Fairfield will take a quarter-century-old fire truck out of front line service by this time next year. To be paid with city income tax revenues, City Council authorized the purchase of a new 78-foot aerial fire engine that will cost the city $773,410.
The 24-year-old fire engine will be shifted into a reserve status and kept at Station 32 on Dixie Highway.
The city has been planning to replace the fire truck for about seven years, said Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett. So with or without the 2.5-mill fire/EMS levy voters will consider for the Nov. 8 ballot, the purchase was always anticipated to be made, he said.
"The parts to repair that engine are no longer available," Bennett said. "We've been very fortunate that we didn't have any major mechanical issues because there are no parts left for that whole generation of engine," which is a 6v92 engine.
And the chief said they know of only one mechanic in the region that has the knowledge to make repairs on that type of engine.
"That is an enormous amount of money," Bennett said of the purchase price.
For the first time in 15 years, voters are being asked to approve a fire levy that will help with the operation of the fire department. The levy is needed to help improve coverage for the city, by increasing the number of on-duty firefighters from 13 to 17.