McALLEN – The McAllen Fire Department is adding some new engines to their arsenal. At the most recent McAllen City Commission meeting, the purchase of the two new trucks was approved. The department is currently in the process of ordering the new pair of fire engines.
The cost of each truck is $550,000. The engines will be replacing two existing trucks, Engine #1 and #6, which respond to and protect the downtown area and trade zone area respectively.
Engine #1 is 13 years old and engine #6 is 14 years old.
The McAllen Fire Department maintains four reserve fire engines and with the delivery of the two new trucks, the current units will be re-tasked as reserve units.
“Our two oldest reserve units are both 21 years old and they will be retired and put up for auction or donated to one of McAllen’s many sister cities,” said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Schultz.
As fire trucks age, the cost of their maintenance increases. Repairs in general tend to cost more because everything on a fire truck is heavy duty. Additionally, the newer fire trucks come with safety features that were not part of emergency vehicles a decade ago.
“With newer units in service in our fleet of emergency response vehicles the fire department can better serve the citizens and visitors of the City of McAllen with improved safety and cost efficiency,” added Schultz.
The estimated date of arrival of the new units is October of this year.