New fire house opens

DACUSVILLE — Residents and city officials turned out Sunday for the dedication of a new fire station in the rural Dacusville community.

The station, known as “Dacusville Fire Station No. 2” will host the usual equipment — trucks, ladders, axes and hoses — but will remained unmanned.

“This is a good day for the district,” County Councilman Tom Ponder said at the ceremony. “When I first joined Council, and I’ve been there 12 years, I had no idea just how much I’d be talking about fire.”

Ponder discussed how far Dacusville’s rural fire protection had come, a progress he dedicated to the determination and hard work of the residents in the area.

“I sit at the meetings and hear what kinds of problems the other fire districts are having and I think, ‘well, we’ve had problems, but we haven’t had those kinds of problems here in Dacusville.’ And that goes directly to the spirit of community we have here. Stepping up. That’s what’s so special about Dacusville. The people and their willingness to help.”

The rural Dacusville Community encompasses several hundred households and Ponder stated that the increased fire protection provided by the newly dedicated station is hoped to offer some relief not only to homeowner’s peace of mind but also as it pertains to their insurance insurance bills.

“Even though this station isn’t manned, the equipment is here so response time will be faster,” he said. “I hope we’ll see some improvement with the area’s ISO rating.”

The dedication was concluded with the ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” — a fireman’s equivalent to a ribbon cutting — attended by the board members, chief, former chief and other county officials.

“It’s here and I’m glad it’s here,” said one woman who attended the dedication. “Now let’s hope we don’t have to use it.”

Dacusville Fire Station No. 2 is located at 120 Hamilton Road and with the exception of the chief, is entirely volunteer based.

County Councilman Tom Ponder spoke about the dedication the Dacusville community had shown in working together to bring the new station online.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_004.jpgCounty Councilman Tom Ponder spoke about the dedication the Dacusville community had shown in working together to bring the new station online. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

Unlike most other stations in the rural districts, Dacusville’s fleet is almost entirely made up of new rigs and engines built to order after a lengthly bidding process.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_030.jpgUnlike most other stations in the rural districts, Dacusville’s fleet is almost entirely made up of new rigs and engines built to order after a lengthly bidding process. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

Residents and city officials turned out on Sunday for the dedication of a new fire station in the rural Dacusville community.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_060.jpgResidents and city officials turned out on Sunday for the dedication of a new fire station in the rural Dacusville community. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

The dedication was concluded with a the ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” — a fireman’s equivalent to a ribbon cutting — attended to by the Board members, Chief, former Chief and other county officials.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_092.1.jpgThe dedication was concluded with a the ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” — a fireman’s equivalent to a ribbon cutting — attended to by the Board members, Chief, former Chief and other county officials. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

The station, known as “Dacusville Fire Station No. 2” will host the usual equipment — trucks, ladders, axes and hoses — but will remained unmanned.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_114.jpgThe station, known as “Dacusville Fire Station No. 2” will host the usual equipment — trucks, ladders, axes and hoses — but will remained unmanned. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

Kids from all over the area who attended the dedication of Dacusville Fire Station no. 2 got the chance to explore the engines and be firefighters for a day — complete with fancy new hats.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_159.jpgKids from all over the area who attended the dedication of Dacusville Fire Station no. 2 got the chance to explore the engines and be firefighters for a day — complete with fancy new hats. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel

The dedication was concluded with a the ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” — a fireman’s equivalent to a ribbon cutting — attended to by the Board members, Chief, former Chief and other county officials.

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_93.jpgThe dedication was concluded with a the ceremonial “uncoupling of the hose” — a fireman’s equivalent to a ribbon cutting — attended to by the Board members, Chief, former Chief and other county officials. Kasie Strickland | The Pickens Sentinel