According to a report from The Statesboro Herald, Bulloch County, Georgia, commissioners have authorized the county manager to buy three new fire engines and three 3,000-gallon water shuttle tanker trucks for the Bulloch County (GA) Fire Department (BCFD) at a cost of early $2 million.

The new vehicles will be part of a plan to staff three BCFD stations with shifts of one or two paid firefighters each and assign one fire engine and one shuttle tanker to each station. In the meantime, Bulloch County staff are working with a consultant to identify about 40 additional “alternative water sources,” mostly ponds, to be included in the current list of approximately 60 ponds designated for refilling tankers.

County Manager Tom Couch and BCFD Chief Chris Ivey are hoping these steps lead to the Insurance Services Office upgrading the fire safety rating in most of the rural fire district to a more uniform “5,” which could reduce homeowners’ insurance rates.  Currently, much of the county rural area carries the equivalent of a conditional 5/9 split rating. This also includes breathing apparatus, turnout gear, axes, poles, and hoses. The county government also seeks to upgrade some of this equipment with local funding and grants.

The county will keep some of its current fire trucks, but its fleet overall is not in good shape; the three newest fire engines are between eight and 20 years old, according to Couch. Bulloch county also has a larger network of fire stations and substations, where volunteer firefighters are assigned. However, the three stations to receive the new apparatus will be central to the strategy for creating a “combination” department.

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Middletown could build four new fire stations if voters approve a capital tax, reports Journal-News.

This would entail replacing four antiquated fire stations with new and relocated stations for better response times. None of the stations meet the state building code. The fire stations have cramped living and operational spaces, other structural and mechanical issues, and no sprinkler systems. Fire Chief Paul Lolli said there is also a growing need for public safety services as new homes are built.

The proposed fire stations have the following specs:

• A fire station featuring: five bays and would be about 24,350 square-feet. It would also have a tower to hang hose and for training use, and a large conference room for training.

A fire station featuring: three bays at about 11,250 square feet.

Two fire stations featuring: two bays and would be 9,700 square feet.

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The Demorest City Council delayed the purchase of a new fire truck with no planned date to revisit the purchase, reports nowhabersham.com.

The delay will last at least six months. Public safety funding had previously been approved for $580,000 for a fire truck. But the truck that the city needs will cost $650,000. Unfortunately, the price of the truck is set to go up over the course of those six months.

The fire department currently uses a 25-year-old fire engine has been out of service for two weeks.

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