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Council buys $1.55 million Rosenbauer fire engine and orders updated fire/EMS coverage analysis
Summary
Council unanimously approved purchase of a Rosenbauer rescue‑pumper for $1,548,292 (funded from the vehicle replacement fund) and directed staff to revisit the city’s community risk assessment for fire and EMS, including cost estimates and alternative options to improve coverage.
The Boulder City Council voted unanimously to buy a new Rosenbauer rescue‑pumper apparatus for $1,548,292, to be paid from the Vehicle Equipment Replacement Fund (VERF), and separately directed staff to update the city’s 2021 community risk assessment for fire and EMS coverage and return with current data and costed options.
Fire staff explained that prior plans to refurbish an existing engine came back at roughly $850,000, well above budget and short of meeting current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) expectations. City staff described the Rosenbauer vehicle as an all‑hazard rescue‑pumper whose rear module carries technical rescue and hazmat support equipment; staff noted a lifetime warranty on the apparatus body and said the vendor guarantees a delivery schedule with penalties for significant delay.
"We realized that with this apparatus, we weren't getting a full replacement," the Fire Department presenter said, explaining costs for refurbishment versus new apparatus and referencing market price increases for custom vehicles. Councilmember comments emphasized the importance of matching vehicle procurement to long‑term operational needs and training.
Separately, Councilman Walton successfully moved that staff re‑examine the community risk assessment and bring the analysis up to date with current call volumes, response times and cost estimates for possible station(s), staffing and alternatives. The motion asked staff to identify creative or lower‑cost solutions where possible, and to include budget estimates so council can perform a cost‑benefit review; the motion passed unanimously.
What’s next: the apparatus purchase will proceed under the approved VERF funding. Staff will review the prior community risk assessment, update response‑time modeling, quantify capital and recurring staffing costs for potential additional stations or alternatives, and return recommendations and cost estimates for council consideration.
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