Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The City of Hattiesburg and the Hattiesburg Fire Department are leaning on the city’s students, K-12, and Hattiesburg Public School District supporters to name the fire department’s latest fleet addition – Ladder #1.

As a part of its capital expenditure budget for the 2022 fiscal year, the department purchased a new ladder apparatus from Pierce Manufacturing. This new addition to the department’s fleet will call Station #1 home, which is located in the service area of Hattiesburg High School, Hattiesburg Public School District’s Central Office and Hawkins Elementary.

Because of where it will live, Ladder #1 has been designed and wrapped in Hattiesburg Public School District colors, with a mascot treatment and word marks.

While the apparatus is being prepped for delivery and inspection, the city will take submissions for Ladder #1 to be named for when it’s commissioned into service. 

“In addition to being in the service area of several of our Hattiesburg Public School District locations, the Hattiesburg Fire Department is known for being involved in our local public schools and universities,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “From being stationed at sporting events for medical support to outreach and education, designing our latest fleet addition in honor of our school district made the most sense. Now, we’re looking for someone who is ‘Burg Built’ to help us name it.” 

All local students, K-12, are encouraged to submit a name via this form (https://bit.ly/hfd_ladder1). All submissions will be compiled into a list for deliberation and selection by a panel.  

Submissions should have a meaning that can easily be communicated, have a connection to the school district or purple and gold. 

This will be the third of HFD’s fleet since 2017 that has been commissioned and named. 

“It was a lot of fun to watch to watch our community collaborate over names for the Screaming Eagle, and we look forward to the same energy for this apparatus,” said Fire Chief Sherrocko Stewart.

In 2018, the department purchased Engine #4, named by the 3rd Graders at Grace Christian Elementary School. It holds the name “Big Red” in honor of Coach Derek “Red” Jarvis from Hattiesburg High School who passed away unexpectedly that year. Big Red is stationed at Fire Station #4 on the Hwy 42 Bypass.

In 2021, the department purchased Engine #6 which was named by three local elementary students MJ Gleason and brothers Clark and Andrew Rutland. It holds the name “Screaming Eagle.” It is stationed at Fire Station #6 near The University of Southern Mississippi. 

As a budgeted expense, the purchase cost for this new ladder truck, including graphics, was approximately $1.3 million.

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