The chief of the Rutland, VT, Fire Department recently told his aldermen the city’s most used 17-year-old fire truck was out of service and was most likely damaged beyond repair, according to a report published by the Rutland Herald.

At the moment, the rest of the city’s fire fleet appears to be in good, useable condition, but an aging aerial might need to be replaced sooner than expected as well, according to the newspaper report.

The fire chief told the city aldermen that road salt for winter treatment and general road conditions take tolls on fire apparatus causing premature failures, the newspaper reported.

Rutland’s Public Safety Committee will meet to look at options for replacement of the engine, which could cost in the neighborhood of $630,000, the paper reported.

Until the city figures out what it wants to do about the down engine, it will rely on neighboring communities for apparatus coverage, the Herald reported.

The post Rutland (VT) Needs New Fire Truck After Busiest Engine Fails appeared first on Fire Apparatus.

A new demonstrator Alexis pumper has been placed in service with the Forreston, IL, Fire Protection District, according to a broadcast aired by 23 WIFR.

The 2020 pumper was built by Alexis Fire Equipment and features a 1,000-gallon tank and a 2,000-gpm pump, the report said. It’s cost was partially offset by the sale of the district’s 2005 Peterbilt engine.

The new engine is equipped with some new technology that makes pumping water easier and the district firefighters have been training with the system, the television station reported, noting that a the district hopes to host a public viewing soon.

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According to a report from Foster’s Daily Democrat, the Fire Station Building Committee in Somersworth, New Hampshire, has made $500,000 in cuts to the designs for the city’s new 18,281-square-foot fire station.

The new station, expected to cost more than $7 million, will replace the current 8,100-square-foot fire station at 195 Maple Street, built in 1976.

City Councilor Martin Pepin, also acting as chair of the Fire Station Building Committee, said the city council asked them to make the cuts.

At the Fire Station Building Committee’s meeting earlier this month, the committee looked at a recommendation to remove the proposed training tower, use a more affordable brick for the building’s exterior, replace some interior concrete masonry partitions with drywall (except for areas near equipment), reduce the HVAC scope, and use sectional glass doors rather that bi-fold doors.

These changes reduced the design by $490,127, bringing the total cost from $6,981,104 to $6,490,977. The committee approved these design changes with a vote on March 9. 

If the funds are received, the commission said it may add a new training tower or bi-fold doors to the design blueprint. 

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The Halifax County, VA, Board of Supervisors has agreed to purchase a 2005 ladder truck for $360,000 and they expect to receive it some time in July, according to a report published by The Gazette-Virginian.

According to the newspaper, the E-ONE 95-foot aerial platform is currently in service with the Cornwells Fire Company in Bensalem, PA. Firefighters recently traveled to see the apparatus and deemed it was right for their needs, the paper reported.

The county had contemplated spending $150,000 on repairs to its current 2001 aerial but fire officials decided it would not be money well spent, the paper reported.

With a budget of up to $450,000, the county started looking for a used aerial instead, the paper reported, noting than an additional $40,000 was appropriated for miscellaneous equipment and up-fit.

County officials estimate the 2005 aerial will serve the community for five to seven years allowing time for savings for a new one to accumulate, the paper reported.

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