East Grand Plains Vol. Fire Dept:
The East Grand Plains Volunteer Fire Department started out as Boy Scout Troop 36 in 1938. The Scouts rigged a small pump onto a two-wheeled trailer, which was pulled behind a pickup. In 1947 a surplus Dodge power wagon was obtained and a station was built on donated land. The building was paid for with a voluntary 10 cents per acre assessment from area farmers and with bar-b-que fundraisers. In 1951 two of the department members, Ellis Whitney and Morgan Nelson wrote and successfully lobbied for legislation that created the State Fire Fund. That year the department was recognized by the Chaves County Commission. By 1961 the acreage assessment had increased to 25 cents and the department was able to buy its first assembled and equipped fire truck. With the addition of more equipment and apparatus, the department built a new station in 1983.
The department currently has 22 personnel, and fire apparatus consisting of:
One 105’ Aerial Ladder Truck:
2007 Smeal Ladder Truck with a 1250 pump and a 500 gallon tank.
Two Pumpers:
2001 Freightliner with a 1250gpm pump, and a 1,500-gallon tank.
1983 Ford (Allegheny) 750gpm pump and a 750-gallon tank
Two Tankers:
1992 International 500gpm pump, and a 3,000-gallon tank.
1980 International (4x4) 300gpm pump and a 1,000-gallon tank.
One Initial Attack Vehicle:
2001 Freightliner (Smeal) 1,250gpm pump, and a 1,500-gallon tank
Two Brush Trucks:
1996 Ford 1 ton 4x4 90gpm pump and a 340-gallon tank.
2000 Ford F550 4x4 120gpm pump and a 500-gallon tank.
One Command Vehicle:
2005 Ford Excursion
One Enclosed Rescue Trailer:
2008 Haulmark Trailer
One Off-Road 4-wheeler:
2009 Kawasaki Mule for off road rescue services.
It has an ISO rating of 6/8B with plans to try and lower their ISO rating in the next year by requesting a new ISO inspection. They received a State Fire Fund allotment of $116,627 to operate with this year. The department recently achieved a long term goal of obtaining a 150’ Aerial Ladder truck and has also purchased an off road Kawasaki Mule, trailer and Command Vehicle to enchance their rescue capabilities
This department had an average of 130 Fire, EMS and Mutual Aid Calls. The current Fire Chief of the department is Chief Monte Baker, who has been a member of the department for over 30 years.