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.

“This has been 20 years in the making,” said Steve Wright, NMCVFD board member. “We thank everyone who helped make this new fire station a reality, and we hope to see those people at the flag raising to help us celebrate.”

Once the 28-member volunteer fire department received an occupancy permit Aug. 30, its members began making the move. The goal was to move in ahead of the town’s annual fish fry, which is 4-10 p.m. Saturday.

The new station is 5,800 square feet, has five bay doors and can house up to nine large pieces of firefighting apparatus. Plans include a training room, two offices and two restrooms, which will be finished within a couple of months.

It has taken numerous fundraisers, like the annual fish fry, plus the financial support of the community to complete the $260,000 project. The Montgomery County Community Foundation gave $60,000 towards the project and Scott Township donated $50,000 of firefighting funds accumulated over several years.

The department was able to save nearly $30,000 on construction costs by providing its own manpower. New Market town officials have pledged to cover the cost for a concrete apron around the building, saving an additional $10,000 to the department.

The new building will house all of the equipment for the department, it will include living quarters, offices, and keep everything under one roof. When the station is completed sometime in the next year, the plan is to have the building staffed 24/7 with firefighters or EMTs.

Sumiton's volunteer fire department prides itself on its training. You may know, the lower a department's ISO, the less homeowners typically pay for insurance. Sumiton's fire department has an ISO rating of 3, one of the best ratings by a volunteer department in the region.