The department purchased 42 self-contained breathing apparatus, 84 air cylinders, 63 face pieces and 4 rapid intervention team bags. The grant covered $255,546 of the approximate $300,000 cost. Several different SCBA manufacturers were evaluated before the MSA G-1 packs were purchased. The department chose these for comfort, performance and upgradeability.

Northport Fire Chief Bart Marshall said the 2000 Ford Expedition had reached the end of its usefulness to his department and was unlikely to sell at auction for more than $2,000. Mayor Donna Aaron and the City Council agreed the vehicle was more useful in the hands of the volunteers in Romulus.

David Hill, Chief of Haws Run VFD says, "In this station we have air conditioning for the summer time, heat for the winter time. We have drive through bays. We have offices for captains and for chiefs, We have a dorm for overnight stay, we have two restrooms in this one with showers. We're having gear that's in a controlled environment now. So our gear is a whole lot better kept. The old station it was cold in there - there's no telling what type of animals you'd find in your gear. But the actual equipment - we have more places places to put our equipment now."

One of the old engines, a 1991 model, will be put out of service. The other engine spent about 15 years in primary use and will shift to reserve functions, a standard procedure in the department.

The fire truck is a Pierce-Arrow, a maker commonly used by the department, and will replace the current 10-55 engine, the department's 24-year old truck.

The truck serves as a water source pumper and, as North Madison does not have any fire hydrants, the truck can pull from the department's underground water tanks or any other body of water at a rate of 2,000 gallons a minute.