McAlester Fire Department is getting two new fire engines; one is expected to arrive in April and the other, a 2024 Sutphen rescue, within approximately 18-to-20 months, mcalesternews.com reported.

The new fire engine arriving in April the city was able to purchase for $525,000, the report said.

For the second fire engine, McAlester city councilors unanimously approved a bid of $751,523.16 during their Jan. 31 meeting — but all of the costs will not come from city revenues, the report said.

A Firefighters Assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will go toward the cost.

The difference in the prices between the two fire engines is the process for the first one started approximately 18 months ago, before prices rose to their current levels, a fire official said.

Godfrey Fire Protection District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday to celebrate the start of construction on the village’s new fire station and administration building project at 3023 Godfrey Road, thetelegraph.com reported. 

Voters approved a $7.5 million bond issue in April 2021 to construct the new station on the former site of the Hi Way House and consolidate current Stations 1 and 2, the report said.

The 15,000-square-foot facility will serve as the replacement of the district’s two existing fire stations which lack adequate space for modern fire and emergency service vehicles and equipment, according to the report. Officials said relocating Godfrey’s fire services into a single building, with all equipment housed in one central location, will allow for better emergency response and more efficient manpower allocation.