Brookings officials eagerly await arrival of new fire truck

Brookings Fire Chief Bill Sharp, right, and assistant fire chief Jim Watson prepare to bring the new truck home.

Brookings Fire Chief Bill Sharp traveled to Eugene this week to make the final inspection before formally receiving the vehicle from the Pennsylvania manufacturer and driving it home, said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Watson.

The only thing holding up the truck’s arrival is the installation of a radio, which hadn’t arrived in Eugene as of Tuesday afternoon, Watson said.

The 3,000-gallon fire pumper/tender will replace both the fire department’s 1980, 3,200 gallon  tractor-trailer tender and a 1984, 750 gallon pumper.

“Both of these fire engines have become maintenance intensive,” Sharp said. “The tanker truck now sits outside in the weather and is suffering from exposure. 

“We also only have two volunteers who are licensed to drive the tanker.  With the new fire engine, which has a 3,000-gallon water tank, we will no longer need the tanker truck.”

The new fire engine has a seating capacity to accommodate eight firefighters, compared to the five-person seating capacity of the engine it is replacing. 

“This vehicle will be much more maneuverable and versatile than the two vehicles it replaces,” Sharp said.

Two weeks ago Kovatch Mobile Equipment Fire Apparatus (KME), who customized the truck to fit the Brookings’ exact needs, flew Sharp and Watson to Pennsylvania to inspect the truck at the factory.

Earlier this week Sharp met the KME driver at Eugene to take final delivery of the new vehicle.

An inspection there, performed by Brookings’ regular maintenance team, ensured that the truck took no damage during its trip from Pennsylvania to Oregon.

The council balked at purchasing a new pumper/tender last year because the old vehicles were still functional. Council members were also concerned about making the purchase before the city’s financial situation was clear.

The purchase order for the fire pumper/tender was approved on Dec. 30, 2008, after  KME, offered the city an “escape clause,” allowing the city to cancel the order without penalty until Jan. 31, 2009 to give the council time to be more certain of the city’s financial footing.

Sharp urged the council to act before 2009, when new fire truck and emission standards would add more than $15,000 in equipment costs.

 Councilors Dave Gordon, Dave Kitchen and Jake Pieper voted to go forward with the purchase based on money saved by the fire department for the purchase and favorable finance offers from CFCU.

Mayor Larry Anderson and Councilor Ron Hedenskog voted against it, citing the city’s uncertainty regarding the city’s budget.

The tanker truck cost $455,001, financed by Chetco Federal Credit Union at 3-percent interest.

In May KME Fire Apparatus engineers worked with Sharp to make sure he understood the features of the equipment ordered, to assist in making sure the Brookings Fire Department’s new truck was what the city expects.

Much of the customizing work was less expensive than Sharp’s original specifications, while others added to the cost.

Sharp went before the council to ask for an additional $10,889 to cover the changes. The council approved the additional funding.

The fire department has been setting aside $36,000 per year of its annual budget toward the purchase of new equipment since 1992.

The fire department purchased a new truck in 2004 using the saved funds, and paid off the loan in 2007,  according to Sharp.

After the loan was paid the money set aside for new equipment was reduced to $32,000 per year, he said.

In January the fund contained “in excess of $71,000” for a down payment, plus an additional $32,000 available next year.

The 1984 Pierce Arrow fire engine now housed at the Brookings Fire Station will be relocated to the Upper Chetco  Fire Station. 

“This engine will remain the property of the City of Brookings and qualifies as a part of our firefighting fleet capacity for insurance rating purposes,” Sharp said.

A 1971 Mack fire engine now housed at the Upper Chetco Fire Station and the 1981 3,200-gallon tanker truck now stationed at the Brookings Fire Station will be disposed of through sale or donation to other small volunteer fire departments.