Austintown Fire Department gets federal Humvee for $9,000

AUSTINTOWN

The fire department spent only $9,000 on a new truck to fight brush fires and help with wooded area issues.

The 1992 Humvee came from the federal government’s military surplus stock.

Fire Chief Andy Frost III said Austintown police helped with the process of acquiring the vehicle.

“We have a lot of four-wheeling trails and hiking trails in the township, both on the eastern end and on the southwestern end. And we actually get quite a few calls for service for trails, back woods,” Frost said.

The department was looking to replace two Jeeps it has been using, from model years 1964 and 1966. The 1964 Jeep was purchased from the Howland Fire Department in the 1980s.

“They’re tired. They’re really tired,” Frost said of the two vehicles. “We know we can’t afford to purchase new equipment so we have to make this equipment last as long as possible.”

He said after the department had already had the vehicles towed three times this year, it began exploring getting a new vehicle, which could have cost anywhere between $90,000 to $120,000.

“I think 1992 for a military vehicle is not OK, but for a brush truck for us it’s fine,” Frost said. “I understand for their use it’s life and death for them and they have to rotate their stock around.”

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.