This City of St. Augustine recently welcomed two new fire trucks that we cant afford

This City of St. Augustine recently welcomed two new fire trucks into its arsenal of firefighting equipment replacing two trucks that have served the city well. The new equipment does far more than just replace aging equipment though; it give the department new tools that will increase responsiveness. And for firefighters, it is all about response, both arrival time and arriving with the right equipment.

Built to the city’s specifications, the two trucks are very different. The new pumper replaces one that has been in service since 1989, and brings with it increased pumping capabilities with a 1,500 gallon-per-minute pump for fighting fires. Along with this increase in powerful pumping capacity, the truck carries electronic monitors and gauges that make maximize use of water in the most precise manner.

Chief Mike Arnold (right) explains the functions of the

new 'quint" fire truck to Vice-Mayor Leanna Freeman, (left)

The other truck being replaced is the city’s 30-year old aerial truck, and in this case the community gets two-trucks-in-one as a replacement. Known as a “quint,” the truck is equipped with both a 77-foot extendable ladder, and has its own capability of pumping water. The name “quint” is a derivative of quintuple referring to the five elements of service the equipment provides: a pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial ladder, and ground ladders. The old aerial was just that – a straight aerial ladder. When used at a fire scene, it had to be accompanied by a pumper in order to flow water. Now when the quint arrives it brings height and much, much more to the scene of an emergency. This single piece of equipment greatly enhances the level of firefighting capacity for the department.

Commission Errol Jones, (left) and Mayor Joe Boles (right) learn about

the increased firefighting capabilities of one of the city's

two new fire trucks from Fire Chief Mike Arnold (center)

Of course the advances in truck design, safety equipment, maneuverability and so many other factors are part of the new equipment simply through the advancements over the last quarter century.
The new equipment was manufactured by Ferrara Fire Apparatus in New Orleans, Louisiana, and after about a week of training, both trucks will be fully operational. The replaced trucks were traded in as part of the purchase. The new pumper cost $300,000 and the quint cost $490,000.