The cost to repair collision damage to a Billings, MT, Fire Department pumper exceeds the value of the truck, so a decision to buy a replacement has been made, according to a report broadcast by KTVQ television station.

The station said a decision was made recently by the Billings City Council to buy an additional truck to replace one damaged in a rollover crash early in February.

Pierce Mfg. was selected to build the new engine with a price of $638,777, the station reported. Pierce had already been selected to build two other engines for $1.2 million.

The damaged engine was scheduled for replacement in 2024, according to the TV station, which also reported the city should have enough funds in its equipment budget by the end of the year to cover the cost of the third engine.

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A power outage, caused by a transformer failure at the Oto, IA, Volunteer Fire and Rescue building, caused temperatures to fall and froze the water in the apparatus causing significant damage, according to a report broadcast by KTIV 4 television station.

According to the television report the recent extreme cold temperatures in Siouxland combined with loss of heat caused the station and equipment in it to freeze up, rendering the department helpless when came to fighting fire, the television station reported.

Members of the Battle Creek, IA, Fire Department heard of the dilemma their brothers were in and lent a pumper to get the department back in service, according to the report.

Battle Creek firefighters had a sense of obligation and duty to help out the nearby fire department as they found themselves in a similar situation in the past, according to the report, and they where helped out by neighbors in their time of need.

Oto firefighters are exploring an insurance claim to have the damage repaired, but are not expecting a claim to cover all the costs, according to the television station. The department has set up a fundraising account through its Facebook page to help offset costs to get them back in full service.

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A new pumper purchased by the River Falls, MN, Fire Department, had been in service less than two hours before it rolled out for its first call, a fatal house explosion, according to a report published by the e-newspaper Rivertowns.net.

The new pumper built by Pierce had just been pushed back into the station during a traditional welcoming ceremony where it was christen Engine 20, the e-paper reported.

The new Pierce engine replaced Engine 7, a 1989 Ford, as part of the department’s 30-year pumper replacement policy, according to the report.

Firefighters and officials started planning for the purchase in May 2018 and spent hundreds of hours researching the next engine that would serve the community decades into the future, according to the paper.

The firefighters had just completed their ceremony and returned home for a business meeting when the call for the explosion came in.

According to fire officers, the new truck performed at its first call as expected, the paper reported.

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A fire truck failure while returning from a call has shone a spotlight on the need for Warrenton, MO, Fire Protection District’s to replace some apparatus, according to a report broadcast by KMOV4 television station.

Serious financial constraints has made it difficult for the district to even consider replacing the department’s trio of aging trucks, the TV station reported.

Recently, a radiator hose clamp failed while a three-person crew was returning to the station after assisting on a medical call, KMOV4 reported. The truck had to be towed.

The department has two rescue trucks and one pumper and all are in need of frequent repairs, it was reported. Finances are so challenging, one fire station has been sold and another is on the market.

Voters have rejected tax increases to support the fire department five times in the past and a sixth attempt will be considered in April, the station reported. It’s hoped that an increase of $30 to $70 per year, per home owner, will raise $430,000 for the fire protection district.

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Firefighters in Pine Bluff, AR, are concerned about the lack of water pressure in the community’s water mains and how it may affect fire suppression in the event of a big fire, according to a report published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The paper reported the fire chief has figured out a work around for the water pressure issue and is planning to call for more fire trucks to a fire scene, or summoning tankers to haul water.

Firefighters said that without ample water supply, aerial trucks might not function and building sprinkler systems might be compromised.

Water department officials are working on resolving the issues, the paper reported.

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