SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT BRINGS FIRE ENGINE 60 BACK INTO SERVICE

Memphis, TN – On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Shelby County Fire Department and Shelby County Government will celebrate the return of Fire Engine 60 at its Egypt Central location. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place with remarks from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Commissioner Mick Wright, and Shelby County Fire Chief Alvin Benson.

Fire Station 60 opened in 1960 as a volunteer fire station and was named Shelby County Fire Station 10 in 1972. Fire Station 10 functioned until 1988 when it was sold to a private citizen and fell into disrepair. In 2012, the Shelby County Fire Department realized the need for an active fire station in the central and near-northeast parts of the county. The building was re-acquired and returned it to its original condition as a proper functioning fire station. In 2015, a mutual aid arrangement with another fire department allowed for a reassignment of the fire engine to a different area of Shelby County, while the ambulance, along with training and fire prevention, remained at Fire Station 60.

Shelby County Government has brought Fire Engine 60 back to serve as a full-time front-line apparatus at its former fire station on Egypt Central. Fire Engine 60 is a pumper carrying thousands of feet of hoses, tools, a pump and an 800-gallon water tank.

What: Ribbon Cutting for Fire Engine 60

When: Friday, August 21, 2020, at 10 AM, Remarks from Elected Officials at 10:05 AM

Where: Shelby County Fire Station 60, 5380 Egypt Central Rd, Memphis, TN 38135 

Who: Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright, Shelby County Fire Chief Alvin Benson

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris: “The return of Fire Engine 60 is a long time coming for the Brownsville Maher Woods and East of Old Brownsville communities. It is my hope that with the reinstatement of the pumper, we can expect rapid responses to fire emergencies and more efficient operations at Fire Station 60. Residents have been pushing for this for years.”

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright: “This is a huge win for the community. There are almost 17,000 911 dispatches handled by Shelby County Fire Department each year, and constituents have been vocal about the need for Fire Station 60 to be equipped and fully functional. I am proud to be a part of this commemoration and the reinstatement of Fire Engine 60.”

Shelby County Fire Chief Alvin Benson: “Getting emergency equipment and the trained personnel to a call remains our highest priority. We were glad to have had the opportunity to return Engine 60 to this fire station in this way. Now it’s entirely our people and our equipment serving our residents each and every day and with the strength of the surrounding engine companies, the Shelby County Fire Department stands strong in our able and effective response picture.”

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