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Flat Rock requests $1M to replace 35‑year‑old frontline engine; chief says new apparatus will consolidate roles
Summary
Representative Thompson presented Flat Rock’s $1 million request to buy a frontline engine to replace a 35‑year‑old unit, which officials said is past recommended frontline service life and is needed to consolidate multiple response roles into one vehicle.
Representative Thompson’s office presented a $1,000,000 request on June 11 to replace the Flat Rock Fire Department’s 35‑year‑old frontline engine. Fire Chief Derek Wilson said the department’s current engine is past its recommended service life and that acquisition would allow consolidation of several response capabilities into a single modern unit.
Chief Wilson told the subcommittee the new engine would carry ALS paramedic equipment, extrication tools, capabilities for vehicle‑fire and structure‑fire responses, and could reduce the total number of specialized vehicles the department maintains. He said the department has mutual aid agreements with many neighboring departments and participates in statewide mutual‑aid structures.
Nut graf: Presenters argued that buying a modern multipurpose engine would be cost‑effective by replacing multiple aging vehicles and improving reliability and response capability. Chief Wilson said the engine he has identified is a 2025 model priced at about $789,000 for the apparatus with additional equipment included in the $1M request.
Ending: Committee members asked whether the department would trade in older vehicles; Chief Wilson said trade‑in or disposition would be used to reduce net cost and department officials said they have applied for FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grants unsuccessfully in recent cycles.
