Coos Bay council approves $850,000 purchase of used 100-foot aerial fire truck

Coos Bay City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of a used 2018 Pierce 100-foot aerial platform fire truck and authorized the city manager to finalize financing terms.

Fire Chief Atkins told the council the department’s current ladder truck dates to 1995 and is past typical industry replacement age. "A replacement ladder truck would cost $2.1 to $2.3 million," Atkins said, adding that the 2018 vehicle located in Forest Grove has low miles and engine hours and would meet the department’s needs. He said the purchase price is $850,000 and the city plans to use $250,000 from Fund 27 (equipment reserves) and finance the remaining approximately $600,000 over an 11-year payment plan.

Atkins described the 2018 unit as a platform rather than a straight ladder, which allows multiple firefighters to operate from the bucket and provides an effective reach near 94 feet, improving the department’s ability to serve mid-rise buildings in the city. He said staff examined comparables and service records before recommending the acquisition.

Council moved and seconded the measure and approved it by voice vote. The motion authorizes the city manager to execute purchase documents and finalize upfitting and financing arrangements.

The truck purchase is intended to replace an aging apparatus the city no longer expects to keep in frontline service. Councilors praised staff for the vetting process and called the price a substantial saving compared with the cost of a new aerial truck.

The city did not specify the loan vendor or the annual payment amount; those details will be finalized by the city manager as part of the purchase authorization.