SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District's classic red truck is getting a new look for October and November.
The pink and blue fire truck is meant to promote early screening for breast and prostate cancers.
Pro Style Wraps provided the vehicle wrap, and all costs were covered by community partners such as the Sacramento Kings, Local 522 and the cities of Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova.
“It’s something that goes out as a 44,000-pound billboard when it’s traveling up and down the street as a frontline engine through all five of our battalions providing service and a reminder for early detection,” said Metropolitan Fire Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn.
The five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer when caught in its earliest stage is 99%, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death, according to the American Cancer Society. The ACS said the five-year relative survival rate is 99% when the cancer is detected early.
Wilbourn said the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened for cancer early.
“This is just one more opportunity. When (people) see (the) 44,000-pound, 40-foot fire engine drive by them, hopefully, they say, 'Hey, you know what? I need to make my appointment,'” Wilbourn said.
Wilbourn added the community response is overwhelmingly positive when the pink and blue truck is on the road. He said people get a kick out of seeing the truck roll up.
“It's just (sic) an interesting thing when we do roll up and, people love it, we love it and it's a great thing,” Wilbourn said.
The fire engine will be at several community events over the next two months. Next week, the engine will be at the Sacramento Children’s Museum as part of Fire Prevention Week.
