National Fire Plan Success Story
Mammoth Cave Delivers a New Truck to Park City Volunteer Fire Department
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2011
On March 25, 2011, Mammoth Cave National Park ranger staff delivered a new fire truck, Mammoth Cave 101, to the Park City, Kentucky, Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) where it will be housed for use in the park and the community.
“We are most appreciative of our relationship with Park City and how they assist the park with structural fire response,” said Superintendent Patrick Reed. “It simply isn’t practical for our rangers to keep qualified in the required training and refresher courses. We share our truck with Park City, and in turn Park City volunteers respond to fires in the park.”
Because of their proximity to the park, Mammoth Cave holds general agreements with Park City and Lincoln Volunteer Fire Departments to assist the park with response to structural fires, motor vehicle accidents, RV fires, and hazardous fuel spills. They also assist with structural protection during the park’s prescribed burns.
Mammoth Cave and Park City began this partnership in 1991, as a means to maintain structural protection and assistance to the south side of river where most of park building are located. With the partnership, the park no longer trains its staff, but depends on the engine training and expertise of the Park City crew, saving training time and costs.
“We have similar partnerships with six other neighboring volunteer fire departments primarily for wildland fire suppression,” said Superintendent Patrick Reed. “When needed, their response is quick and effective.”
Mammoth Cave 101 is a Type-1 structural engine, a 2010 model custom-made by HME Company in Grandville, Michigan. It is designed to carry four firefighters, with cut-away seats so they can slip into their breathing apparatus as they travel. It carries hose, pumper, foam, onboard generator, storage compartments, and on-the-stop-chains, which are mounted in chassis and drop down onto the tires for easy deployment.
Mammoth Cave 101 replaces Mammoth Cave #1, a 1991-model fire truck, which was housed at the Park City VFD for 14 years.
Contact: Vickie T. Carson, Public Information Officer, (270) 758-2192