When Fire Station No. 2 was built in 1967, trucks were only 24 feet long and there were usually two male firefighters at the station at any given time.

Now, 49 years later, the station has been through several renovations with add-ons to the bay and accommodations for female firefighters, but staff say it's time for a new station and location altogether. The station currently houses between three and four firefighters at any one time and is prevented from growing further by property on all sides.

Scott Snyder, support services for the Longmont public safety, estimated a $3.9 million cost of relocating Fire Station No. 2. The $3.9 million — along with $3.1 million for rebuilding Fire Station No. 6 — are part of a $26.5 million bond issue city staff are proposing for 2019.

In 2000, the city issued bonds to pay for the Recreation Center and Roosevelt Park projects. City finance staff have allocated $2.8 million per year in the budget to pay off that bond, but it will be paid off in 2019.

That frees up $2.8 million per year that staff is proposing be used to issue a new 20-year bond in 2019.

The proposed bond would be paid off over 20 years from tax dollars, although it wouldn't require a tax increase. In order for the city to be able to issue the bond, City Council must place it on the 2017 ballot and voters would have to approve it.

At Fire Station No. 2, the bays for the trucks are too small and the firefighters have trouble pulling out of the station because of the curve in Mountain View Avenue.

The initial test was conducted by the manufacturer of the vehicles, two of which were 2001 models and one each from 2002 and 2006. Officials ordered a second round of independent tests which verified the early conclusions.

Warren arranged an unwritten, temporary agreement with the Sterling Heights Fire Department which would allow either city to borrow a rig from the other, if available, when one was needed.

"On the best day, we can maintain our frontline apparatus only," Fire Commissioner Wilburt McAdams recently told the Warren City Council. "We are razor, razor, razor thin."

Facing a vehicle emergency, Warren council members then unanimously approved a written reciprocal agreement with Sterling Heights.

For some immediate relief, council members also are expected to soon approve the purchase of an 75-foot ladder truck for approximately $750,000. The vehicle is expected to be delivered and in service by mid-November.

Still facing a vehicle storage, city officials also plan to buy three more new fire rigs. The specifications will be part of a "request for proposal," or RFP, in which Warren will ask fire apparatus manufacturers to provide pricing on three vehicles with specifications determined by fire officials.

Thus far, Warren has borrowed a fire engine from Sterling Heights about three times. On another occasion, Warren narrowly avoided a shutdown of a fire station while no fire truck was immediately available from the neighboring city because a Warren rig taken in for routine maintenance was brought back just in time.

"These (newly bought ambulances) are units that were ordered by other organizations and they failed to complete their contracts, so we have the opportunity to buy those at a reduced price.

"I have the opportunity to work with other organizations and I can tell you other organizations are buying EMS units for up to $250,000 that don't do anything better than these units do," Geis said.

Union Township has for the past several years bought fire, police and service department vehicles that are used, demonstrators, commercial models as opposed to customized models and smaller with the ability to easily navigate some of the township's roads that are smaller.

John McGraw, chairman of the Union Township Board of Trustees, said he knows of two neighboring communities that each recently paid more than $200,000 for one ambulance.

"So we're getting two ambulances for less than they paid for one, which is a great savings," McGraw said of the township's new purchases.

Union Township also recently bought a used aerial fire truck from the city of Lebanon for $8,000.