Bainbridge Fire Department purchases new fire truck

Bainbridge Fire Department welcomes the addition of a new pumper truck, the second truck added to the Walnut Creek Fire District in the past six months, the other was brought to Clinton Township in April. Fire officials Todd Miller, Bill Newgent, Eric Gibson, Lt. Kevin Thorson, Jim Hilburn, Travis Lambermont, Lt. Dustin Osborn, Capt. Matthew McGuire and Dave Parent were on hand Thursday evening to see the new fire truck at the Bainbridge Fire Department. Those present represent Five Alarm Fire, JTN Services Inc., Walnut Creek Fire District and Bainbridge Fire Department.

BAINBRIDGE -- The Bainbridge Fire Department welcomed a new member and vital part of its operation this week -- a new fire truck.

This truck is the second one added to the district in the past six months. Clinton Township procured a new truck earlier this year.

The Bainbridge department financed the purchase of the truck through Tri-County Bank. The truck and outfitting it will cost roughly $225,000.

Even with the cost of two new fire trucks for the district in the past six month's, Fire District Board President Jim Hilburn stated that the district was able to purchase close to $500,000 worth of equipment for about $260,000 of taxpayers' money. An additional $20,000 was saved on the purchase of the truck due to Bainbridge Fire Department's non-profit status.

"The taxpayers now own everything in this (Bainbridge) fire department," Hilburn said. "Well, everything except the building."

The new 2014 pumper truck will be replacing an older 1980s model that has served Bainbridge, but is having trouble keeping up.

This is the second newer truck added to the Bainbridge fleet. The first one came in 2001 and was the first new addition to the district since its inception in 1998.

Hilburn explained that when the two trucks go out of service 20-30 years from now that the district hopes to have enough money put away that new trucks could be purchased outright. A fund has been set up to help save some tax money over the coming years.

As a thank you to the community for its support the Bainbridge Fire Department and fire district will be hosting a free community chili dinner on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. at the Bainbridge Community Center. The new truck will be on display.

The two fire trucks are a welcome addition to the district, but some hope the use of them will be minimal.

"This is a necessary piece of equipment," district vice president Travis Lambermont said. "One we hope we never have to use, but necessary."