The three vehicles are at the end of their useful life and cannot be economically rehabilitated, the company of retired fire officers reported. Coldwater city staff has recommended replacement of Ladder 2 for years. Back in 2008, the estimated cost was $850,000, but has grown now to over $1 million. “The biggest needs is to replace the ladder truck," said Coldwater City Manager Jeff Budd. "EVR has recommended this truck be replaced with a mid-mount Aerialscope that they feel will better serve the community.” ERV said that with the scope of buildings in the three-township service area, the ladder truck needs mid-mount tower ladder with minimum vertical reach of 95-100 feet and a minimum horizontal reach of 88-92 feet. The company also listed detailed specifications for the replacement. The consultants explained a mid-mount tower ladder apparatus would cost in the range of $1.2 million to $1.4 million and would provide “for improved scrub area, ladder operations, ground ladder capabilities and enhanced safety for the operating members.” Unlike the current ladder, “the new apparatus should be designed to be as short and maneuverable as possible,” EVR said, because of the close quarters around the current two-story buildings many downtown. Truck 8 is a “grass rig” used in the three townships for fighting brush fires. ERV found is grossly overweight on both axles. “Given the age and overweight issue, we recommend this unit be pulled from service immediately,” they said.

The second truck on the scene, the 2016 Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) hand-built, custom engine 1 with a 1,500-gallon-a-minute pump, a 750-gallon water tank, 30 gallons of foam and seating for six, served mostly as water supply on Fern Avenue, which was no small feat, according to Lt. Tim Haynes.

“We had an issue with water supply,” Haynes said. “Because it was such a big fire, we needed about 1,250-1,500 gallons a minute. We couldn’t get that out of that fire hydrant, so with the equipment that we have on it, we were able to pump a little bit more out of the fire hydrant.”

The new engine 1, which has replaced a 2001 Pierce pumper, includes LED lighting inside and out, spare air tanks and also came with new, battery-operated hydraulic extraction tools such as spreaders, cutters, a ram and the Jaws of Life which, on the older engine, were limited to their 100-foot power cords.

“We carry six extra batteries that are mounted in the cab of the truck on a charger,” Haynes said. “Now when we park in the station, we plug it in and the batteries are charging. Before, we never spent the time to get it set up right. We would have to take the equipment off the apparatus, put it on the floor and charge it and try to remember it before we went on the call. Now we can just board the apparatus and we are out the door. We know we have everything here.”

Engine 1 was officially blessed by Rowley Fire Department chaplain the Rev. Robert Hagopian Friday before taking a quick trip around the Friend Street rotary. The new engine 1 was met in front of the School Street fire headquarters by the now-retired engine 1 as well as engine 2, and the two sprayed water on both sides of the new engine.

“That is the old saying hello to the new,” fire Deputy Jim Nolan said. “The water is spraying on either side, so we wet it down on both sides to welcome it to the department.”

The ambulance features a pressurized plastic tent and an air filtration system powered by a battery with a three-hour charge, according to Assistant Deputy Chief Paul Roszkowski.

The price tag of the pressurized tent — which can be installed in any standard ambulance — is $3,000. The city has one, and has ordered two more. The department eventually wants to have 13 tents, according to fire department spokesman Larry Langford.

Each air filtration unit, battery included, also costs about $3,000.

Once the other two tents are delivered and two more ambulances are equipped, the fire department plans to place them in strategic locations around the city that will allow for the fastest possible response to any neighborhood.

Grant money is being used to buy the tents, Langford said.

Two firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries. The driver of the minivan refused treatment. 

It's believed that while firefighters were searching the apartment complex for a possible injured person the suspect climbed up the rear of the fire engine. He ended up on top of the hose bed. He apparently rode the engine about 2 miles back to the station before he was found. Police say he's very lucky they weren't dispatched to an emergency call or the outcome could have been far more serious.