ROYAL CITY - Grant County Fire Districts Nos. 10-11 recently replaced two of their most worn out vehicles, thanks mostly to a large grant from the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

The grant in the amount of $256,434 enabled the purchase of a 2011 water tender built by Deep South Fire Trucks on a Kenworth T-440 chassis powered by a 400-horse power Cummins diesel engine.

The district had to put  up $12,821in matching funds to receive the grant, or five percent of the grant total. The truck replaced a 1971 Peterbilt water tender that had served the community for approximately 20 years.

"The new truck was designed to promote interoperability between Fire District 10 and 11  personnel with standardized controls and equipment configuration," Chief Brian Evans said.

The new truck has a 3,000-gallon stainless steel tank that is coated and painted for corrosion resistance. It has a PTO pump with pump and roll capability.

The truck also has a remote-controlled front nozzle to allow one person to safely fight fires. It has automatic chains to assure the truck arrives safely during winter and a heated pump enclosure to help prevent pump freeze-up.

The other vehicle Districts 10-11 acquired is a 2007 Chevy Tahoe purchased from the Bureau of Land Management. It was converted into a command vehicle in house by the Districts' ETV mechanic Russ Hersh.

The vehicle was purchased used for $16,500. A program that allows fire departments to purchase federal surplus vehicles allowed the Disricts to get the Tahoe for $10,000 less than normal for such a vehicle and $20,000 less than a new Tahoe.

"By utilizing a good used vehicle, used or refurbished emergency components where possible, and doing the work in house, we were able to save more than 50 percent of the cost of a new vehicle," Evans said.

The command vehicle is equipped with fire and medical equipment, including multiple radios, command center, GPS, remote jumper cables and automated external defibrillator. The new Tahoe replaces a 1997 Tahoe.