A volunteer fire department in Juniata County has discovered a creative approach to tackle increasing expenses of gear while still providing crucial emergency support to community members.
Thompsontown Volunteer Fire Company Recently obtained a second-hand fire truck for only a portion of what it would cost to buy a brand-new vehicle, resulting in significant savings—hundreds of thousands of dollars—for the taxpayers of Juniata County.
We recently came across a pre-owned firefighting vehicle for sale," stated Deputy Chief Jeff Miller, who is a retired Harrisburg firefighter. "The cost was extremely reasonable.
This acquisition entails considerable cost reductions for the town. approximately 623 people .
Modern fire trucks may have price tags ranging from $800,000 up to as high as two million dollars, typically taking anywhere from three to five years to construct prior to entering active duty. In contrast, the used fire truck acquired by Thompsontown came at a base cost of around $27,000, with another $100,000 spent on renovations and upgrades.
"By doing that, we're still ahead in the game," Miller clarified.
The firefighting truck, known as Engine Eight, was formerly used by a fire department in upstate New York. Even though it has been operational for many years, Miller pointed out that the vehicle boasts surprisingly low miles, which makes it a perfect option for restoration.
For Miller, this choice demonstrates financial prudence for the benefit of the community.
"The cost of every single thing keeps increasing, so we simply cannot go on asking taxpayers to bear this immense burden through higher taxes," he stated.
The fire department depends on a mix of public funding from taxes, charitable contributions, and organized events to function. Nonetheless, a shortage of volunteers has constrained their ability to raise money effectively.
Miller noted that "volunteer participation has never been lower."
Skylar Walton, having volunteered with the organization for almost seven years, voiced worry over the decreasing volunteer count.
Walton mentioned that they have numerous aging members, with few new individuals joining their ranks. They urgently require more young members to maintain their operations.
Fellow volunteer firefighter Nick Schaeffer has served in both fire and EMS over the last three years and says there are more people at the company than when he first started, but a few extra hands can go a long way.
"More personnel means better assistance for those who reach out for support," Schaeffer stated.
The fire company expects the engine to be in service within the next few weeks, after it is inspected and loaded with equipment.