The Lakeland Fire Department debuted Thursday what it dubs the 'Rescue Truck of the Future,' the first of its kind in Central Florida. 

  • New truck replaces Truck 32 at Station 3
  • New truck cheaper, better on gas, has more lights
  • Will mainly be used for medical calls

The new rescue truck replaces Rescue Truck 32, which was housed at Station 3. It’s a pickup truck, different from the previous model, which was was boxier and heavier.
 
Firefighter/Paramedic Joel Castellow came up with the idea to purchase it when he learned the old truck was due for replacement.  
 
“It’s easier to weave through traffic. The acceleration is a little bit better on it,” Castellow said.
 
The department said the new truck is also better on gas mileage, and cost about $50,000 less to purchase. It will be used mainly for medical calls.

Crews believe the new truck's design will help them arrive on scene faster and save time once they arrive.
 
“Anytime traffic is really heavy, people don’t always know the right way to go,” Castellow explained. “Trying to get through traffic can be difficult. So having a smaller vehicle will make that gap more effective for us.”
 
“With our old trucks, there were calls where we’d go to three, potentially four compartments to get everything we needed," he continued. "Now, everything we need for a medical call is right off the back.”  

Photo: Lakeland Fire Department
 
Finally, the new truck also has more lights on the outside, which makes it more visible to drivers. One of those lights, a spotlight mounted on the truck's roof, will help firefighters more easily locate addresses.
 
“It shows how we’re adapting with the times," said Lakeland Fire Department spokeswoman Janel Vasallo. "We’re being more efficient. We’re being safer. We’re doing more with less.”
 
The department has its vehicles on five-year replacement schedules. Vasallo estimates the new vehicle will reduce maintenance cost by 50 percent and fuel consumption by 50 percent for a total savings of $635,000.

The truck the new vehicle is replacing was the most used in the city.
 
“There was around 4,000 calls last year, which is 14/15 calls a day on average, but I’ve had as many as 29 in a 24-hour shift on this truck,” Castellow recalled.  
 
The department went on to say two of its fire engines also need to be replaced. The new ones will be put into service this fall.
 
With the population in Lakeland steadily growing, the fire department is also looking at whether it needs to add an additional fire rescue truck and additional personnel in the years to come.