Jasper County Fire Rescue lays out major equipment and vehicle funding needs, estimates top costs

Chief Chris Finch told the Jasper County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 23 that Fire Rescue faces several near-term capital needs that will affect equipment disposal plans and upcoming auctions.

Finch said the county is considering a radio upgrade for portable units shared with the sheriff’s office and that “our last estimated cost for that was $640,000.” He said the planned purchase would replace portables but not mobile radios. Finch also described a sudden change in cardiac-monitor availability: Philips informed the department it had discontinued sales to entities outside the U.S. government, leaving the county with two serviceable monitors and one unit still on order. “The service for the monitors is expensive,” Finch said; staff provided commissioners service-plan estimates of $146,000 to $213,000 for two monitors with five years of service and extra batteries.

Finch outlined other equipment needs. He said extrication tools remain a recurring expense and safety priority: full hydraulic sets cost about $41,000 and a combi tool (spreader/cutter) about $17,000. He said one full set would go to Station 7 (Hillsboro) as the last full set needed; combi tools could be staged at Station 5 to start operations until full kits arrive. “This equipment is used on average at least once a week,” he told the board.

Commissioners discussed brush-truck options. Finch said older donor trucks have failed — a 2001 F‑250 has transmission issues and a 1985 forestry Chevrolet leaks — and that a turnkey skid truck can be expensive. He outlined two approaches: buy a donor F‑250 for roughly $50,000–$60,000 and add a skid unit (~$15,000) and a light package ($5,000–$6,000), or purchase a purpose-built skid truck, noting industry turnkey skid trucks can approach $200,000. Commissioner Asher Gray asked whether a used truck could reduce costs; Finch said either approach would be acceptable but that the county needs brush capability.

On ambulances, Finch presented two vendor quotes: a $330,000 vehicle available in April–May and a lower-cost $270,000 option with a 14–18 month lead time that would differ from existing fleet specifications. He emphasized that matching truck types simplifies equipment transfers and that buying a new ambulance will require purchasing a power-load system and power stretcher (an additional $64,000) to maintain interoperability.

Finch also flagged a new tanker at roughly $450,000 as a longer-term need and noted turnout gear costs about $5,000 per set; he said four new sets are currently required. Chairman Bruce Henry asked for a longer-term replacement schedule; Finch said he would return with timing for those replacements.

No formal action or vote was taken. Commissioners asked staff to consider timing, replacement cycles and budget trade-offs as they plan for an upcoming auction and future purchases.

The board moved to the next agenda item without a formal decision on procurement timelines or funding sources.