Detroit Fire Gets 5 New Engines

[jph2]

Officials in Detroit unveiled 5 new fire engines today. They're custom-built by Spartan with a value of $477k each. Spartan donated the chassis.

 

Image from the Detroit News: Detroit shows off its new, shiny firetrucks

 

[lotsofbars]

It's about f!#king time. I wonder how many weeks it'll take until these new rigs are run into the ground as well. 

 

[TJW]

 

[TJW]

Jph2, 

I don't know where/who informed you of the above comments but I'm quite confident you were misinformed. 

These 5 engines were built on Spartan Motors chassis (purchased per tender specs) with Smeal Fire Apparatus bodies. 

Spartan did donate $10,000.00 to DFD but certainly no chassis.

Long overdue replacement rigs.... I'd hazard to guess that DFD was running the oldest/highest miled/houred machines for front line of any major American city.... Their maintenance staff would be able to tell ya what works and what doesn't for sure. 

http://m.hemmingfire.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/2423/Spartan_Motors_builds_ten_new_apparatus_for_the_Detroit_Fire_Department.html

 

[jph2]

@TJW, thanks for the clarification. I must have mis-read the article.

 

[LRGJr72]

As I've mentioned in other threads about Detroit.. 35%-40% of their pre-bankruptcy budget went to debt payments. Now that they are clear from bankruptcy the city has an additional $400 million to spend each year on services. Most of this money will go toward police, fire and information technology. Expect to see many new patrol cars, ambulances and fire vehicles arriving in Detroit in the next few years.

 

[pdk9]

Officials in Detroit unveiled 5 new fire engines today. They're custom-built by Spartan with a value of $477k each. Spartan donated the chassis.

 

Image from the Detroit News: Detroit shows off its new, shiny firetrucks

1/2 million bucks sounds like a lot of money for a Smeal on a basic config Metro Star chassis.  I know the DFD used a lot of Pierce, among others, in the past and I honestly think they could've gotten superior apparatus from Pierce at that price range.  I do love the Spartan chassis, but I think the overall apparatus build, quality, & reliability at Pierce is second to none.  We just received a new Impel for around the same price, and I'm sure the newly redesigned Enforcer & Saber would've been even more economical options