Meridian Fire Chief Michael Evans and Mayor Jimmie Smith cut the ribbon on a new fire truck on Tuesday at Central Fire Station with city officials and firefighters.

After more than two years, Meridian Fire Department has received its custom E-One Fire Engine and is putting it into service.

At a ribbon cutting Thursday at Central Fire Station, Fire Chief Michael Evans said the truck will help MFD in its mission of providing fire protection for the citizens of Meridian.

“This is a big deal for the city of Meridian. The City Council and the mayor’s office provided this for us, and we’re going to let the people know that we got a new truck for the citizens of Meridian, that we’re dedicated to protecting the citizens and that we want to let people know about it,” he said.

Evans said the truck is fully customized with a truck committee of local firefighters designing everything from the pump to the bumper.

“They are the ones that are responsible for everything you see on this truck from the front bumper to the back bumper,” he said. “They specifically went down there and designed this for the people of Meridian, to fit their needs and to be the most useful when they respond to calls.”

The truck, which was built by Sunbelt Fire Inc., was first ordered in October 2021, with an expected wait time of roughly 12 to 14 months. At the time, then Fire Chief Jason Collier explained manufacturers were struggling to find the necessary parts to build the fire engines due to supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collier said MFD could look at purchasing a commercial firetruck, but those were less suited to the department’s needs and receive a 15-year rating from the State Fire Bureau as opposed to a custom truck’s 20-year rating.

The total cost for the truck was $720,000, which is being financed over a period of five years.

Mayor Jimmie Smith said the fire engine will address a need in the community, and he is glad the city administration and council could work together to provide the resources to buy it.

“This is a very unique fire truck, and it’s one that this community needs,” he said. “And I’m proud to say that the City Council and the city administration did what they should have done by ordering this truck.”

Councilman Joe Norwood Jr., who serves as council president, said it has been a long wait between ordering the truck and receiving it, but it did not disappoint.

“It is well worth the wait,” he said.