Huber Heights council to consider ordering new fire engines after vendor offers two-for-one delivery

Fire Chief Heath Nisley asked the Huber Heights City Council on Tuesday to authorize staff to order a new fire engine through Sourcewell and to approve up to $900,000 to cover two engines and potential additions.

Nisley told the council that a 2023 authorization had set a price of $751,893 with an estimated 28–34 month delivery. With current supply constraints, he said the vendor offered a revised deal: "if you all would approve the purchase of a new fire engine in January, they would build us a second fire engine at a cost of $880,361.75, roughly a 17% increase, and they would deliver both fire engines in November." He said ordering now would avoid a projected later cost of just over $1,000,000 and a 42-month wait for a single truck.

Council members pressed for details on scope and what would be included in the price. Nisley said some radios and equipment will be reused, that new headsets and limited gear will be purchased, and that operating-budget funds would cover certain outfitting needs. He also explained plans for the older apparatus: the oldest engine will become a primary backup and a legacy green engine would be retained for training because of its Detroit Diesel powerplant.

The chief discussed durability concerns raised about refurbishing older chassis, saying corrosion from salt and aging pumps make "glider kit" refurbishments less attractive for many older units. He also described the department's alternative-response program, saying it has reduced big-apparatus assignments by about 940 responses a year and helped extend useful life for primary trucks.

After discussion, the council had no objections to moving the purchase request to Monday’s council meeting for formal consideration.