Thanks to Grant, New Fire Truck Will Not Cost Muskegon Heights Anything

Andrew Trzaska | May 23, 2011

Muskegon Heights is one step closer to updated fire equipment, thanks to a grant received several months ago and a city council vote Monday to accept a bid for a new truck.

The City of Muskegon Heights will replace its 23-year old pumper engine with a new one, which will be built by Alexis Fire Equipment of Alexis, Illinois.

City staff recommended the Alexis bid to the city council, which approved it unanimously.
The completely new truck will cost $306,188.00, and will be paid for by grant dollars received from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The grant awarded is for $311,500, so the truck will not cost the city any money.
The FEMA/Homeland security grant is the second major grant received by the fire department, who have eased budget cuts by applying for grants.  They have received two major grants in the past year.

The truck is custom-built and will take the better part of the year to complete.  It will be delivered by the first of the year according to Muskegon Heights Fire Department staff.

The current lead truck for the department was built in 1988, and is at the end of its typical service life.  Most actively used trucks last about 20 years.