Dike VFD adds fire engine to fleet

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  • CHECK GIVEN — Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley joins Dike VFD Chief AG Sandifeer and Assistant Chief Joel Pace in the formal presentation of a $50,000 check by Ryan Economy, the lead developer of the Hopkins Solar Project, from ENGIE North America, Blattner and Alpin Sun for the purchase of a fire truck for Dike VFD. Staff photo by Faith Huffman
    CHECK GIVEN — Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley joins Dike VFD Chief AG Sandifeer and Assistant Chief Joel Pace in the formal presentation of a $50,000 check by Ryan Economy, the lead developer of the Hopkins Solar Project, from ENGIE North America, Blattner and Alpin Sun for the purchase of a fire truck for Dike VFD. Staff photo by Faith Huffman
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3 Businesses behind Dike solar project donate $50,000 for truck purchase

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Dike Volunteer Fire Department Monday celebrated the arrival of the newest addition to its fleet, a fire engine purchased from Farmersville using a $50,000 donation from ENGIE North America, Blattner and Alpin Sun the companies behind the solar facility being constructed on private property in Dike community.

The donation was recorded during Hopkins County Commissioner Court Monday morning, with a presentation by Ryan Economy and Bill Pentak on behalf of Hopkins Solar LLC to Dike Fire Chief AG Sandifeer and Assistant Chief Joel Pace.

A small ceremony noting the arrival of the truck and the $50,000 donation received from the businesses behind the solar facility in Dike was also held following the lunch catered by Corner Grub House and Plain & Fancy Sandwich Shoppe, and provided by Engie, Blattneer and Alpin Sun for the community at noon Monday at Dike Community Center.

“We’re very pleased to be building our solar project in Dike in Hopkins County and want to thank all who have gathered with us today,” said Ryan Economy, the lead developer of the Hopkins Solar Project. “With safety at the heart of everything we do, ENGIE, Blattner, and Alpin Sun certainly appreciate the Dike Volunteer Fire Department’s goal to continue enhancing its emergency response capabilities. This donation underscores our objective to be both an economic and clean energy engine, and a positive presence overall, not just for our landowners but for the broader community.”

According to Scott Murray, site safety coordinator for Blattner, safe construction and operations are a top goal for not only employees at the $250 million solar facility but also the community as well, as is being a good neighbor for 2-3 decades into the future when the solar facility is in operation. During that time, those working the project will be joining the community, living in Hopkins County. The donation will help improve emergency response in the community for those associated with the project and especially for the community members, according to the business representatives.

The fire truck is new to Dike VFD but is not a brand new truck the truck is a 1995 Ford F Series E1 manufactured truck, with the older style commercial cab custom built for Farmersville, and able to pump 1,250 gallons of water per minute. The Collin County fire department had planned to put the truck up for sale at auction, but upon learning another small department not too far to the east was in need agreed to sell it to Dike VFD.

“The truck is the perfect size for the Dike community, to serve it for many years to come,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley said Monday.

Sandifeer said the department did buy tires and fixed the pump on it, so the truck can be pump tested.

That would mean the area can be reevaluated, and should within the next rating cycle lower the ISO rating for those within a 5 mile radius of the fire station. Currently, the ISO rating for the area is about 9. Adding Engine 15 and passing the pump test could mean the rating dropping 4-5 points. The lower the rating the lower property insurance bills can potentially be for those within that 5 mile radius of the station.

Engine 15 will be housed in the building placed beside the facility housing Dike VFD’s other apparatus. The building was donated by Hopkins County Fire Department. It previously was located behind Station 20 on Texas Street in Sulphur Springs. HCFD’s needs exceeded the storage building, requiring the older building to be removed to make way for a new, bigger one. Aware Dike VFD was looking for an engine to better protect the community with a truck better equipped to battle a structure fire should one occur as well as help lower the community’s ISO rating, which in turn could help residents in terms of insurance ratings, provided their carriers offer them.

Dike VFD also plans to add a small building in Hatchetville, where another of the department’s trucks is located, which should help bring ISO ratings down for 5 miles there as well, department officers reported.

“This will help everybody in the area,” Sandifeer said. “We are proud they did this for us. This will help everybody and won’t cost you anything because of this donation” Sandifeer noted that without the donation from of the $50,000 from the solar facility partners which allowed them to purchase the truck and the building to house it, the Dike VFD would have had to fund raise for it, which would have meant the cost for both would have been had to come from the community.

“This will help everyone and we appreciate it,” Sandifeer said.

Among those attending the lunch April 24, 2023 at Dike Community Center were representatives from the offices of US Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Pat Fallon and Senator Bryan Hughes; County Commissioners and the county judge, community members, representatives from the three businesses donating the funding and sponsoring the lunch in celebration of the arrival of the new truck; and HCFD, emergency management, EMS and sheriff ’s office personnel; and media.

Virginia Hannan, district director, presented Sandifeer and Pace with congratulations on behalf District 4 Congressman Fallon for their new truck. She also extended appreciation for all of the community first responders and volunteers, including those in Dike, who are “so important and so appreciated” for their efforts.