ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Escanaba Public Safety is working to secure funding for a new ladder truck.
The current ladder truck has been with Escanaba Public Safety since 2016.
“It’s a 1991,” said Public Safety Captain Darren Smith. “It replaced our 1983 truck. We got this truck from a military surplus grant, also through the DNR.”
Eight years later, the truck has cost the department around $100,000 in maintenance and upkeep.
“All the wheels and tires, those were all just redone this year,” Smith said. “[It costs] $4,000 for some of these gaskets alone.”
Also in that time, ladder truck codes and requirements have changed significantly.
“There are so many different safety features,” Public Safety Director John Gudwer said. “Emission standards are so much better and different on these new trucks.
The technology on them makes them much safer for not only the firefighter, but also for if we need to rescue people with the ladder.”
“The ladder itself, we’re looking at a platform so the officers don’t have to climb up,” explained Smith. “They’re actually in a basket. This ladder is 105 feet. We’re looking at a 100- to 110-foot ladder.”
A new ladder truck will cost the department $1.7 – $2 million. Due to the current supply chain, the actual delivery of the truck is projected to take up to four years. Escanaba Public Safety is working to secure funding for it as soon as possible.
“I applied for an AFG Grant—Assistance to Firefighters Grant—through FEMA, and I also applied for some CDS, Congressionally Directed Spending,” said Gudwer.
Although a major project, Gudwer says a new ladder truck is essential to the safety of Escanaba and its neighbors.
“We are the fire department for Wells Township, and we also will respond out to the casino,” he said. “We’d also go assist other communities if they needed us, without question, for mutual aid. Our emergency response needs to be safe, efficient, and once we get there, we need to be able to have that truck be dependable and perform for us.”
Anyone interested in supporting Escanaba Public Safety can call 906-786-5912.
