The City of Hillsdale’s Fire Department continues to search for a new ladder truck, Fire Chief Scott Hephner confirmed at a Jan. 15 city council meeting.
“Our goal was to find a truck that would serve our community,” he said. “Hopefully we would find one that would serve us for ten years.”
Hephner said the Fire Department is looking for a truck that will reach into the 100 foot range to accommodate the needs of the new college high rises as well as the large apartment building right now.
The truck in need of replacement, 1983 Pierce LTI ladder truck, reaches only 85 feet. Hephner said he wants the new truck to reach at least 100 feet. Additionally, the current truck has been called “the oldest operating fire truck in the state of Michigan” by state certification agents.
Hephner recounted how he and the rest of the Fire Department have been vetting all of their options so that the city will be able to make the best decision for a new truck. They first narrowed the search to three trucks in the nation, but upon flying to both Alabama and Texas, found that two of the trucks would require too much repair for the city to purchase.
Hephner said the Fire Department has two trucks — both over 15 years old — singled out right now.
“These trucks are very good candidates, fingers crossed on that,” he said.
Councilman Bruce Sharp commended Hephner for undertaking such an extensive search.
“I wish we had done this back in 2002,” he said, in reference to when the council brought the current truck.
Since last year, the Fire Department has been undergoing an overhaul, both in its equipment and vehicles. Hephner highlighted the need for general refurbishment of the Fire Department at a Feb. 20 City Council meeting.
“We’re at that critical juncture right now where we don’t necessarily have equipment that is operational all the time,” he said.
At this meeting, the local community showed support for the Fire Department. Hillsdale resident Ted Jansen stepped up to the public podium before the city council discussed Hephner’s proposal and said the city should be doing all it can to aid the fire department.
“They’re willing to lay down their lives for us,” he said.
He then told the crowd that he would “put his money where his mouth was” and placed a $100 bill on the ground in front of the council to help them purchase a new fire engine, encouraging each council member to do the same.
At the most recent meeting, Hephner thanked the community for the continued support, but said the process of finding a new truck will be long and difficult.
“If these trucks don’t pan out, based on my experience with this, we’re going to need to reevaluate our search criteria,” he said.
