St. Andrews Fire Department has a new, $509,000 fire truck that Chief Kevin Theriault says he's proud to have in the fleet. 

The cost of the Spartan chassis pumper tanker is worth it, Theriault said.

"All through the process we kept thinking about firefighter safety and ease of use," Theriault said of the new truck. 

"In here is a set of hose compartments that are built on trays, so everything is nice and low, and firefighters don't have to climb up on an icy truck to get the hose, they're right here," he said as he showed off the truck. 

When Fire Station No. 6 was built in 1964 in North Little Rock's Levy area, it received an award as one of the "latest, greatest" stations, Fire Chief Gerald Tucker recalled.

Today, added wiring runs along walls or is bunched up inside of a closet, the floor is cracking beneath its fire engine, concrete blocks are buckling on walls and there are leaks all around, Tucker said during a tour of the station at 3500 Camp Robinson Road.

"Fifty-three years ago, they didn't put electrical outlets everywhere," Tucker said of the wiring issue. "All of these beams [above the fire engine bay] are cracking. There are three roof leaks in the station. We've had issues with concrete blocks just breaking."

The challenges facing the architectural candidates are numerous, committee chairman Richard McCarty said during the interviews. The firm selected will be charged with remedying a host of problems plaguing the 60-plus-year-old facility, and doing so within the estimated budget of around $1 million.

The outdated building requires raised overhead garage doors to accommodate fire equipment from both Wilton and other nearby departments, renovated living arrangements (from restroom and kitchen upgrades to improved sleeping quarters) and upgraded mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

Though commissioners repeatedly acknowledged that it was unlikely all these renovations were possible with their budget, they were looking for a firm that offered the best value for every dollar spent.

The grant will allow Taylor to continue to update and improve its fire department fleet.

“We are very happy to receive this AFG grant and thankful for Rep. Dingell’s efforts in this area,” said Mayor Rick Sollars. “We are constantly looking at options to make our fire department fleet better.”

The grant will be used to purchase a new pumper truck, with the city matching 10 percent of the funds. CIty Council still has to approve the grant and matching money.

Fire Chief Stephen Portis and Deputy Chief Stan Pochron worked on the AFG grant application with the City’s administration.

An ever-improving financial condition has allowed department to replace its entire Fire Department fleet over a four-year period, something that the mayor said he never thought possible when he took office in 2013.

One firefighter was injured and airlifted to a nearby hospital.