City of Missoula approves $720K in new fire engines as fleet ages

The Missoula City Council authorized the purchase of two new fire engines on Wednesday to replace existing engines in the Missoula Fire Department’s fleet of 19 vehicles.

The purchases will include a $620,000 Type 1 engine designed to address structural fires. The other is a Type 6 engine commonly used in wildland fires for $80,000.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Brad Davis, “one of the benefits of having a fantastic maintenance division” is being equipped to build the Type 6 fire engine, saving the fire department roughly $40,000 in the process.

Davis estimated the arrival and equipment of the fire engines would roughly take 11 months. They will then be utilized on the front lines for 10 years, and in reserves for five years.

Members of the City Council's Public Health and Safety Committee unanimously authorized the purchases.

“I thank Assistant Chief Davis for the ingenuity of taking the expertise in our maintenance department and being able to build the ideal piece of equipment from the parts that he got,” council member Julie Merritt said. “I’m glad to know that we have that sort of expertise.”

The vehicles being replaced will be deemed surplus property and sold.