Three Rivers College,fire departments partner to upgrade fire trucks and support training

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) – Three Rivers College, the Poplar Bluff Fire Department and the Grandin Rural Volunteer Fire Department have each upgraded their fire fleets through a series of donations and partnerships.

The Poplar Bluff Fire Department recently purchased a 2024 Rosenbauer Pumper with grant funding, replacing a 1980 Seagrave Pumper that no longer met National Fire Protection Association standards. Under the terms of the grant, the older truck could only be used for training, so the department donated it to Three Rivers College for its Fire Science program.

“We currently have 16 members of our department who have gone through the Fire Science program here at TRC, and we want to make sure that it succeeds and is around for a long time,” Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt said.

That donation allowed Three Rivers to, in turn, give its 1986 Pierce Pumper to the Grandin Rural Volunteer Fire Department, replacing a 1979 International that was stuck in first gear.

“This will make it so we can respond to house fires again and make sure that our community is safer,” Grandin Chief Joseph Gates said.

Andrea Pierce, Three Rivers’ division chair for Career Studies and Workforce Development, said the college is committed to giving back to surrounding communities.

Poplar Bluff City Manager Robert Knodell praised the partnership, noting it strengthens both emergency response and firefighter training.

“When we are able to work together, we get training, we get qualified new firefighters that the college program produces,” Knodell said. “It’s what makes this community as strong as it is, and we are going to be even stronger because of these partnerships.”

The new Rosenbauer was specifically chosen to clear a 9-foot bridge in Poplar Bluff, ensuring service to a neighborhood of roughly 300 homes that has previously been at risk of delayed response due to train blockages.

Three Rivers officials said the Seagrave Pumper will provide valuable training opportunities for fire science students.

“This allows our students to train on the type of truck they might be working with after graduation,” Pierce said. “Our Seagrave Pumper will encourage students to train with TRC and be ready to enter the workforce and be successful.”

Three Rivers College offers affordable higher education and workforce training programs across Southeast Missouri. More information is available at trcc.ed.