capabilities.
“The goal is to maintain what we have and to think about the future,” Witherow said.
The BVFD has between 22 and 25 official volunteer members. Many additional volunteers are known to assist during fires and other emergencies throughout the region. The department is known for its fast response times and is frequently relied upon by agencies in Knox and surrounding counties.
“We wanted to have more options because we’re called to help a lot,” said Delaney.
“We sure are grateful the community has put so much faith in us and has donated so generously,” Witherow added. “We are using that money to better serve the community.”
The BVFD Board of Directors members are Lee Good, Lewis Burkholder, Stanley Newswanger, Ben Delaney, and Shawn Witherow.
