City of Plymouth to Replace Mini Pumper Truck Destroyed in Fire

Ever since a fire broke out on June 9 at the City of Plymouth Fire Station destroying a small fire truck and damaging the building, the City of Northville Fire Department has been operating without a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV). 

The station's mini-pumper truck, which was where the fire started, was completely destroyed. The truck’s value was estimated to be about $300,000 including all on-board equipment.

Four months later, City Commissioners approved the purchase of a Spartan ERV Initial Attack Mini-Pumper on a 2014 Ford Chassis with a Hale Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) vehicle during a meeting Monday night. 

The vehicle is not to exceed $228,000, which will allow an approximate 1.5 percent allowance for additional equipment, such as an extra shelf, for example. The money will come from the city's insured loss settlement with its insurance carrier for the mini-pumper that was lost in the fire, minus a $500 deductible.   

Fire Chief Jim Allen said he and his team chose this particular brand because it has a lot more equipment on it, including the foam system and jaws of life. 

"It's a Class A Pumper, which is the same classification as a big pumper, just a smaller version," he said. "It's a quick response truck, is what it is. Two or three people in there, then you go."

The mini-pumper will have more flexibility to get into tight areas, such as narrow streets as well as condo and apartment complexes. The QRV in the department is meant to have the first few firefighters respond quickly to begin initial assessment and attack on the fire, knowing the full size pumper is coming behind them with additional manpower and equipment, according to City Manager Paul Sincock. 

According to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), QRVs with CAFS are a smarter way to fight fires because it will help protect private property, reduce structural damage left from water and leave better evidence for investigators.

The City of Plymouth was also able to go into a group purchase with the Saranac Community Fire Department, located in Ionia County. 

The truck will take approximately 180 days to build from the date of the order, Sincock said.