He said the 2003 American LaFrance ladder truck replaces a 16-year-old engine truck that was sold to a local fire truck sales business for $80,000.

Szakacs said he was able to find the 2003 ladder truck, without a pump or generator, for sale at a semi-truck sales lot in Indiana. He was able to purchase the truck and add a new pump and generator for $72,000, below the budgeted $80,000 the department had from the sale of the old engine truck.

Szakacs said, if purchased brand new, the price tag for a ladder truck is at least $500,000.

He said the department had an increasing need for a ladder truck because of the boom in construction of larger homes as well as commercial and industrial buildings that are being constructed in the area.

Commonly referred to as “air packs,” Mt. Pleasant’s firefighters will use the devices as they enter burning structures, respond to situations involving hazardous materials, investigate gas leaks and more.

“These SCBA units are going to give us a step up in the respiratory protection of our firefighters,” Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Tim Smith said. “Anytime we can get a grant to improve the health and safety of our firefighters, that is a good thing. The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department and the city of Mt. Pleasant is grateful to get these air packs.”

The arrival of the new devices will allow the department to standardize all of its SCBA teams and streamline training efforts to boost the proficiency of their firefighting and the devices themselves.

He said the new air systems will be made from lightweight carbon fiber materials mounted on equally handy backpacks designed to be more maneuverable and comfortable for firefighters, allowing them to work longer, wasting less energy on wearing the devices.

New masks will also be ordered with built-in displays, allowing firefighters to see how much oxygen they have left without having to waste time looking down to check a traditional gauge.

This is the second Engine the department has purchased from KME through funding from Measure N. Engine 2 was purchased 2 years ago and has been serving the City and surrounding communities from Station 2 on Sierra College Drive.

Engines 1 and 2 are nearly identical in appearance and capability; these fire Engines provide enhanced reliability and safety for the fire department and crews and provide us the platform to enhance the performance of our mission and service to the community. We thank the citizens of Grass Valley for their continued support.