Volunteer firefighters in Hartland are hoping for a new fire truck, after one of their old ones broke down last year.

Monday, January 14, 2002

Volunteer firefighters in Hartland are hoping for a new fire truck, after one of their old ones broke down last year. The new truck will cost $157,000, but Hartland Fire Chief Glenn Ausen is hopeful that the money will eventually be found to pay for it.

The old truck, a 1979 Ford, broke down during a mutual aid call on Oct. 25, during a fire at the Hollandale Marketing Associaton.

&uot;It had been iffy for awhile, so we weren’t surprised when the motor finally went out,&uot; said Ausen.

The truck was the main water tanker for the department, able to transport 1,500 gallons, and it was also the backup pumper. Without that truck, water tanker duties fall on a much older vehicle, a 1965 Chevy truck, which also has maintenance issues, said Ausen.

The department is down to one really dependable vehicle, he said.

A committee will be meeting in Hartland soon to discuss how to raise the necessary funds. Several individuals and businesses have already said they want to help out, and the township has also indicated a willingness to help with paying for the new truck, said Ausen.

Ausen said he knows that buying a new truck is expensive, but he doesn’t see much point to buying a used one.

&uot;It’s hard to find a used truck that fits our applications. Other communities of our size act like us and keep their trucks 20 to 30 years so any used one is going to have the same problems as our old one,&uot; he said.

Ausen knows that money is tight, and the economy is not good, but he’s thinking that the community can’t wait for a disaster to get around to finding another fire truck.

It’s a matter of pride for him that Hartland have the equipment it needs for responses to local fires.

But he also says he knows that with small communities depending upon each other for aid with fires, Hartland needs to provide the best possible response to requests for assistance.

&uot;Mutual aid’s a two way street – we expect them to come and help us and they expect us to respond with our best equipment when they call,&uot; Ausen said.