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City OK’s $380,000 for new rescue truck
by Rick DeClue · News · August 22, 2014
The City Council on Monday approved spending $380,000 to purchase a new rescue/emergency service truck for the West Branch Fire Department.
The 2015 Freightliner M2 truck replaces a 2003 rescue truck in the department’s fleet that was destroyed when struck during a call on Interstate 80 over the winter. The department had been getting by with a “pickup truck,” Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman said.
The provider, Toyne, Inc., has supplied three of West Branch’s fire department vehicles. The city expects Toyne to deliver the new truck in 280 to 300 days, or about nine to 10 months.
Stoolman said he estimates the new truck should last about 15 to 20 years.
“It’s all stainless-steel construction, so we won’t have to worry about rust,” he said.
Stoolman said the truck will better serve the department as their responsibilities change and expand with calls such as grain bin rescues. The new vehicle will be bigger and have more room for personnel and equipment, as well as its own generator.
Lights and other safety features are also a priority for the new vehicle. Stoolman said the safety of the department’s crew members is a consideration in all equipment purchases.
“This truck will serve as our backup medical vehicle. We have ‘the pickup’ for many medical situations, but this truck will be used for major incidents and accident calls on Interstate 80,” he said.
“It’s big and has plenty of lights,” he said, “but when we’re on I-80, one of us has our backs, keeping an eye on incoming traffic so we have a chance to get out of the way if some driver’s not paying attention.”
“The pickup” was purchased when the department lost its previous rescue in that crash last winter.
The department will also purchase new Jaws Of Life equipment and other safety tools at a cost of approximately $20,000.
The entire purchase will be covered by the department’s capital reserve account, which is funded at $100,000 per year.
Stoolman told the council the 2003 truck will be advertised at $65,000, but used equipment can sometimes be hard to sell for what they are thought to be worth. Toyne has committed to a $35,000 trade-in value in the event the department cannot sell the vehicle on its own.
At $100,000 per year added to the reserve account, it will be several years before the department replaces an truck. Stoolman said he thought the last major truck purchase occurred about seven years ago.
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