Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Apparatus Replacement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Lebanon fire chief urges ordering replacement engine now as prices and lead times climb
Summary
The fire chief and deputy chief told commissioners that industry consolidation, higher steel and parts costs and safety requirements have pushed a replacement pumper—rom roughly $578,529 in 2018 to about $1.5 million now, and a 24'30 month lead time means an order placed soon would arrive mid-2028; staff identified possible funding sources including Sourcewell, federal grants and sale of the current engine.
Chief Christophel and Deputy Chief Quatchek presented the department pparatus replacement plan and explained why staff recommends purchasing a replacement engine now rather than later. The department uses a five-year rotation for frontline engines and follows NFPA guidance that leads to a roughly 15-year lifecycle for apparatus; consistent specifications help maintenance and training, the chiefs said.
Deputy Chief Quatchek explained that past practice of reinventing specifications every cycle created three differently configured engines that complicated training and repairs; a standardized spec reduces that burden. "We kind of wind up in the situation we are now," Quatchek said of having different configurations across trucks, and the department established a committee in 2021'022 to set a stable specification going forward.
Chief Christophel and Quatchek said market conditions are the driving factor behind the timing recommendation. They reported the 2018 replacement cost in the CIP of about $578,529 has risen to roughly $1.5 million in the current market. Chief Christophel noted manufacturers control a large share of the market, contributing to higher prices and long lead times: "If we order this fire truck tomorrow, it's going to be 24 to 30 30 months out." The chiefs said a new engine ordered now would likely arrive in mid-2028.
The presentation identified several mitigation and funding options: using cooperative procurement (Sourcewell) to secure favorable pricing, applying for federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) though eligibility is uncertain, and offsetting cost by selling the current engine (engine one), for which resale demand has pushed used-vehicle prices higher. Manager McIll told the commission there is $600,000 already allocated toward the purchase in the capital plan.
No formal purchase vote occurred at this session; commissioners were briefed on specification standardization, market-driven price increases, lead times and the funding approaches staff will pursue before returning with procurement documents.
