County and Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department officials signed a contract on April 9 for the purchase of two new trucks.
One will replace a 1995 engine; the other, a 1998 ladder truck. Both new vehicles will be manufactured by Seagrave and be delivered in 2022.
“This is the first new ladder truck ever built for the town of Smithfield,” said Smithfield VFD Chief Chris Edwards, referring to the 95-foot Seagrave aerialscope, which he said the department selected specifically because of several operations the department has handled at the Smithfield Foods plant in town.
As such, Smithfield Foods has agreed to contribute $250,000 toward the purchase of the two vehicles via $50,000 annual payments over the next five years. “Smithfield Foods is tremendously grateful to Smithfield’s local volunteer firefighters, who bravely serve our community day in and day out,” said Jonathan Toms, charitable initiatives manager for Smithfield Foods.