The Centralia City Council during its meeting on Monday evening approved substantial repairs to one of the Centralia Fire Department’s aging trucks.
Council members accepted a proposal from Dark Horse Diesel Repair of Fairfield to replace the truck’s transmission at a cost of $27,219.50. Under the agreement, the vendor will complete the repairs on site, so the city will not have to pay more to have the vehicle delivered elsewhere.
According to fire department officials, the 2002 truck has already experienced six transmission-related repairs, beginning in 2009. The 75-foot areal truck was pushed into greater service in January when the fire department’s new pumper truck was involved in a crash. With the 2002 truck out of service as well, the department is now doing more responses with a 1993 pumper.
Fire Chief Jeff Day says the damaged new pumper should have repairs completed in about four weeks. The accident caused damage to the connection between the cab and the rest of the fire truck as well as front end damage.
Day said an additional pumper placed into the budget for this year failed to make the cut, but he’s hopeful some new equipment can be acquired in the future.
Centralia City Manager Kory Smith says he is on the lookout for grant dollars that may be able to help the city purchase at least one new truck.
