Harlan Kirgan
Two brand new fire trucks were introduced to the city at the Sittig Fire Station on Thursday.
The 2017 model trucks replace 1979 and 1984 models, which were parked not too far away from the shiny red new trucks.
Mayor Scott Fontenot said, “It is a good investment, a very good investment for the city moving forward.”
The Board Aldermen were called to a special meeting in March to approve buying the trucks.
The city will pay about $677,000 for the trucks and financed them for 10 years with annual payments of $79,588 for a total of $795,882.
The two trucks include a four-door custom cab pumper truck (Spartan) and a two-door pumper/tanker truck (Danko).
The ceremony Thursday included Monsignor J. Robert Romero, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, providing a blessing for the trucks and the crews that will staff them.
Fire Chief Mike Arnold said, “We just replaced two trucks that are out of service because of age and issues that they had. But when you replaced 1979 and ‘84 with 2017 models, you have more confidence and, of course, you also have a warranty if they break.”
Arnold expects the department’s maintenance costs to drop with the new trucks.
The trucks’ impact on the city’s fire rating will be to hold the line at a 4 rating in the city and 6 outside the city, he said.
One of the trucks that was placed out of service was the department’s reserve engine, he said. If the city had been rated while it was out of service, Arnold said city would have lost a point of its fire rating.
With the two new units in service, the city has a functioning reserve engine back, he said.
Alderwoman Germaine Simpson said the last time the city bought a new truck was in 2007.
Fontenot said, “I think the city is really committed to public safety” and cited the fire trucks and 15 new police units.
In March, Arnold said the city’s fire truck situation came to a head when pumps on two trucks malfunctioned at a fire on North 11th Street on March 13.
“It is not feasible to try to repair them,” Arnold said of the aging trucks and equipment that are often custom-made.
The new trucks will be stationed at the city main fire station at Park Avenue and La. 13.
The city also has the Amy Station.
The city has 18 full-time firefighters and 15 volunteer firefighters.
In March, Arnold listed the fire department’s vehicles as follows.
Unit 31, 2005 Sterling pumper
Unit 21, 2005 Sterling pumper.
Unit 5 2004 Ferrara pumper.
Unit 8 2004 Ford F-450 wildland-rescue.
Unit 18 2004 Ford Explorer chief’s vehicle, service unit.
Unit 1 2003 Ford F-450 rescue, service unit.
Unit 11 1990 Mack pumper.
Unit 12 1990 Mack pumper.
Unit 9 1985 Mack pumper.
Unit 7 1978 Mack pumper.
Unit 6 1972 Mack 50-foot ladder.