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Council approves purchase of Weiss quick‑attack brush truck to bolster wildfire response
Summary
Lockhart Fire Chief Randy Jenkins described rising wildland calls and recommended buying a Weiss quick‑attack apparatus. Council later approved the $291,965 purchase to be funded primarily by ARPA with a small general‑fund share.
Lockhart Fire Chief Randy Jenkins told the City Council March 11 that the department needs a second wildland quick‑attack apparatus to respond to increasing wildfire activity at the city’s wildland‑urban interface, and council voted to approve the purchase during the regular meeting.
Jenkins said Central Texas experienced a heavy wildfire season in 2023 and Lockhart Fire Rescue responded to about 21 wildland incidents that year, including the 228‑acre Boggy Creek Fire and the 150‑acre Barth Fire. “The goal was to replace the quick attack fire apparatus into service of fire station 2 with the ladder truck,” Jenkins said, adding that the city’s brush‑type apparatus must be mobile and capable of “pump and roll” operation for wildland incidents.
The recommended Weiss quick‑attack apparatus, built on a 2025 Ford F‑550 chassis by Weiss Fire and Safety Equipment in Salina, Kansas, includes a rear pump, a 400‑gallon water tank and foam capability and carries a quoted price of $291,965. The department recommended funding with $275,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars allocated by memorandum of understanding and $16,965 from the city’s general fund. Delivery was estimated at roughly 18 months after order; the manufacturer will complete final specifications at its plant and department personnel would drive the finished apparatus back to Lockhart.
Jenkins told council the vehicle would be built to meet or exceed NFPA 1900 standards for wildland apparatus. He also displayed maps and photos to show frequent wildland calls near road corridors and in growing subdivisions, and described how modest fire breaks and cleared corridors had stopped some incidents from reaching homes.
The purchase was placed on the regular meeting agenda after the work session presentation. Council voted 7‑0 to approve the purchase (motion moved by Councilman Michaelson and seconded by Councilman Mendoza). Jenkins said the additional apparatus would increase the city’s capacity for wildland response and provide redundancy when other units are out of service.
