Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 666 |
| Work Detail | The Seville Volunteer Fire Co. in Ross already was planning to replace its fire engine, when the aging vehicle's fate was sealed on the way to a call in May 2015. “We were on our way to a reported building fire and a pickup went through the intersection at Perry Highway and Cemetery Lane and T-boned us,” said John Atkinson, the fire department's deputy chief. “Our fire truck wasn't totaled, but there was enough damage that it wasn't worth fixing.” Fire company officials were planning to replace the 1996 truck to meet standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, which recommends that a fire department's primary vehicle be taken out of service after 20 years, Atkinson said. On Aug. 19, Seville took delivery on a new fire truck in time for it to be displayed the following day at the department's annual corn roast. The base for the new truck, which took 14 months to build, was made by Spartan Chassis Inc. in Charlotte, Mich. The chassis then was sent to be completed by 4 Guys Inc. in Meyersdale in Somerset County. The truck cost $425,000, which includes new radios and other firefighting equipment. The fire company is paying for the vehicle with a combination of a private loan, money from fundraising and proceeds from insurance on the wrecked vehicle, Atkinson said. The department's primary fundraising is done through letters to residents and businesses seeking donations and an annual gun bash held in conjunction with the Bauerstown VFD in Shaler, the deputy chief said. Ross also helps cover operating expenses for the township's eight volunteer fire departments. The loss of its fire truck last summer could have crippled the department — its only other vehicles are a 2016 GMC Sierra quad cab pickup and a 1994 Chevy Suburban SUV, which are used to transport personnel and additional small tools. But the department, which has 28 active members, was able to continue responding to calls with help from the Millvale Volunteer Fire Department. “After the accident we got calls from firefighters all over the area who were concerned about whether any of our guys were injured,” said Seville fire Chief Joe Gross, who noted that only one firefighter suffered a minor injury. “The level of concern people showed was amazing. But the call I got on the night of the accident that really helped us the most came from Jim Tunstall, the fire chief in Millvale.” Tunstall offered to lend Seville a spare fire engine, Gross said. “I said thanks, but I told him we were OK because we could borrow a truck for a short time from one of the other Ross stations,” Gross said. “It was a couple of days before we learned that our truck wasn't going to get repaired. So I called back and took him up on his offer. We wouldn't have been able to get by without their help.” |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Safety & Security |
| Entry Date | 02 Sep 2016 |
| Source | http://triblive.com/news/neighborhoods/northhills/10999313-74/fire-department-engine |
