It is a volunteer operation.

Bristol Fire Department members are quick to point that out. This detail came up in the speeches at Sunday’s truck dedication for late Deputy Fire Chief Frank Sousa. A banner behind the stage read: Now Recruiting – 253-6912. And it’s the first thing Chief Bob Martin explains to the press on first meeting.

“This is a volunteer fire department.”

Hammering home the distinction between paid and volunteer is a big deal around here. The concept that men and women — your neighbors, coworkers, and friends — volunteer their time to save lives and property is a point of pride. The importance of public service for the greater good of the town is clear, even more so when a man who gave so much dies so young.

They celebrated that man, and the machine that was his baby, at the Bristol Fire Department Defiance Hose Company No. 1 Sunday afternoon. Deputy Chief Sousa died in an August traffic accident after he crashed his 2012 Chevrolet pickup truck into a metal fence on Metacom Avenue. He was 50.

The town mourned a favorite son while colleagues shared stories of his dedication and service. He was gone, but as the song goes, the memories remain.

On Sunday, those memories took the shape of the military-grade Humvee Mr. Sousa took from surplus to superlative on behalf of the department and the people of Bristol. The department dedicated the truck, called Brush 1, to Mr. Sousa in a ceremony on the back lawn at the Defiance station.

The late deputy chief became a member of the Defiance Hose Company No. 1 in November of 1992, and eventually became its captain in 2002. He served two stints as captain of the volunteer company, most recently from 2011 to 2013.

Colleagues knew the Humvee as Mr. Sousa’s baby. Once taken in as military surplus, Mr. Sousa willed the machine into service for Bristol as a rough-riding vehicle capable of crossing terrain too difficult for passage by traditional fire and emergency vehicles.

The truck features a skid mount pump with 150 gallons of water and five gallons of class A foam, which breaks down the surface tension of water so it won’t run off surfaces. (Experts say it “makes water wetter.”)

Hand tools designed specifically for brush fires are onboard Brush 1, which is meant to complement the forestry capabilities of Engine 5.

“Given the Hummer’s ability to go off road it makes it easier for us to get to the fire,” said former Deputy Chief David Coccio, now the First Driver of Brush 1, also known as the Rough Rider.

Despite its bulk and aggressive profile, the truck does not punish the driver.

“It’s a lot easier than you would think. It’s very cool,” said Mr. Coccio, who is now in charge of daily upkeep on the vehicle.

“Frank knew I would be excited about the possibilities of this vehicle.”

Editor’s note: Many Bristol Fire Department members went out of their way to thank the Coelho’s at Safeway Auto Center for their tireless work and generous donations to bring Bush 1 to life.