Logansport fire captain outlines plan to replace aging Engine 4 with custom Rosenbauer or Sutphen apparatus

Captain Jeremy Stewart presented the city’s plan to replace Engine 4, the South Side fire engine that he said is about 20 years old and reaching the end of its service life. He told the public safety committee that the department formed a seven-person committee to develop specifications and meet with vendors.

Stewart said the committee contacted seven manufacturers — HME, Seagrave, Ferrara, E-One, Pierce, Rosenbauer and Sutphen — and eliminated most because standard trucks would not fit Station 4. Seagrave quoted roughly $1.1 million but had a four‑year delivery lead time; Pierce quoted $1.1–$1.2 million but uses proprietary parts that have caused long parts delays on other city vehicles, Stewart said. The committee narrowed the choice to Rosenbauer (manufactured in North Dakota) and Sutphen (based in Ohio). Both offered U.S.-made trucks, nearby service centers and nonproprietary parts, he said.

The recommended apparatus is nearly identical to the current engine: a 1,000-gallon tank, 1,000 feet of 5‑inch supply line, rear hose beds and the department’s last 35-foot extension ladders to access fourth‑floor windows. To fit Station 4’s tight bay — the existing truck is several feet shorter and narrower than a standard engine — the committee asked manufacturers to modify the layout (for example removing a cross-lace) and to lower hose beds for safer handling. Stewart said the selected trucks include a stainless‑plumbed pump, a heated one-piece windshield for improved driver visibility and other crew-safety improvements.

Stewart said Rosenbauer’s price was about 7–8% lower than Sutphen’s and that both manufacturers offer industry-standard warranties (a lifetime frame warranty, multi‑year pump/electronics warranties and a five‑year paint warranty on the Rosenbauer proposal). He told the committee that the truck would be custom and is currently estimated to have roughly a three‑year build time. He also said the vendor extended the quote out to April 7 as far as they would.

City finance staff later reviewed funding and identified an asset account with roughly $814,000 that staff estimated could cover purchase payments without moving other monies, though Stewart cautioned that paying in full up front produces additional vendor discounts but reduces investment reserves. Stewart noted a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract would be used, so a separate public bid would not be required.

No formal purchase motion or vote was recorded in the committee transcript; committee members asked technical and budget questions and directed staff to return with procurement documents if the council chooses to move forward.

Stewart and other department witnesses repeatedly stressed two operational constraints driving the specification: (1) the new apparatus must physically fit Station 4 with only inches of clearance at the bumper and cab doors, and (2) the apparatus must preserve the 35‑foot ladders and a full 1,000 gallons of water because of areas without hydrants on the South Side and industrial exposures such as the airport and Hoosier Heartland Corridor.

If the council approves procurement, Stewart said the custom build will take several years and staff expect to manage warranty and parts concerns by selecting a vendor with regional service centers and nonproprietary parts.