Fire Rescue Truck 52 will provide hands-on training for future firefighters and first responders

Officials from Canaveral Port Authority and Canaveral Fire Rescue Present a ceremonial key to Eastern Florida State College for the donation of Truck 52 to the college’s fire academy.
(Credit: Canaveral Port Authority) 

The Canaveral Port Authority today officially turned over the ceremonial keys to “Truck 52,” an aerial fire apparatus formerly operated by Canaveral Fire Rescue, to Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) for use in the school’s Fire Training Center. The donation was formally recognized during a ceremony today at Port Canaveral, where Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray and Canaveral Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Crawley presented an oversized key to Eastern Florida State College Vice President of External Affairs Jack Parker. 

“We are proud to donate this valuable equipment to support Eastern Florida’s education and training program,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “Truck 52 served our Port community well, and it will continue to be of service in preparing the next generation of firefighters and first responders for their vitally important careers.”

The apparatus, formerly known as “Canaveral Fire Rescue Truck 52,” is a 2012 model year 75-foot Pierce Velocity ladder truck, which was purchased by the Canaveral Port Authority and operated by Canaveral Fire Rescue. During its time in service, the truck and its complement of Canaveral Fire Rescue firefighters has responded to nearly 7,000 calls throughout Brevard County because of Port Canaveral’s mutual aid and automatic aid agreements with 26 communities and federal government installations including Kennedy Space Center, NASA, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Patrick Space Force Base, and U.S. Navy’s Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU).

During its 14 years in service at Canaveral Fire Rescue, Truck 52 and its complement of firefighters responded to nearly 7,000 calls throughout Brevard County before being donated to Eastern Florida State College’s Fire Academy.
(Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)

"Although this truck's assignment is changing, its mission remains the same: serving others. We are proud to be part of the handover of this apparatus so it can continue making a difference and helping firefighters answer the call when their community needs them most,” said Chris Quinn, Fire Chief, Canaveral Fire Rescue.

The donated firetruck will be incorporated into EFSC’s firefighter and emergency response training programs, providing students and trainees with valuable hands-on training experience required to become a state certified firefighter in Florida. In addition to offering a Fire Science associate’s degree, the college operates a fire training center and Fire Fighter I/II Certificate Program and Continuing Education Fire Science courses to advance firefighter professional skills.

“Eastern Florida State College is grateful to the Canaveral Port Authority and Canaveral Fire Rescue for the donation of Truck 52 which will help our students gain valuable hands-on experience for their future careers,” said Dr. James Richey, President of EFSC.  “Support from partners like the Canaveral Port Authority and Canaveral Fire Rescue are critical to our ongoing efforts to train and educate the next generation of firefighters and first responders.”

The Pierce Velocity ladder truck is equipped with a 2,000 GPM (gallon-per-minute) pumping capacity with a 400-gallon tank and can carry up to 1,000 feet of five-inch supply hose. Built in Appleton, Wisc., the truck’s 75-foot aerial ladder provides nearly 68 feet of horizontal reach, giving instructors and students the ability to conduct a wide range of practical training evolutions involving elevated rescue, fire suppression and aerial operations.

Port Canaveral has donated firefighting assets in previous years, including a Pierce Lance fire truck and a fire pumper to the Monticello Volunteer Fire Department in Jefferson County, Fla.

The donation to EFSC’s training program reflects Port Canaveral and Canaveral Fire Rescue’s continuous commitment to supporting firefighter education, emergency preparedness and first responder training throughout the region. The Port also underwrites specialized on-site liquefied natural gas firefighting training for cruise lines and other organizations.