Racine Fire Department receives loan for new fire truck
From left, Racine Fire Department Captain David Neigler, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Bill Spurgeon, and Racine Fire Department member and council member Ian Wise. The Racine Fire Department was awarded a $300,000 no interest loan for the purchase of a new fire truck to replace Engine 23 seen the background. Photo by Carrie Gloeckner.
Racine Fire Department receives loan for new fire truck
RACINE, Ohio – The Racine Fire Department has received a loan that will enable the department to replace Engine 23.
On behalf of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal, Chief Deputy Bill Spurgeon presented $300,000 to the Racine Fire Department as part of the Small Government Fire Department Services Revolving Loan Program. The money is a no interest loan that will go toward the cost a new pumper truck. Some of the equipment from the current Engine 23 will be transferred to the new truck to help keep the costs down. The total cost of the new truck is $511,000. The vehicle is a “custom pumper” which means it is built as a fire truck from the ground up. It is not a truck frame being adapted to be a fire truck. The new fire truck will be safer for firefighters and have more room for them and their necessary equipment. The new truck will include a six-man cab.
While Engine 23 has served the Racine area since 1985, it has had several issues including a mechanical fire. The truck will continue to be used until the new one arrives which will take a year before it is delivered.
