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Columbia Fire Company asks borough for $300,000 toward ladder truck as costs and volunteer staffing rise
Summary
The Columbia Fire Company asked the borough for $300,000 to support purchase of a ladder truck, citing a purchase price of about $2.2 million and a 2029 delivery date. Fire officials described payment timing options, grant uncertainties and the volunteer staffing implications of different ladder types.
The Columbia Fire Company told Columbia Borough Council on Oct. 7 that it needs $300,000 from the borough to help pay for a new ladder truck, outlining timing and financing options and warning of rising replacement costs for volunteer departments.
Jared, a representative of the Columbia Fire Company, said the purchase price for the ladder truck is about $2.2 million and that the truck will not arrive until 2029. “We do not have to pay a dime on this fire truck until 2029 when it arrives,” Jared said, adding that the department faces roughly $200,000 a year over 15 years if it waits to start payments then.
The company told council it can reduce the total price by paying down some of the purchase cost…
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