FAYETTEVILLE — The Fire Department is looking to replace two fire engines this year.
Chief David Dayringer said the department is setting aside leftover money from 2013 and combining it with money from the 2014 capital improvement fund to buy a ladder truck, known as a quint.
“It’s a ladder truck with a water pump, water tank, hose and aerial device,” he said.
Dayringer said the new engine will replace a quint ladder truck at Station No. 3, 1050 S. Happy Hollow Road. The city bought the truck in 1992. The old engine will move to the department’s reserve fleet.
“We’ve already taken it off-line,” Dayringer said. “She gave us a lot of years of service, but has become unreliable.”
Dayringer said most ladder trucks last about 15 years, but the department tries to replace them about every 12 years. He said fire engines typically last about 10 years.
The last time the department purchased a fire engine was in 2010.
Jesse Beeks, fleet operations superintendent, said repairing ladder truck No. 11 isn’t cost effective.
“We have had some issues with that truck,” Beeks said. “Right now, it’s needing some pretty extensive repairs. With the age of the truck and the money it would cost to fix it, we’re looking at replacing it for the reliability factor.”
The department has six fire engines, two ladder trucks and one quint in service, as well as three fire engines in its reserve fleet.
Dayringer said the new quint is estimated to cost $800,000-$900,000.
“We’re moving forward with it,” he said. “We’re developing the specs right now. They’ve been looking at latest and greatest innovation in fire truck manufacturing. We should go to bid in February.”
The department has applied for an Assistance to Firefighters grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to buy a new fire engine, which is estimated to cost about $475,000.
According to FEMA’s website, the primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants is to provide critically needed equipment, vehicles and training for fire departments and emergency medical service organizations.
The City Council in December approved the grant application that requires a 10 percent match. The grants will be distributed in the spring.
“We’re excited about it,” he said. “We’re not sure which engine it would replace yet. That’s to be determined.”