Derby's newest fire engine rolled into service Friday, Oct. 23, after a ceremonial push-in at Station 81 capped nearly four years of planning.
Engine 81, a 2026 Pierce Enforcer that cost $864,000, carries 600 gallons of water and pumps 2,000 gallons per minute, the Derby Informer reported. The Derby Difference sales tax funded the purchase.
"This is a big deal for Derby. I think it speaks volumes for our community to invest in public safety," Mayor Mark Staats said at the push-in ceremony, according to the Derby Informer.
The department's apparatus committee began designing the engine in 2022 and ordered it in January 2023, KSN reported. Fire Chief John Turner said the truck was built to fit Derby's densely populated neighborhoods and narrower streets, calling for a smaller, sleeker design than past engines.
The engine needs a minimum of three firefighters to operate, with room for five. Features include a lower hose bed, exterior-mounted ladders and additional in-cab storage.
Crews spent about two weeks learning the new truck's layout before it entered service. Turner said the previous engine's age made reliability a concern, and that the department cannot afford downtime on a vehicle that responds to emergencies.
Training conference draws more than 60 firefighters
The new engine was not the only October milestone for Derby Fire Department. The department's training facility hosted the annual Wichita H.O.T. (Hands-On Training) Fire Conference on Oct. 10-11, marking the third consecutive year Derby has served as the event's home.
More than 60 students and instructors attended, including one participant from Toronto. The conference featured lectures, leadership sessions and live-fire drills such as stretching hose lines, ventilation work and victim rescue.
Training Chief BJ Parsons said the facility's ability to run repeated live burns sets it apart. Crews conducted 24 fires on Oct. 11 alone. Few facilities around the country can match that capacity, Parsons said.
Derby firefighters first helped with the conference six years ago when it was held in Hutchinson. Once the department's own training facility opened, Parsons said, Derby took over hosting duties.
Sales tax backs public safety gear
Derby voters approved the Derby Difference sales tax on Nov. 7, 2023, by a vote of 2,448 to 1,987, according to the city's website. The 1% tax took effect Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through Dec. 31, 2034. The city’s spending plan allocates 10% of the revenue to public safety equipment and capital improvements, including fire engines and protective gear.
Most Derby firefighters have now completed the H.O.T. conference as students and continue to serve as instructors, keeping the department's training pipeline running year-round.
