Pearl River County has officially added a new firetruck to the Southeast Fire Department’s fleet, enhancing local emergency response capabilities and reducing future financial burdens for decades.

The 28 1/2-foot-long firetruck, purchased in October 2023, cost $482,614, with $90,000 of the funding provided by the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program (RFTAAP). The truck features a custom cross-lay system at the front for hose deployment, allowing one to two individuals to operate with minimal risk, as climbing atop the vehicle for setup is unnecessary.

In a recent interview, Shawn Wise, the county’s fire coordinator, emphasized the importance of the purchase.

“The big contributor to getting a new fire truck for the [district]—it’s kind of a team effort now, where everybody helps each other out,” Wise said. “It was crucial to ensure the truck was here because your homeowner’s insurance rate is based on the capabilities of the rating district. Trucks age out at a certain point, and when they’re no longer ratable, it impacts property owners. This was one of the big driving factors to keep the district’s property insured at favorable rates.”

With this new addition, the county will not need to purchase another firetruck for 15 to 20 years, ensuring long-term stability for the fire department’s operations. The vehicle is expected to support Pearl River County’s emergency response efforts while maintaining cost-effective resident insurance rates.