Council approves ordering replacement fire engine after price rise

Brevard City Council on Jan. 20 voted to authorize the city manager to sign a contract to order a replacement fire engine after the fire chief reported a price increase and operational urgency.

Fire Chief Chase Owen told council that the purchase originally approved in June 2025 at about $1 million now requires authorization at a higher price — $1,155,901 — because no contract was signed and market prices have risen. Chief Chase said the unit would replace a 22‑year‑old American LaFrance pumper that has recurring mechanical and electrical problems and for which parts are increasingly difficult to obtain because the manufacturer ceased operations years ago.

“If we order that truck today, it's going to be at least 850 days before that truck arrives,” Chief Chase said, noting manufacturers are currently projecting multi‑year lead times. He explained the city could save $20,000–$40,000 by ordering now if the engine qualifies for a pre‑emissions standard, and he described a longer-term plan to use refurbishment for other older apparatus when feasible.

Council members discussed fleet standardization, refurbishment as a cost‑saving strategy and the regional market of manufacturers; staff noted some consolidation among manufacturers and longer lead times since the COVID era. The council moved and seconded a motion to authorize the manager to sign the purchase contract; the motion passed and council directed staff to proceed with ordering the engine and coordinating county cost‑sharing where applicable.