Posted on November 27, 2014.
By Kate Armitage
Picture from left are Mike Brazzell (Office of Preparedness officer), Dale Lane (director of Office of Preparedness/EMA), Chris Dorsey (Millington City Manager), Chief Gary Graves (Millington Fire Department Chief), Terry Jones (Millington Mayor), Thomas Eubank (Lucite International safety, health and environmental manager), Floyd Billings (Lucite site safety manager) and Levell Blanchard (Office of Preparedness deputy administrator).
Thanks to the support from Lucite International and The Shelby County Office of Preparedness, the Millington Fire Department will be better equipped to combat flammable liquid fires. The Shelby County Office of Preparedness approved $52,000 in homeland security funding for the purchase of a dual-tote fire foam trailer and prime mover vehicle for the Millington Fire Department. Lucite International, a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of acrylic based products located immediately south of Millington, donated $10,000 for the department to purchase 560 gallons of Alcohol-Resistant Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AR-AFFF) needed to equip the trailer. “This type of foam trailer is the only one of its type in the surrounding area,” said Gary Graves, Millington Fire Chief. “The ethanol blends of gasoline used in vehicles today and other flammable liquids that are transported through Millington on a daily basis require specialized firefighting equipment. Thanks to the support from The Shelby County Office of Preparedness and Lucite International, Millington Fire Department will now better equipped to serve the emergency needs of the area,” said Graves. Officials from Lucite International were introduced to the fire foam trailer at a training session and immediately saw the benefit it can provide not only at their plant site, but the area overall. Lucite International officials consider this asset to be an integral part of the protection at their acrylic plant on Fite Road in Millington. Officials from the Millington Fire Department and The Canadian National Railway met recently to discuss the benefits this asset could provide in the event of a railway disaster. The Canadian National Railway serves as the primary North – South Railway from Chicago to New Orleans. C & N averages 21 freight and two Amtrak passenger trains daily. These trains travel through Millington and other populated areas of Tipton and Lauderdale Counties, all of which are in our homeland security district. “Memphis Fire Department has equipment to combat large flammable liquid fires but the surrounding areas did not have immediate access to this specialized equipment to effectively extinguish flammable liquids until now,” said Gary Graves, Millington Fire Chief. The trailer is capable of delivering 560 gallons of fire foam concentrate through dual hand-held hose lines or 500 gallons per minute through a pre-piped deluge system. On November 10, 2014 the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the low bid of $10,356.33 from NAFECO Fire Equipment to purchase the required quantity of firefighting foam to properly equip the trailer. Additional equipment necessary to put the foam trailer in service has been ordered. “I anticipate the fire foam trailer will be fully equipped and operational by the end of December. It will be housed at Millington Fire Station #1 and ready for immediate response to anywhere in our homeland security district or as called upon by local or state emergency response officials,” said Chief Graves.
About Millington: Located just minutes from Memphis, Millington enjoys an exceptional quality of life for an estimated 10,000 citizens. Quality education, recreation and economic growth make Millington a great place to live, work and play. Millington is home to the Millington Municipal School District as well as a variety of public and private, faith based schools and various colleges, universities and technical institutions in the area. In 2004 The University of Memphis opened its Millington Campus and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in numerous fields of study. Millington is home to Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Ingram Micro, Memphis International Raceway, USA Stadium, Mirichich and other golf courses providing opportunities for economic growth and world-class recreation. Millington’s West Tennessee Regional Business Center, a publicly owned business and industry center, features 1,900 acres of prime industrial space with easy access to the Millington Regional Jetport and the Canadian National Railroad. True intermodal transportation and shipping, makes Millington the perfect place for business. Widely known as “Flag City, USA,” Millington truly offers the best of the Mid-South.
