By Michelle Williams
After 18 years of service, the Fishers Department of Fire and Emergency Services has replaced one of its three ladder trucks with a new 105-foot aerial truck. The Pierce Arrow XT 4 seat cab truck will be housed at the headquarter station in the Fishers Municipal Complex. All units are maintained by the certified mechanics of the Fishers fleet service, with the majority of the maintenance performed in house at each station.
The 1997 platform aerial truck will remain in service in a backup capacity when other units receive maintenance, and will also be used during the department’s training exercises. Regular training is administered at the Hamilton County training facility located on River Rd. Other special training sessions are performed when possible.
“Sometimes we have a house that people have donated to us, and we’ll do training at that house.” said Captain John Mehling.
Ladder trucks were dispatched for 1,305 responses in 2014. Placed in service on Oct. 9, the new unit is already being used for daily responses.
“It’s in service, it’s been running and it’s very functional. The guys love it,” said Mehling. “It may not have as many of the bells and whistles that some trucks have out there, but it’s going to perform well for the citizens of Fishers.”
Purchased through the HGAC Buying Cooperative, the department saved $350,000 on the new unit – about 30 percent of the total cost. Within the cooperative, local governments across the country manage resources by purchasing equipment and services in quantity to receive substantial discounts.
“Within the cooperative, they determine what that engine or that ladder is going to have on it and what its abilities are. So we have the option to decide if those abilities will fit the needs, and purchase through the program,” Mehling said.
