By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Two new, state-of-the-art fire trucks arrived at Niles Township Fire Department Thursday.
The Niles Township Fire Department took delivery of two brand new fire trucks, worth a total of $425,000 from Spencer Manufacturing in South Haven.
The trucks were on display Thursday at the department's new south township fire station, construction of which is almost complete.
The first of the two trucks is a large 1,000 gallon rescue pumper truck.
It uses compressed air and foam, known as CAFS, to fight fires, which can be used to fight structure fires, as well as fires from flammable liquids.
A Hurst simocast hydraulic pump is also on this vehicle. Firefighters can use it to operate hydraulic tools, such as the Jaws of Life.
It also is equipped with a 200-foot cord and portable lighting that can be used to light up the scene of an accident or a fire, he said. The truck can hold five to six firefighters and allows the men to be already suited up with gear when they arrive on a fire scene.
The new rescue pumper will be stationed at the new south fire station.
The small of the two new trucks, which will be housed at the township's north fire station, is an initial attack apparatus vehicle, Brovold said.
The truck will be used for grass and vehicle fires, as well as complaints that are called in. It will also make it so that larger trucks don't have to be used on these types of calls.
The township's north station will also be home to the department's aerial ladder truck and its 1,000 gallong reserve pumper.
The south station will be home to the department's 6,500 gallon semi tanker, the new 1,000 gallon rescue pumper, a 750-gallon reserve pumper and an older grass rig truck, used to fight grass and other small fires.
Brovold said the department should be moved into the new south building by the end of the month if things keep going the way they are.
The new station the standard style of station that is being built today. On the residence side of things, there are four bunk rooms, an exercise room, two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen and laundry room, he said.
On the office side of things there is a training room, an office for the fire chief and secretary, a dispatch office and an office for the volunteer fighters.