Atlas Twp. – If you ever have a fire at your home, Township Fire Chief Fred Forys says you’ll soon be just a little safer.
The township board gave Forys the OK to buy a new firetruck at their Sept. 17 meeting.
The board asked Forys to take the lowest bid out of four bids he received. Grayling based-CSI Emergency Apparatus will build the custom tanker pumper at a cost of no more than $435,000.
‘Just last week, I ran out of water. The houses are no longer the small ranch houses, they are much bigger now. Running out of water is the worst feeling in the world,? said Forys.
The new engine will replace the pumper fire engine which was purchased in 1988. The department will trade in the old pumper, which gives the fleet of three fire engines the ability to haul 6,500 gallons of water and pump 1,250 gallons a minute, which Forys said will be a big plus.
Paul Amman, township supervisor, says the new equipment is needed.
‘The township won’t have to go into hock over this purchase. We will be able to pay cash for the new engine because the fire department has been very frugal with their budget. It’s important to give our firefighters what they need to do their job.?
The new fire engine will be a basic truck; however, it is being built according to specifications to meet department needs. With 27 paid on-call volunteer firefighters, Forys said the cab of the new truck will be bigger and able to carry more firefighters to the scene of a fire.
‘We expect the new fire engine to be done in April of next year and hopefully in time for the fire show down south in Novi,? said Forys.