A remount of an ambulance involves keeping the box – where a patient is located during transport – and putting a new chassis and body underneath. The process is generally less expensive than purchasing a new ambulance, which depending on the model can cost $150,000 to $175,000, Havelock Fire Chief Rick Zaccardelli said.

Replacing the 1997 rig, which is currently a reserve fire apparatus, has been in the department's capital plan for six years. The engine has nearly 70,000 miles on it.

The department's frontline fire apparatus is a 2009 rig with 43,000 miles on it. If the department receives the funds to replace the 1997 rig, the 2009 unit will go into reserve status.

The fire was put out using a second truck. The burned truck will be towed away for the damage to be assessed. 

No injuries were reported. 

Acquiring the 2007 truck has allowed St. Henry’s department to sell its 1997 E-1 pumper — that machine was party to a similar title transfer 10 years ago — to a fire department in Texas. Those proceeds are now being used to upgrade the St. Henry department’s pumper/tanker truck.

The new system will help make the process of fighting a fire not only safer, but more efficient. Right now under the current 20-year-old system, it takes crews about fifteen minutes to fill one bottle with air. However, that will soon change with the new Cascade System and firefighters will be able to fill three bottles in the time it took them to fill one beforehand.