The Junction City Commission approved a contract to purchase a new aerial apparatus for the Junction City Fire Department.

The contract is with Rosenbauer LLC to purchase a new 109 foot aerial apparatus to replace the current 75 foot aerial apparatus. The current truck is 24 years old and no longer fire protection association safety compliant.

The new truck will cost $844,444 with $760,000 of that cost being paid for through a firefighters assistance grant awarded to the JCFD this past May. The remaining $84,444 will be paid through the fire equipment reserve fund.

Kevin Royse, Fire Chief, said “This is going to be the first time in the history of the department were we have the capabilities of modernizing our fleet in the next two years and making all of our front line apparatus under the same manufacturer, same type and same pumps.”

Having them all the same would help with training and maintenance issues according to Royse.

This isn’t the only new truck Royse is hoping to purchase. He is also hoping to be able to replace the current pumping trucks which are 16 and 17 years old. Replacing those trucks would ensure that “We’ll be up to date on all of our apparatus for at least the next seven to ten years.”