Firefighters want to keep their order for a new $288,692 pumper truck the same even though it might not meet one specification because of Butte's high elevation.
"They think it will be just as safe," said Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Jeff Miller.
The county received a lone bid for a 2016 GPM Pumper/Tender truck for the Big Butte Volunteer Fire Department, but it came with a letter from the company saying it had overlooked one detail.
Because Butte sits at 5,539 feet elevation - more than a mile high - the fire truck can't pump as much water per minute as it was advertised and certified to when the bid was submitted recently.
Big Sky Fire Equipment of Lewistown caught the missed detail and sent a letter noting the fact to Fire Chief Jeff Miller. He opened the bid and letter before commissioners a few weeks ago.
There were a few options on what to do that included paying $5,000 more for a larger pump to meet the as-advertised spec. But that would limit other equipment functions.
Miller said he talked with others, including those with the Big Butte department, and they wanted to simply "decertify" the truck down to 1,250 gallons of water per minute standard so it met that standard.
In a letter and request before commissioners Wednesday night, Miller said there was no interest in rebidding the truck. He also said he had spoken with Big Sky Fire Equipment representative Joe Moline.
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