The 104-foot ladder firetruck was purchased last year using funding from the city’s fleet department, Fire Chief Raymond Barton said at a Monday, June 24 press conference.  

“Our platform truck was so old it was taken out of service and when the emergency managers came in they sold the old flat platform truck for scrap,” Barton said. “When we would have a large commercial fire, we would have to request mutual aid and get a platform truck from Davison, Clio and Mundy Township, whoever had a platform available.”

One of the platform truck’s most important features, Barton said, is its ability to rescue people from tall buildings more safely. Before residents being rescued would have to climb down the 70-foot ladder of the city’s firetrucks.

Engine 1 is a 2002 vehicle with frame and electrical issues. The estimated cost of replacing it, provided by three vendors, was between $675,000 and $790,000.  

Engine 2 is a 1995 vehicle due to be replaced in 2020. Its pump and plumbing need replacing, estimated at up to $75,000. Estimates to replace it are between $565,000 and $690,000. There is $354,551.89 in the fire apparatus equipment reserve account.

Replacing both trucks at once would provide new units with an estimated life of 20 to 25 years each. Using the reserve account funds and bonding the remainder for 10 years would see the bond paid off prior to replacement of Tower 3, due in 2030. The department could also begin putting money into the reserve account in anticipation of the Tower 3 replacement.

But Kevin Mullan has no intention of fighting fires with his investment. Instead he bought the engine, retrofitted it with 10 taps and a climb-in cooler, and christened it Ladder 419 Beer Truck.  

“There was not a rentable [beer] truck in town,” Mr. Mullan said, “but there is now. Oh, and by the way, it happens to be a fire truck.” While the fire engine’s original look has been retained, almost anything to do with its original mission of extinguishing flames is merely cosmetic, including levers, gauges, and valves.

"This is replacing a 1994 model truck that only two people could ride and had a smaller pump. This truck is capable of seating 6 men two in the front four in the back, all of them with air bags," said Chief Dean Fowler.  

The truck, which cost upwards of $500,000, was paid for mostly by the community it will service. Twenty percent came from Pittsylvania County, but the rest came from fundraisers.