Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Plans are underway at the Palouse Fire Department to buy a new, used fire truck.
Aiming to stick with its 30-year replacement schedule for vehicles, the department looks to supplant its 1987 Pierce pumper tanker unit, which it bought used in 2008.
On Feb. 28, the Palouse city council approved a shift of $50,000 from the fire reserve fund to the department's regular fund so Chief Mike Bagott may make a purchase.
“We are actively looking, but we're not in dire straits or anything,” Bagott said. “We're trying to keep the vehicle's use to no more than 30 years.”
In late February, Bagott found a listing of a 1995 truck in Tennessee at $95,000. That was just above the Palouse department's budget of $80,000 - $85,000. The vehicle was sold by the time Bagott made the call.
A used pumper tanker truck in the 15-20 year range is most likely what Palouse will buy.
“I don't see a real likely scenario where Palouse will see a new fire truck again,” Bagott said.
When the chief does get a line on the right truck, the department will engage.
“We'll fly someone back there with checks in hand, so to speak,” Bagott said.
Retired Palouse firefighter Bruce Beeson may be the one to make the trip.
The 2,000-gallon '87 Pierce has two front seats enclosed, with two jump seats exposed. Newer models now require all seating positions fully enclosed. Newer trucks also feature water capacities in the 2,000 to 3,000 gallon range.
Once Palouse buys a new truck, it will sell the '87 to stay a five-truck department.
Has the '87 served its purpose?
“Absolutely,” said Bagott. “It's proved to be invaluable.”
A levy lid lift passed in Palouse in 2014 designated that 10 percent of property tax would go to the annual fire department reserve.
For now, Bagott, who has been Palouse fire chief since 2003, searches on.
“If I don't see something this year, I'm not gonna panic about it,” he said. “We're in the position we can be picky about it at this point.”
The 30-year replacement schedule is based on safety and reliability – much the same as people replace regular cars.
“These trucks don't get used an awful lot but not being used is a problem too,” said Bagott.
Palouse's oldest truck is a 1970, bought new, which was in service until 2008 when it was replaced by the '87 Pierce.
“It was fundamentally okay, just little things had started,” Bagott said of the 1970 truck, which the department still owns.
Different cities have varying replacement schedules, with many larger departments on 15-20 year time frames.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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