San Luis Volunteer Fire Department seeks county help to convert truck into brush unit, cites two‑year outage

San Luis Volunteer Fire Department leaders asked the board for financial assistance to convert a recently purchased vehicle into a brush truck, saying the department’s existing brush truck has been out of service for two years.

Chief Dale Mullins and Assistant Chief Cody Rittenberg told the board their brush truck has been out of service for about two years and the department needs a replacement to respond to brush fires in their coverage area. Mullins described a planned conversion of a 2014 GMC 2500 Duramax into a brush unit, including a 200‑gallon water tank, 5‑gallon pump, a 100‑foot hose reel, hose beds and storage for tools and chainsaws. He said the department received quotes from Eastern Fire Equipment Services totaling $14,112.97 for the conversion.

Mullins said the converted vehicle would replace a truck that hauled 300 gallons; the proposed unit would carry about 200 gallons but the department expects it to restore near‑term capability while the county plans for a larger brush truck in the future. "We would just like to request some help on purchasing this so we can have our brush truck," Mullins said.

Board members asked about the condition and mileage of existing vehicles and discussed an $8,000 repair estimate for another truck. County staff said they had received pictures and quotes and would review the materials. Mullins was told the board would take the request under 30‑day consideration rather than act immediately at the meeting.

No formal appropriation was made at the hearing; the board agreed to review the submitted quotes and photographs before any funding decision.