The El Dorado (KS) Fire Department is set to replace an apparatus as well as some equipment for a total of $784,699.85.

The department currently operates Engine 9, a 2005 Sutphen, which will head to reserve status. It also has in its fleet Quint 1, a 1994 Pierce, which will be retired or sold.

Last November, the City Commission approved a bond for various projects, one being the purchase of a new fire engine. Then in late December, the city received bids from Flinthills – Sutphen; Fire Master; Hays Fire – Rosenbauer; and Conrad, butlercountytimesgazette.com notes.

Fire and city officials chose to go with a Sutphen Monarch and equipment from Flinthills Fire and Rescue. The city issued a bond for the truck and the payments will be made from the Bond and Interest Fund; no additional mill levy will be needed.

Police have charged Chesapeake resident Jade Amber Davis with reckless driving after she allegedly rear-ended a Virginia Beach fire truck attending to a crash scene, reports wavy.com.

The incident happened around 7:45 p.m. on the eastbound side of I-264, west of the old toll plaza in Virginia Beach, officials say.

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As the engine was stopped at the single-vehicle crash, which was blocking the traffic lane and shoulder on I-264, Davis’ 2004 Honda Accord struck the back of the apparatus, the report says.

No firefighters were injured, nor was Davis.

“Kudos Chief Joe Guarnera and Athol (MA) Fire Department on their thoughtful design of our newest apparatus, which will replace a 40-plus-year-old Maxim (with the super-sized, super-square headlights a la National Lampoon’s Vacation),” a Facebook post from a town official reads.

“More seriously, Capt. Eric Jack, F/F Art Shepardson, and the AFD team added unique design features for this custom-built truck to function efficiently for its mission. Thanks Capt. Jamal Hamilton for describing the new pump controls and BOS Chair Rebecca Bialecki for a quick stint as co-pilot.

“The shifts will undergo training throughout the week with hopes by the Chief to put the unit in service by this weekend. Thanks Congressman Jim McGovern and the federal AFG program for funding 90 percent of the cost and Chief Joe for writing the proposal.”

I’d buy that for a dollar (plus $750 for the equipment)!

When the Mount Vernon (OH) Fire Department took over Gambier’s College Township station, one truck became superfluous: Engine One, which had served the township for years.

Instead of junking the vehicle, which officials say works fine, the department decided to donate it to the Knox Technical Center—a local school that trains firefighters, reports knoxpages.com.

For the low, low price of $1—plus $750 for the equipment—Knox Technical Center became the new owner of Engine One, the report says.

The school had to keep borrowing equipment and apparatus from local fire departments, but now it can offer hands-on training in each class. And the station can fit all its equipment and apparatus.