By Scott Harvey
Commerce – The Commerce Fire Department is to receive its new ladder fire truck either later today or early tomorrow.
The 75-foot ladder truck will allow the fire department to fight fires in taller structures, especially those located on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Funding for the truck is a joint university/ city effort, with A&M-Commerce funding $220,000, or one-third the cost of the $670,000 truck. The agreement from both sides came more than a year ago.
Speaking with the Morning Blend Thursday, Commerce Mayor Quay Throgmorton says the new truck will go a long way toward lowering the fire department's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. The rating is based on a variety of criteria that are aimed at accurately measuring the quality of public fire protection. The city's current rating sits at a four; with the best possible rating being a one.
If a fire district improves its ISO rating, homeowners and businesses in the community often save money on their insurance premiums.
The City hopes to have an open house to showcase the new truck, as well as an information session regarding severe weather, in the coming weeks.