Price City recently purchased a new pumper truck for the city’s Fire Department. This requirement was needed in order for the department to perform its duties for the citizens in the Castle Country area. Price City Fire Chief Fitzgerald Peterson stopped by Castle Country Radio to discuss the new piece of equipment the department has received.

The city had two pumper trucks, one was 25 years old and the other was 30 years old. The older one was in a need of repairs that would have been costly and would have been out of commission for some time while repairs were being made. This would have left the city with only one working fire truck which became a safety issue for the city as there was no way that the fire department could safely protect the citizens with only one truck. “The emergency came because if I were to send that up to Salt Lake where it needed to go I would have been at 50 percent capability of pumping and protecting of our citizens. It not only puts the citizens at risk but put the firefighters at risk because they have 50 percent less capability for tools. This is the biggest tool in our toolbox and the emergency came and presented to my mayor and the mayor was willing to take it to the council and they had a debate. Nobody’s happy about spending money that they weren’t planning on and that was the downside, but the upside was it was all voted for and got passed and we’re finding ways to fund it, it’s being taken care of. It was very stressful because not having that engine was something I just couldn’t do as a Fire Chief,” stated Chief Peterson. This new pumper truck will be good for the next 25 plus years which is generally what is expected from pumper trucks.

Now there is time to prepare for the other truck that is currently 25 years old to be replaced in the next five years.  “That’s our next target. Typically, to get funding, to get grants and stuff like that it’s a two-year process and then it takes two years to order one. When you order one, you sign a contract, then you get in line. The manufacturer is out 26 months right now. So that could fluctuate a little bit but materials are higher, the costs are much higher, we’re never going to get one for 595 is what we paid for the current one. So that has to be planned for, so the next one the 25-year-old will have to be ready in four years and that’s why we started that process right now,” said Chief Peterson. Covid really has set things back with vehicle manufacturers and that’s no different for fire truck facilities.

If citizens would like to see the new fire truck that was purchased, they may contact Fire Chief Fitzgerald Peterson for a tour. To keep up to date on the Price City Fire Department visit their Facebook page.