The Pigeon Creek Volunteer Fire Department took possession of its brand new fire truck on Tuesday, an event community historian and fire department supporter Fern Nix called &#8220one of the biggest” in her life.

&#8220This is great day,” Nix said, as firefighters walked around the new $150,000 truck, inspecting its exterior and interior.

Pastor Robert Cruikshank, a Pigeon Creek resident, offered a blessing on the new truck and the firefighters.

&#8220A community is where everyone cares for everyone else,” he said. &#8220And this (truck) is a symbol of that togetherness.”

Nix said the fire department filed for a federal grant through Sen. Richard Shelby (D-Tuscaloosa) in April 2006 after reading a new release in the The Greenville Advocate.

She said the fire department received notice in September of that year that it had been awarded the grant.

The winning bid was submitted by Sunbelt E-1 of Fairhope for $154.283. The Pigeon Creek community raised over $7,000 as part of a five percent required match, said Nix.

&#8220Much appreciation goes to Mr. Daniel Vanek, Mr. Don Rhodes, and Mr. Bob Wray of Sunbelt E-1 for their help in getting the truck ready for delivery,” said Nix.

The new truck is a Freightliner model with a Mercedes-Benz engine and Allison transmission.