Hog Chain Volunteer Fire Department officials say a new firetruck will aid efforts to improve the department’s fire rating andlower insurance premiums for residents.

A 2005 Freightliner Class A truck, with a1,250-gallons-per-minute pump and a 1,000-gallon tank, went intoservice Tuesday. The department now has two pumper trucks and onetanker.

“We’re going to be able to lower our class rating and insurancerates for residents,” said Randy Jordan, Hog Chain VFDpresident.

Home insurance rates are based on a variety of factors,including the fire rating of the department that serves the area.The department is looking to go from a Class 10, the highest, to aClass Nine.

“It’s already in the process. The paperwork’s started,” Jordansaid.

Clifford Galey, Lincoln County fire coordinator, said there arerequirements for being able to lower the ratings. They includemanpower, training and equipment provisions as well as being ableto supply 15,000 gallons of water an hour to any location in thecoverage area.

“It’ll take several months to get everything done,” Galey saidof the process.

The new truck cost approximately $160,000.

Hog Chain is the sixth county volunteer fire department topurchase a truck using a $50,000 grant from the state’s Rural FireTruck Acquisition Grant Program. Previous departments to get atruck grant include Zetus, Loyd Star, Ruth, Bogue Chitto andHeuck’s Retreat.

Jordan said annual notes on the truck will about $12,000 for 10years. The department will use donations and tax revenue itreceives from the county to pay off the truck.

Galey said he is working with Zetus VFD to get that departmentanother truck through the grant program.

The New Sight and East Lincoln VFDs are currently paying offtrucks they purchased using department funds and are not in afinancial position to seek a new truck, Galey said. That put Zetusback in line to seek another truck grant.

Galey voiced appreciation to local officials and lawmakers forsupporting the grant program.

“It helps tremendously,” Galey said. “Without it, we wouldn’t beable to do what we’ve done.”