All of the department’s firefighters will be trained to drive the truck and operate its electronics and the side-mounted pump. There’s a lot of new technology on the vehicle, so it’s important to have everyone properly trained before the truck rolls, Sipe said.

The Spring Lake Fire Department could have replaced its 1988 pumper five or six years ago.

“But we kept pushing it back because it ran so good,” Sipe said.

That allowed funds from a millage to build up enough to cover the cost of the new truck, and helps when it comes time — at least 5-6 years down the road — to replace the next truck.

During its last annual maintenance, inspectors determined that the frame on the truck now being replaced was starting to crack, so the department began the process of getting the new truck.

Once a decision was made on the needs of the department and community, a contract was signed and the new truck’s construction began about 10 months ago, Sipe said.

Officials decided to go with the rescue/pumper, though slightly smaller actually has more capacity to serve most of the Spring Lake department’s needs.

The smaller truck will be easier to maneuver in driveways, yet its water tank is only slightly smaller than the truck it is replacing. Because of new technology, the water tank is molded around storage areas, giving the department places to hold emergency medical supplies and a booster wheel with a smaller hose already attached to fight grass fires.

“We are so thankful that we have such a great group of elected commissioners”

This purchase will be replacing a 1992 E-One fire engine.

The Millersville Fire Department is a full service City funded fire department that covers the City of Millersville.

The current Fire Station No.1 located on Broadway will be torn down and plans call for that area to be made into an extended parking lot for the West Plains Civic Center, Fire Chief Tim Bean said.