by Benjamin Chase
of the plainsman

HITCHCOCK — The Hitchcock Fire Department on Wednesday received a donated truck from Basin Electric that will be converted to a brush truck.

Logan Rietveld of Basin stated that Basin was going to surplus the truck, and he knew that local fire departments could utilize the truck as a brush truck to respond to grass fires, the most common call that the Hitchcock department, like many rural fire departments, receives.

Members of the Hitchcock department were on hand to look at the truck, already planning the work needed to convert the truck for use.

Beadle County Emergency Management Director Dave Jensen stated, “These trucks are a huge asset for our local departments. Wolsey received a truck last year, and with this one in the area as well, we have a lot better shot when responding to grass fires.”

The challenge of bouncing through fields to respond to grass fires can add significant wear and tear to larger fire trucks, making the brush trucks incredibly valuable to rural departments.