RISON - In a unique cross-country trek, two volunteer firefighters from Rison, Arkansas, recently embarked on an unusual 1,200-mile journey.
Their mission? To drive a newly acquired, forest green fire truck all the way home from Maryland.
Keden Shrum and Tristan Ward, detailed that journey on the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast, with co-hosts Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse.
The episode highlights the resilience of rural volunteer fire departments and the community leadership that keeps them running.
The Death of 'Engine Two'
For years, the city of Rison operated with two primary pumper trucks. However, the department found itself in a dangerous predicament when one of its essential rigs—a 1987 Ford Motor Company pumper truck—began rapidly deteriorating.
The truck was in such poor condition that it became a gamble to operate.
"Bad enough that if... the right person wasn't there, that truck wasn't going anywhere," explained Ward, a six-year veteran volunteer firefighter and the primary operator of the old rig.
The mechanical failures were severe and hazardous. The truck's air tanks leaked constantly. One tank would only hold about 60 pounds of pressure, while the other would not pressurize at all. Because of the brake issues, drivers had to anticipate stops far in advance.
"Probably best to not even use the brakes really and let it come to a rolling stop," Ward recalled.
The fire pump ran through the same air system as the brakes. Because firefighters needed access to the pump button, they could not isolate the leak, which meant air constantly bled out against the brakes.
The 40-year-old metal water tank was also rusting through, leaving the metal structurally thin in several places.
The engine frequently flooded out and struggled to start. During one severe working house fire, a firefighter couldn't even get the truck to the scene.
Because the pump was completely outdated, commercial mechanics refused to touch it, fearing th…