A majority of board members may be ready to side with the community, but the situation remains fluid and the most vocal board member on the subject – Chairman Libby Garvey – is in favor of relocation. Garvey said statistics are clear: A move from the fire station’s current location on Lee Highway to a site at 26th Street North and Old Dominion Drive would provide quicker response times to residential areas in far northwest Arlington.

Board members are slated to make a decision on the final location on July 19. Funds for planning and designing the new facility are slated to be included in a Nov. 8 bond referendum, with construction funds slated for inclusion in a 2018 bond referendum.

A task force set up last year by the County Board came in with its report in late May, with a majority of members in favor of keeping the station where it is. That was a victory for many residents of the Halls Hill/High View Park community, who want the station retained in their midst to honor African-American firefighters who served the community during the segregation era, and to provide rapid response to calls for service.

While the task force disagreed with county staff on the location, all sides appear to agree that a new station needs to have four service bays, compared to two at the current station. In either location, such a station would cost about $14 million, according to current estimates.

The trucks cost $408,000 each and have the most up-to-date equipment and operating systems for both efficiency and safety.

The two new trucks replace two old ones. Those trucks will be serviced and then shipped to third world countries for firefighter use for those that wouldn’t be able to afford the equipment.

Firefighters say the new engine — which can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute — will primarily provide assistance to neighboring townships when needed.

Several vehicles from the Croswell Fire Department were blocking Black River Road south of Sheridan Line about 10:40 p.m. due to a power line down across the roadway when a northbound car hit a rescue truck.

Firefighters at the scene administered first aid to the driver, Codey Bower, before he was taken to Port Huron McLaren hospital for treatment.

The rescue truck, which had emergency lights on, was not occupied at the time of the crash.