A new 3,000 gallon tanker/pumper recently purchased by the City of Sallisaw is officially in service and ready to protect the community.
Named “Big Greg” for longtime Sequoyah County firefighter and public safety supporter Greg Walters, Tanker 1 will provide an additional pumper for the Sallisaw fleet and an additional 3,000 gallons of water for use in areas with hard to access water supply.
Mr. Walters was instrumental in coordinating funding with the Cherokee Nation and the US Department of Agriculture, allowing the City of Sallisaw to purchase the tanker. Both Cherokee Nation and the USDA provided $50,000 each in grant funds for the purchase, with the City providing $117,000 in matching funds.
“Fighting fires in areas with limited water supply has always been a safety concern of our firefighters”, said Anthony Armstrong, Sallisaw Fire Chief. “The new tanker will provide an additional 3,000 gallons that can be used to fight fires in these areas. The City of Sallisaw and the Sallisaw Fire Department are very appreciative of Mr. Walters, the Cherokee Nation and the US Department of Agriculture. “