Commission approves purchase of fire department skid unit for roughly $19,000

Montgomery County commissioners approved buying a skid firefighting unit from Fell Fire for use on a first-responder truck.

County staff and local firefighters reviewed six bids and recommended the Fell Fire unit after comparing features and prices. The recommended unit was described in the meeting as having stainless-steel piping and fittings, a 400-gallon tank, a 23-horsepower pump and a 13-foot lift primer; staff said the unit also can be outfitted to use foam in the future by adding a kit.

The county said five vendors returned bids; the three lowest bids were closely priced and Feld/Fell Fire’s unit was selected for its piping material, drafting capability and pump control panel. The county noted one vendor’s quoted price excluding shipping would have been lower only if the county picked up the unit itself; the recommended purchase included shipping.

Commissioners said the skid will be installed on Truck 41 and that a vehicle now stationed at another location will be converted to a grass truck, increasing the county’s grass fire response capacity. County staff said they will fund the purchase from the county’s special rural fire equipment fund.

A motion to approve the purchase carried by voice vote. Staff said they would proceed with procurement and installation and return any required documentation to the commission.

Clarifying details: the unit has about 400 gallons of water capacity, a 23-horsepower pump and included shipping in the quote; the purchase will be charged to the county’s rural special equipment fund.