The Smithfield Fire Department will be getting a new fire truck to replace a 23-year-old rescue truck, jocoreport.com reported.

The Town Council signed off on a request from Fire Chief Mike Brown to replace an American LaFrance fire rescue truck that has reached its life expectancy, the report said. Chief Brown said parts are no long available for the truck after the manufacturing company went out of business in 2014.

After receiving three bids a new fire rescue truck, the council awarded the bid to Fire Connections for $1,010,580, the report said.

The town had budgeted $875,000 for the new truck but due to price increases and supply chain issues the price was $135,580 higher, the report said.

Merrimac Fire Department Chief Larry Fisher announced the arrival of the fire department’s new Engine 32, the department said in a news release last week. 

Supplier E-One of Florida delivered the Spartan/E-One engine on Friday, Feb. 17, five months ahead of schedule.

The new engine can carry up to six firefighters. It can carry a 1,000-gallon water supply and can pump 1,500 gallons per minute. The engine will be equipped with extraction tools, hose lines, hand tools, cribbing, ventilation equipment, and more. The engine will also have a new set of radios, purchased though a Firefighter Safety and Equipment Grant from the Department of Fire Services.

Engine 32 is scheduled to begin service in late March. It replaces an engine that was purchased in 1991. 

Town Meeting approved the purchase of a new ladder truck in 2021. At the time Chief Fisher proposed purchasing a truck designed for the community’s needs, with  necessary functionality but without unnecessary features.

Ladder trucks typically start at $1.3 million. By working with designer Greenwood Fire Apparatus, the truck could be built at a much lower cost, leaving a surplus in the warrant article. The ladder truck is set to be delivered this summer.

Chief Fisher then approached the Town for permission to purchase an engine through the same needs-based review using money from the Apparatus Reserve Fund.  A new engine can cost $600,000 to $800,000. Engine 32 will cost the Town $395,000.

This approach has saved Merrimac taxpayers more than $500,000. Members will now undertake the task of mounting all the equipment, which will save approximately $15,000.

“Thank you to Town of Merrimac and our community for once again supporting the Department,” said Chief Fisher. “This new engine will really provide our members with a sense of pride and instill confidence in them. They now have the equipment to support them to be the best they can be. Knowing we have the ability to do our jobs more effectively is huge, and we are excited to get Engine 32 ready for service.” 

In recognition of this support, Engine 32 displays a unique decal highlighting the Merrimac Fire Department logo and the Town of Merrimac seal, and reads “In a Partnership with Our Community.” 

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St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection officials said one of their fire trucks had an accident Monday morning on Highway 435, injuring one, wwltv.com reported. 

Representatives from District Seven said that a firefighter was airlifted to University Medical Center afterward, the report said.

According to its investigation, Louisiana State Police stated that an object was left on the road, officials said. When the driver spotted the item in the road, he apparently steered left, smacking into a tree, the report said. The driver of the truck was then trapped inside, according to the report. 

Fire District Seven said that crews arrived afterward to clear debris from the roadway, the report said. 

Another fire district, District 12, has lent one of its fire trucks to temporarily replace the damaged vehicle.