Plymouth Approves $1 Million Purchase for New Fire Engine
The Plymouth Fire Department will have a new fire engine by 2025.
The Plymouth City Council approved plans to purchase a $1 million fire engine this week.
City staff say the fire department’s primary engine is wearing out faster than expected. That engine is 11 years old.
According to Amy Hanson, Plymouth fleet and facilities manager, engine maintenance costs begin to rise rapidly between years eight and 10 of ownership.
The Plymouth City Council approved plans to purchase a $1 million fire engine this week.
The city’s primary engine has required an average of $15,800 in annual maintenance costs during its lifespan. This year’s maintenance costs have already exceeded that, with approximately $19,000 in expenditures so far.
The fire department has also seen an increase in calls since switching from a paid-on-call staffing model to a full-time duty crew with 24-hour staffing in 2018.
In 2018, the fire department received 1,834 calls. So far in 2023, the department has received 2,703 calls.
Likewise, in 2018, the city’s main fire engine responded to 678 calls. Year to date, the same engine has responded to 1,146 calls.
With an increase in calls, the engine has also seen an increase in mileage. The vehicle was driven around 6,000 miles annually in previous years. In 2022, the engine drove approximately 18,000 miles.
Originally, the city had planned to replace this engine in the year 2030.
Hanson said the city expects to see a discount on the vehicle by paying up front for the chassis.
When the new engine arrives, the city plans to sell the old one at auction.
