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A new combination pumper/tender fire truck parks outside the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department Station 35 on the Old Glenn Highway. The department officially took delivery of the truck March 13, bringing the fleet to 29 vehicles.
Photo courtesy of Tom Reinbolt
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Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department spokesman Jeff Hartley said members of the department acted like little boys on Christmas morning seeing a new toy for the first time when they walked into Station 35 March 13.
However, unlike little boys spotting a toy fire truck under the tree, the volunteer firefighters were looking at the new 2,500-gallon combination pumper/tender firefighting apparatus the department purchased from Kovatch Mobile Equipment.
The Anchorage Assembly approved the purchase of the $407,000 truck in July, and the CVFD officially took delivery of the truck March 13.
Hartley said the addition of the truck should improve the department's already stellar track record for response and firefighting.
“With the new truck, the department now has three 2,500-gallon tenders and four total tenders in the fleet,” Hartley said. “That will help in fighting fires in areas where we have to truck in water. It also expands the department's fleet to 29 vehicles for fire and rescue use.”
Hartley said since the truck is a combination rig, it is ideal for the department.
“If it is the first truck on scene, firefighters will be able to put water on the fire right away,” he said. “Then we won't have to shuffle vehicles to get a pumper truck in place and bring the water from the second truck online. All we'll have to do is run a hose.”
According to CVFD chief Bruce Bartley, the truck will be permanently assigned at Station 35 near Fire Lake.
He added the funds to make the purchase were drawn from the accumulated operating budget surplus, which accrued to the Chugiak Fire Service Area fund and allowed the department to pay cash for the vehicle.
Unlike the Anchorage Fire Department, which purchases much of its firefighting apparatus with general obligation bonds approved by voters, the CFSA acquires new fire apparatus through direct purchase, paying in full upon delivery.
“We're able to pay for our truck because we set aside money from the fire protection mil rate paid by homeowners each year,” Hartley explained. “Every truck in our fleet is paid for.”
Hartley added that the CFSA saved about $14,000 on the truck by adding it to an order placed by the AFD for three other tenders.
The last new truck the CFSA purchased was an engine for Station 35, that was bought in 2005.
According to Hartley, delivery of the truck was earlier than expected, adding that it normally takes a year from the time an order is placed with KME for them to construct the vehicle.
“We didn't expect the truck to be ready until maybe July,” he said. “But we're more than happy to have it early.”
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
