Sherman County fireboard updates truck builds, seeks equipment upgrades and funding support

Sherman County commissioners heard a multi-part update from the county fireboard on truck builds, equipment needs and funding on Tuesday, and signaled support for a requested 3% increase from the city for the 2026 budget to help cover fire apparatus and operating costs.

The fireboard reported two county quick-attack trucks will depart soon for final outfitting, but the vendor has issued a recall requiring dealer reprogramming of emission/defect-monitoring systems. The board also described modest price increases for requested upgrades and a plan to auction older apparatus, with sale proceeds applied toward future purchases.

Why it matters: The county’s volunteer and paid fire services said upgraded trucks and modern extrication tools would reduce response time and improve capabilities at multi-vehicle crashes and grass fires. County leaders framed the 3% city-side increase as a modest, pre-budget request to offset steadily rising apparatus and maintenance costs.

Fireboard equipment and truck builds

Fireboard representatives told commissioners the two quick-attack units being built at Watts Manufacturing will include additional side nozzles and roughly 100 extra gallons of water on some trucks compared with earlier specifications. That upgrade carries an estimated additional cost in the low thousands of dollars per truck; one speaker cited an approximate $2,800–$3,000 increase for a 100‑gallon tank addition.

Board members said part of the reason for upgrading is operational flexibility: some older apparatus being retired carry 300–1,000 gallon tanks, and replacing or reconfiguring units can alter the county’s on-scene water availability for grass and rural fires. The fireboard plans to auction older vehicles and use proceeds toward new apparatus purchases.

Recalls and service logistics

The fireboard reported a recall affecting cabin-chassis units that will require dealer reprogramming. Commissioners and fire staff said local dealerships cannot complete the required updates on heavy-duty GM trucks above certain GVW thresholds, so trucks will need to go to an authorized dealer regionally for the software or emissions work.

Procurement of extrication tools

Fire personnel described limitations with older hydraulic hose-and-pump extrication systems and recommended eventual replacement with modern, battery-operated combination tools (cutter, spreader and ram). The board said they tested battery-operated units side-by-side with legacy hydraulic gear and preferred the battery systems for speed and maneuverability during multi‑patient incidents.

Fireboard members said the combined cost for a cutter, spreader and ram from preferred vendors runs a little over $30,000. They discussed three acquisition paths: use remaining apparatus funds after the Watts units are delivered, pursue grant funding, or budget and purchase over one or more fiscal years. Commissioners asked staff to work with the fireboard and city finance staff to clarify where funds could be allocated before the county makes a purchase commitment.

Funding request for 2026 budget

Fireboard representatives asked commissioners if they supported asking the city commission for a 3% increase in the city-side contribution to fireboard funding for the 2026 budget cycle. Commissioners responded in the meeting that they were supportive of pursuing the request and that the increase would be acted on before the June 1 internal budget deadlines so it could be reflected in next year’s budget process.

Recognition event and other items

The fireboard proposed using existing budget funds to host a public thank-you event for first responders involved in a large interstate pileup response; commissioners indicated support for the idea and asked staff to provide details of where event costs would be drawn from. The board also described ordered commemorative items for responders (an “accolade bar” or similar), noting vendor lead times of several weeks.

What’s next

Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the city and fireboard on the requested city-side 3% increase and for the fireboard to report back after the Watts trucks return from final work. The county indicated it will continue to explore grants and internal budgeting options for battery-operated extrication tools.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article were present in the meeting transcript and included fireboard representatives reporting to the Sherman County Board of Commissioners.